Mr. Lay a friend, or
just someone who --
MR. FLEISCHER: There is no question, Ken Lay is and was
a supporter, friend of the President's. But I think it also
is no surprise to anybody that companies like Enron Corporation play
both sides of the street. They give money to candidates and
politicians in both parties. That is what Enron has done in
many cases, and I think the numbers are half the Senate and
three-quarters of the House, or vice-versa, have received funding from
Enron.
Q When you say "supporter, friend," what
does that friendship entail? Hanging out, Rangers games,
what?
MR. FLEISCHER: Hanging out -- that's not something I've
really seen President Bush do very much.
Q Oh, yes, he has, trust me.
MR. FLEISCHER: It's hard to hang in a
bubble. (Laughter.)
Q I mean, you know what I'm
saying. But what does it mean? What does his
friendship entail?
MR. FLEISCHER: April, I don't know how to make a linear
description of friends.
Q Ari, can I ask you about free
trade? The speech the President gave last night at the OAS,
have you had any reaction out of the State Department so far?
MR. FLEISCHER: There is nothing that has crossed my
radar screen. That might be something that State has put a closer ear
to the ground than I have this morning.
Q The second part has to do with he said the
Senate needs to give him free trade authority or permanent trade
authority. What is he going to do about it? The
House has already approved it. He has had a little fight
with some of the members of the Senate, but he ratified Otto Reich or
gave him the recess appointment. Does he still expect to
have the votes in the Senate for passage of world free trade?
MR. FLEISCHER: Based on the history of the United States
Senate, you would expect that the votes would be there in a healthy,
bipartisan way for free trade to pass. The President hopes
that will be the case this year, as well.
Thank you.
END 12:42
P.M. EST