For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 12, 2004
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
Aboard Air Force One
En Route Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
10:03 A.M. EST
MR. McCLELLAN: Good morning. I'll try to move quickly through the
beginning, because we have a very short flight here.
The President had his usual briefings this morning. There will be
a Freedom Corps greeter upon arrival. Then he'll participate in a
conversation on education and his Jobs for the 21st Century
Initiative. The participants will include school officials and some
students.
And then we return back to the White House this afternoon. He is
scheduled to meet with the Secretary of State later this afternoon. A
couple of --
Q Any coverage of that?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, that's just one of his regular meetings with
the Secretary of State.
Tomorrow morning the President will be meeting with the delegation
of governors that recently returned from Iraq in the Roosevelt Room.
We'll let you know on coverage on that.
Also one other thing I just want to mention is that the Senate is
expected to vote on the highway legislation today. I think you've
heard the President talk about this piece of legislation. You've heard
the President talk about the importance of funding our priorities and
holding the line on spending elsewhere in the budget, in the
non-defense, non-homeland security areas. And that includes the
highway legislation, as well. We have put out a statement of
administration policy on this.
This is the first test for the Congress when it comes to spending
restraint. And the President's proposal is at $256 billion -- this is
for the next six years -- it's a 21 percent increase above the previous
six years. And we urge Congress to show spending restraint in moving
forward on this legislation.
Q If they don't, will he veto a bill that --
MR. McCLELLAN: In our statement of administration policy his
senior advisors have said that they would recommend a veto.
Q If it goes over that dollar figure?
MR. McCLELLAN: -- for spending restraint. And we urge Congress to
hold the line on spending.
Q And the veto threat is if the dollar figure goes over $256
billion?
MR. McCLELLAN: There are a few other aspects to it, but the Senate
proposal is now, I believe, at $318 billion -- you can double-check
that number.
Q Has he spoken to Senator Frist about this, or the Republican
leadership in Congress about his specific wishes on this bill?
MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, they're very well aware of our views on it.
Q Has he spoken to the --
MR. McCLELLAN: He meets regularly with the leaders and talks to
the leaders regularly. He visited with Senator Frist and Speaker
Hastert earlier this week and they certainly talked about legislative
priorities.
Q But did he put it as you have it, this is the first test of
the President's renewed spending interest?
MR. McCLELLAN: There have been congressional meetings where he has
brought it up --
Q What do the dental records --
MR. McCLELLAN: -- I don't know the exact words, but he has talked
about the importance of making sure that we show spending restraint
when it comes to non-homeland, non-defense priorities in the budget.
Q In your words, what do the dental records show or prove?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, there were some that raised the question
about his service during his time in Alabama. And this document
further demonstrates the President fulfilling his duties and serving
while in Alabama. I suppose some might now try to suggest that, well,
this is only his teeth, this doesn't show that he was there.
(Laughter.)
Q If you guys are so interested in putting out all the
explanations you could possibly give to say, you know, he was there, he
fulfilled his duties, why won't you talk about why he didn't show up
for his physical, which is a question that persists still?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I don't think it is; we answered that question
four years ago. The reason -- well, he was on -- first of all, you're
saying he didn't show up. He was on -- he moved to Alabama for a
civilian job and he was on non-flying status while in Alabama. There
was no need for a flight exam.
Q Governor Kean from New Jersey wants -- said he wants
President Bush and President Clinton and their Vice Presidents to
testify publicly on the 9/11 -- for the 9/11 Commission. Will the
President do that?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you heard the President was asked that
question over this weekend, and he responded to Tim Russert, when
asked, would you talk to the commission. And he said, perhaps. I
mean, obviously, we have been working closely and cooperatively with
the commission to make sure they have all the information they needed
to do their job. And I think you've heard comments from the chairman
and vice chairman saying that we have provided unprecedented
cooperation. And we have provided a number of senior officials to
brief the commission about information. And, obviously, we are
continuing to work closely with the commission in a spirit of
cooperation. And all these are issues that we will continue to discuss
with the commission in a spirit of cooperation.
Q So the answer is "no"? I mean, so he's not going to testify
or --
MR. McCLELLAN: You're putting words into my mouth now. I said
that we will talk to the commission about these issues.
Q Well, why wouldn't you just agree to it outright now? I
mean, if they're saying they're going to call Bush, why wouldn't you
just say Bush, of course, will comply with the request?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, if they have something they want to
bring to our attention or something they want to raise with us, we will
be glad to discuss those issues with them -- we have been -- and
continue to work with them in a spirit of cooperation to --
Q Do you think there's any need for Bush --
MR. McCLELLAN: Can I finish? To make sure they have the
information they need to do their job.
Q You don't think -- is there any need for Bush to appear
before them, in your opinion?
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, those are issues that we'll continue to
discuss with the commission.
Q Scott, can I turn to today? Do you think it's awkward at all
for the President to be coming to a state that's lost a lot of
manufacturing jobs, lost a lot of jobs in general, not only to talk
about the economy, but to talk about it at a time when Gregory Mankiw
is under criticism for his out-sourcing comments?
MR. McCLELLAN: And, actually, I think you should go back and look
at what he has said in the last couple of days. But I expect the
President will talk about the -- what we are doing to create jobs here
at home. This President is focused on creating jobs here at home.
And one important part of expanding job growth here at home is to
continue to promote free trade. That's what this administration is
doing. And keep in mind that America's workers are the best in the
world. Productivity is high. That means better wages and better
living standards for America's workers. And that is also why you have
foreign companies coming to America, investing here, and hiring
American workers to do jobs.
And it's also very important that we continue to make sure that
workers have the training they need to meet the jobs of the 21st
century. There are a number of growing sectors in our economy, and we
want to make sure that people have the skills they need to fill those
jobs. And I think the President will talk about this very issue that
you raise in his remarks.
Q Does that mean he's going to clarify, in some way, this whole
debate that's been going on this week?
MR. McCLELLAN: It's important that -- well, what do you mean,
"clarify"?
Q Well, you've got people -- you've got Speaker Hastert now,
even, you've got Republicans and Democrats criticizing Mr. Mankiw's
comments. And so I'm asking whether the President is going to --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think the Speaker said something about, it's
important that we are creating jobs here at home. And I'm glad he
agrees with the President of the United States. The President of the
United States has shown, by his actions, that we are committed to
creating as robust environment as possible for job creation. I would
remind you that over the last five months, we have seen some 366,000
jobs created, new jobs created. We are continuing -- the economy is
strong and is growing stronger because of the actions that we have
taken.
There's more that we need to do. That's why the President has a
six-point plan that includes expanding free trade, because free trade
is good for our economy here at home and it's good for expanding job
growth here at home. And he also has put forward his 21st century jobs
program, so that we can make sure workers have the skills they need to
fill these high paying, high skilled jobs of the 21st century. And I
think he will talk to this issue today. Any job loss is regrettable.
We have made that very clear. And that's why this President is not
satisfied, because there are people still out there looking for work.
And he's committed to making sure that they have the possibility to
work.
Q But, Scott, does he believe, as a fundamental part of his
economic world view, that some jobs, as a part of this economy,
disappear and will never come back?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q Does the President believe, as a part of his economic world
view --
MR. McCLELLAN: One thing, one thing --
Q -- appear to be gone forever?
MR. McCLELLAN: There are a lot of growing sectors in this 21st
century. There are a lot of growing sectors of the economy. I mean,
there are some people he met with just the other day at the White
House, some economic leaders in some of those high growth areas.
Health care is certainly one area. We need to make sure -- there are
jobs available in those areas, and we need to make sure workers in
America have the skills to fill those jobs. And that's where the
President's focus is. The President's focus is on creating jobs here
at home. And we know that when we have free trade with a level playing
field, American workers can compete with anyone, because they're the
best workers in the world.
Q But just as he recognizes that there are new jobs flowering
in this 21st century economy, does he also recognize that some kinds of
jobs are gone and will never return?
MR. McCLELLAN: Look, I know you're trying to get me to say certain
things. What I'm saying is what the President is doing. The President
is acting to make sure this economy is strong, and acting to make sure
we have as robust an environment as possible for job creation. New
jobs are being created. Over the last five months, there are a lot of
positive signs about the direction this economy is moving. And we will
continue to act, as long as there are people who are looking for work
and cannot find a job.
Q Joe Allbaugh says that it is hogwash, the report from one
person who was in Texas, that some documents were thrown away a couple
of years ago -- I guess during the governor's years -- having to do
with the records. Is anyone from the White House checking or
double-checking to make sure no documents were discarded?
MR. McCLELLAN: Ann, I think it wasn't just Joe Allbaugh, it was
several individuals that were -- that charges were leveled against.
All of them said how ridiculous that accusation was. And I noticed an
article in one of the papers today that had a graphic with information
that was blacked out. And it was -- it's interesting to see the
conspiracy theories that are out there, because there are certain
privacy issues always involved when the National Guard or any
government agency releases information.
Let me tell you what was in that blacked out part. I've got it
here right with me. This is from what was in the paper today. It
says, "Have you ever been arrested, indicted or convicted for any
violation of civil or military law?" This was the President's
application for a commission. And he was providing personal history
there. On here it says -- and you all can see it right here with me,
this is the part that was in the paper this morning -- misdemeanor, New
Haven, Connecticut, December 1966, charge dismissed. Well, this was a
widely-reported prank that the President was involved in while at Yale
University.
Q The wreath --
MR. McCLELLAN: The wreath, that's exactly right. Two speeding
tickets, July '64 and August '64, $10 fine, Houston traffic court. Two
collisions, July '62 and August '62, $25 fine, Houston traffic court.
I'm just amazed by the kinds of conspiracy theories that some have
chosen to pursue. The facts are very clear. But there are some that
are simply not interested in the facts. And the American people
deserve better. They deserve an honest discussion about leadership in
a time of war. They deserve an honest discussion about leadership in a
time when our economy is growing strong, but there is more to do.
Q Scott, just to keep trolling for a minute. This sheet that's
in your hand and the blackout that was in one of the newspapers --
MR. McCLELLAN: This is the exact thing in the newspaper.
Q Who did the blackout that showed up in the --
MR. McCLELLAN: You'd have to ask the people who released those
documents.
Q Okay. So what you have is something that came from the same
source, that was not blacked out?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that you all recognize that when government
agencies or people like the National Guard release information, there
are privacy issues involved. And I expect that they follow those --
Q But the White House got a copy that did not have the
blackout.
MR. McCLELLAN: The President's records, that's correct.
Q Glad we asked.
MR. McCLELLAN: Anything else? Thank you.
END 10:17 A.M. EST
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