… and the crowd doesn’t appreciate it:

BEN-VENISTE: Did you tell the president, at any time prior to August 6th, of the existence of al-Qaida cells in the United States?

RICE: First, let me just make certain …

BEN-VENISTE: If you could just answer that question, because I only have a very limited …

RICE: I understand, Commissioner, but it’s important …

BEN-VENISTE: Did you tell the president …

RICE: … that I also address …

(APPLAUSE)

It’s also important that, Commissioner, that I address the other issues that you have raised. So I will do it quickly, but if you’ll just give me a moment.

BEN-VENISTE: Well, my only question to you is whether you …

RICE: I understand, Commissioner, but I will …

BEN-VENISTE: … told the president.

RICE: If you’ll just give me a moment, I will address fully the questions that you’ve asked.

(five minutes of restating the question later…)

RICE: I really don’t remember, Commissioner, whether I discussed this with the president.

BEN-VENISTE: Thank you.

Imagine that over and over and you’ve seen the testimony.