State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf seemed to implicitly question the validity of NBC reporter Chuck Todd's White House sources Thursday, who said those criticizing Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl were "Swiftboating" him.
Todd appeared on NBC's Today Thursday, saying that anonymous aides told him they didn't expect people would "swiftboat" Bergdahl.
"And Matt, of course, that’s a reference to that political fight back in 2004 over John Kerry’s military service which became so controversial in that campaign," Todd said. "So there’s some fighting words there."
A reporter asked Harf, "why the pushback" from the White House aides on soldiers who have come out and accused Bergdahl of deserting his unit.
"That's a pretty loaded term, particularly at this department," Harf said. "Why all the pushback on what?"
"From White House aides on these soldiers that are--" he replied before Harf interrupted.
"I'm not going to comment on anonymous White House aides who may or may not even be people that work at the White House," Harf said. "Look, I think we've said very clearly on the record that we need to get all the facts about what happened. The Army has said they will. I'm sure that includes what folks who were out there with him have to say, and also what he has to say."
Full exchange:
Q: White House aides said they didn't realize that the soldiers that came out, talked about Sergeant Bergdahl, calling him a deserter, the aides said they didn't realize he'd be swift-boated. I was curious, why all the pushback?
MARIE HARF: Wow, that's a pretty loaded term, particularly at this department. Why all the pushback on what?
Q: From White House aides on these soldiers that are --
HARF: I'm not going to comment on anonymous White House aides who may or may not even be people that work at the White House. Look, I think we've said very clearly on the record that we need to get all the facts about what happened. The Army has said they will. I'm sure that includes what folks who were out there with him have to say, and also what he has to say. And, you know, we want to get the facts here. And if there was misconduct, it will be dealt with.