For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 13, 2004
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
Aboard Air Force One
En Route Marquette, Michigan
1:06 P.M. EDT
MR. McCLELLAN: Good afternoon. Let me go through the President's
day. He had his usual intelligence briefings before he departed. You
saw his remarks on the African Growth and Opportunity Act, and the bill
signing.
When we arrive in Marquette, Michigan, the Freedom Corps greeter
will be Grace McCarthy. She has volunteered 4,000 hours with the
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, RSVP, which is an organization
that enriches the lives of seniors by matching their interests with
needs in the community, and she averages about 20 hours a week in a
variety of a volunteer activities.
Then the President will make remarks at a Marquette, Michigan
rally. And I expect today the President will continue to talk about
his hopeful agenda for America and discuss his priorities for winning
the war on terrorism and strengthening our economy and promoting values
of America and, you know, discuss the choices that we face. There will
be -- I expect there will be some new language in both sets of remarks
that you might be interested in.
Q New language?
MR. McCLELLAN: You'll hear directly from him, but I expect he
might have some new language in the remarks, contrasting some of the
issues, so -- contrasting some of those issues.
Q Scott --
MR. McCLELLAN: And then we go from there to the home state of one
Judy Keen. And we will be in Duluth, Minnesota, for a rally -- before
that, the Freedom Corps greeter there is Darren Klemek. He has
volunteered for the past two years with the City of Duluth Youth
Employment Services -- YES program -- which matches young people from
disadvantaged homes with work opportunities. And then we overnight in
Milwaukee.
Q Scott, is the President nearing a decision on a new director
for the CIA?
MR. McCLELLAN: That's still -- I will leave it where I left it the
other day. As you know, I don't speculate about the announcement or
the timing -- about who it might be or the timing of when it may come.
The President will make his announcement -- will make an announcement
about the CIA Director in due course.
Q Before I get to my --
MR. McCLELLAN: And as I said yesterday, they are -- just want to
continue -- there is a very strong and capable leader in the acting
director.
Q Before I get to my question, when you talk about new
language, are you talking about on the issue of values today?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you'll be there to hear it. And I expect he
may touch on some of what he hit on yesterday, as well. But, yes, I
expect it would include some new language on values, as well.
Q Scott --
Q Can I ask you -- I'm sorry -- my real question is, the
International Red Cross says it fears the United States is holding
terrorist suspects at secret locations around the world. Do you know
anything about that?
MR. McCLELLAN: I saw that report, or some of the comments from the
Red Cross. Here's what I can tell you, I mean, we work closely with
the Red Cross on these issues and we are always in regular and constant
contact with the Red Cross. The Red Cross raises issues from time to
time and we always work to respond directly to the Red Cross on the
issues that they raise. And we try to do so -- and do so as promptly
as we can.
Q Is there any merit to this concern? And are you doing
anything about it?
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, you know, if they have issues that they want
to bring to our attention, we always work with them to respond directly
to them on those issues.
Q They haven't brought this up to you yet, that you know of?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I'm looking further into this, but, again, I
just want to remind you that we do work closely with the Red Cross on
all detainee issues and that they do bring up issues from time to time
and we always work to respond directly to the Red Cross.
Q Scott, was the President at all surprised about Mrs. Cheney's
remarks about the constitutional amendment on gay marriage? Or do you
believe that she is staking out some sort of different view than the
one that the President and the Vice President have advocated?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think -- you should look at what she said,
I mean, you can see what she said for yourself -- and there's a
transcript available. But the President has made it very clear that he
believes it's important to protect the sanctity of marriage. And
activist judges and some local officials have sought to redefine
marriage without the voice of the people being heard. And the
President believes that the constitutional process is the only
alternative that we have available.
The constitutional process allows for the people's voice to be
heard. And the constitutional process gives states the final say in
this matter.
Q But the constitutional process, if there was a constitutional
amendment, that would be national -- that would create a national sort
of system or rule. So is that different than allowing states to
determine the issue for themselves?
MR. McCLELLAN: It's actually a process that goes through the
states, as you are aware. So the states would have the final say in
this matter. And it would allow the people's voice to be heard in this
important debate. This is one of our enduring institutions. The
sanctity of marriage is an enduring institution in this country. And
the President believes very strongly that it should be protected. He
also believes very strongly that the people's voice should be heard in
this debate.
Q So you think that Mrs. Cheney was saying the same thing?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, you can look at her comments for
yourself. I noticed she did talk about the constitutional process in
her remarks. But you can look at her remarks for yourself.
Q And you don't want to offer the White House's own
interpretation of those remarks?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I just -- I just pointed out to you the
President's views on this issue.
Q Are you troubled by the fact that Ron Reagan is going to go
to the Democratic Convention and give a speech about stem cell
research, opposing your position?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think his views have been very well known for a
long time. The President came up with a policy where, for the first
time, the federal government is now able to participate in embryonic
stem cell research. The President believes -- is strongly committed to
advancing medical research and combating disease. And I think all you
have to do is look at his record, where he's provided significant
increases for the National Institutes of Health. And he also believes
strongly that while we should explore the promise of stem cell
research, we should do so in a way that doesn't cross a certain moral
line. And that's why he outlined the policy that he did. I think
that, again, his views have been well known for a long time.
Q Scott, has there been any word from the Filipino government
that they're going to withdrawal or pull out their humanitarian forces
early?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, we believe that a decision by the
Philippine government to withdraw their 51 troops ahead of schedule
would send the wrong signal to terrorists. I mean, I've seen the
statements by officials from the Filipino government. We are seeking
clarification from the government now. It is certainly their decision
to make, but again, we believe that if that were the decision, it would
send the wrong signal to the terrorists.
And I would just point out to you, too, that we do appreciate the
commitment from Australia to send additional troops to Iraq. We do
appreciate the commitment from President Saca to move forward on a
proposal that would extend the troop presence of the Salvadoran troops
in Iraq for up to another year. And then, of course, you have NATO,
that's made a strong commitment to help provide training for Iraqi
security forces.
Q Apart from waiting for clarification, are you pressing the
Philippines to keep those troops there, to send the troops?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, that's why -- right now, I think, we're just
trying to seek clarification from the government on this matter. So --
Q Not lobbying, just standing back --
MR. McCLELLAN: -- we're going to have more to say after that.
Well, you heard what our view is on the subject.
Q Have you raised any concerns with the Russian government
about the murder last week of the American journalist Paul Klebnikov?
MR. McCLELLAN: Let me see what contacts there have been on that
matter. I'll check on that and get back to you.
END 1:15 P.M. EDT
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