For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 20, 2004
Press Gaggle by Scott Mcclellan
Crawford Middle School
Crawford, Texas
12:45 P.M. CDT
MR. McCLELLAN: All right, good afternoon. The President
participated in his usual briefings this morning. Following that, he
spoke with Secretary Rumsfeld. They discussed Iraq, including the
latest developments on the ground in Najaf, and they also talked about
Monday's defense meeting here in Crawford.
The President also spoke with Mike Brown, our FEMA Director, this
morning, and received an update about our response and recovery efforts
to Hurricane Charley. They talked about the power situation in the
hard-hit areas, as well as the ongoing cooperation between the federal,
state, and local officials to help the people of Florida who have been
impacted by Hurricane Charley.
Let me just give you a quick update on Monday's meeting. This is
the fourth annual meeting on defense priorities that we've had down
here in Crawford. I expect that they will discuss a number of topics,
including Iraq and the war on terrorism. This is a chance for the
President and Secretary Rumsfeld and other military leaders to get
outside of Washington, D.C. and have a good, detailed discussion about
key defense priorities.
In attendance will be the President, Dr. Rice, Secretary Rumsfeld,
General Myers, and other military leaders. And participating by video
conference, I expect General Abizaid and General Casey to be
participating in the meeting.
And that's what I've got, so I'm here for your questions.
Q Vice President?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I don't expect a -- well, let me check to see
if he's going to be on by video conference.* *(Secretary Andy Card and
the Vice President will both be at the meeting.)
Q Does the White House have anybody particularly designated to
be a liaison for the White House in the hurricane cleanup down in
Florida?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we have White House officials that -- sure,
that stay in close contact. Our Deputy Chief of Staff and -- our
Deputy Chief of Staff and others stay in close contact and regular
contact with Mike Brown and other officials regarding the hurricane, as
well as state officials.
Q Scott, subject once again, the Swift Boat ads, et cetera.
You've seen the New York Times article this morning which gets into
quite a lot of detail, and they allege that there's a web of
connections to the Bush family and high-profile Texas figures and Karl
Rove. So how can the White House say that there's no connection
whatsoever between the campaign and White House and --
MR. McCLELLAN: We've already said we weren't involved in any way
in these ads. We've made that clear. I do think that Senator Kerry
losing his cool should not be an excuse for him to lash out at the
President with false and baseless attacks. I mean, where has the Kerry
been -- Kerry campaign been for the last year while more than $62
million in funding through these shadowy groups has been used to
negatively attack the President. The Kerry campaign has been
noticeably silent, and in many instances, they have actually fueled
these kinds of attacks by these shadowy groups that are funded by
unregulated soft money.
Q In what way?
Q What do you mean, fueled?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, just last week, the campaign held a news
conference where General Clarke was repeating some of the same attacks
used by some of these 527 groups.
Go ahead, Pete.
Q On the Swift Boat ads, can you tell us what the relationship
is between Bob Perry and the President? Have the two known each other
over the years?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think you can check with the campaign. I think
he's been a supporter.
Q And Karl Rove --
MR. McCLELLAN: But again, I mean, you're trying to draw -- draw us
into this, and we've made it very clear, the President has made it very
clear that we're not going to question Senator Kerry's service. The
President has made it very clear that he feels his service was noble.
He said that just last week. I mean, all -- all that information is
public record if you want to look at supporters.
Q And the relationship between Bob Perry and Karl Rove?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know -- they know each other, I know that.
But that still shouldn't be used to draw any connection there because
we have not been involved in this ad, whatsoever. And Senator Kerry
appears to have lost his cool, and now he's just launching into false
and baseless attacks against the President. The Kerry campaign has
fueled these very kinds of attacks against the President.
Q Did the White House think of any -- did the White House make
any move to stop the ad once they realized it was underway?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, see, this ad is another example of the
problem with these shadowy groups that are funded by unregulated soft
money. And that's why the President has spoken out against this kind
of advertising. We need to put an end to this kind of unregulated soft
money activity that is going on. The President thought he did that
when he signed the bipartisan campaign finance reforms into law.
And that's why we've called on the Kerry campaign to join us and
call for an end to all of these ads. The President condemned all of
these ads and activity that are going on by these shadowy groups. So
that's why I pointed out that over the last year, the Kerry campaign
has been noticeably silent on these shadowy groups, while at the same
time fueling some of the very attacks that these groups have launched.
We can put an end to it all if Senator Kerry would come out and join
the President and say, let's stop this kind of unregulated soft money
activity.
Go ahead, Jill.
Q Scott, do you know when the White House first heard about
those ads? Did they -- in other words, did you hear about them before
they appeared?
MR. McCLELLAN: When they -- no, when they became public, Jill.
We've already talked about this, too.
Go ahead, Mark.
Q Explain why the President doesn't think that even shadowy
groups have first amendment rights?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Mark, the President believes that -- and he's
always -- he's long talked about this, about full and rapid disclosure
of contributors to political organizations and to political campaigns.
And he's lead by example when it comes to that. There were campaign
finance reforms that were passed that the President viewed improved the
system. And they were intended to level the playing field for parties
and campaigns. And the President believes there should be a level
playing field for parties and campaigns in politics.
And these groups have gone around the law and used this unregulated
soft money as -- in the instance of the President, they've been
Democratic front groups to attack the President of the United States.
We talk about individuals that may support these groups. I would
encourage you to look at the individuals that have supported the number
of groups that have been out there launching negative attacks against
the President of the United States.
But I can repeat to you up here that we have not been involved in
any way, whatsoever, in the ads that you brought up at the beginning of
this briefing.
Go ahead.
Q Two questions, also about the Swift Boats. You said that
Wesley Clark last week was doing -- was repeating some of these attacks
on the President. Did you feel that these were false and baseless
attacks that Wesley Clark was repeating, or that it was saying --
MR. McCLELLAN: We already referred to it as such, last week.
Q What were these attacks, specifically?
MR. McCLELLAN: You can go back and look, last week. I don't think
I need to stand up here and repeat all these kind of negative attacks.
I appreciate you asking me to, but we addressed it last week.
Q And then, also, in this Times article from this morning, they
named a Texas pioneer who had funded some of the Swift Boats for Truth
campaign.
MR. McCLELLAN: That's one of the -- one of the problems with these
shadowy groups is that, at this point, we don't know the kind of
funding that is going into these groups and from all the sources. And
that's why I point out that this kind of ad and activity is just
another example of the problem you have with these 527 groups that are
funded by these -- by soft money that is unregulated.
Q Would you say that the President discourages people who give
to him to give to these 527 groups?
MR. McCLELLAN: The President has called for an end to all of this
kind of activity. That's what he has done. And we call on the Kerry
campaign to join us.
Q Does he discourage giving to those groups?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Senator Kerry could help put an end to this
all right now if he would come out and join us and say, let's stop all
these 527 groups from advertising and from their activity, because that
was what the campaign finance reform was supposed to do. It appears
that the Kerry -- Senator Kerry and his campaign want to have it both
ways. Let's look at what's going on here, though. When you look at
the facts, I mean, millions and millions of dollars have been spent by
these shadowy groups to negatively attack the President.
Q Scott, it would seem that all of this would just go away if
you were to denounce the specific content of this one ad. Why not --
MR. McCLELLAN: All the -- all the soft money advertising would go
away?
Q The specific message from this ad, which has also been --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, where has the Kerry campaign been for the
last year, Dana, when all these ads have been going on against the
President.
Q But he condemned that specific ad done by MoveOn. I think
that's what's fueling this here.
MR. McCLELLAN: Who did?
Q Kerry denounced the specific ad by MoveOn, questioning the
President's --
MR. McCLELLAN: All of a sudden, when it's to benefit his own
campaign, he comes out and does that. But where was he with all these
other ads and negative attacks that have been going on through these
same kind of groups?
Q Well, that may be. I'm just wondering why not just put this
whole thing to rest.
MR. McCLELLAN: We could, if Senator Kerry would join us and call
for an end to this kind of activity.
Q Scott, why the ad hominem attack, or the really personal
nature of saying that Senator Kerry lost his cool? Would you be more
specific why you think he lost his cool --
MR. McCLELLAN: You know, I had seen some of his comments yesterday
before I briefed, and then, when I saw him last night on TV, he just
appeared to be angry and lose his cool, and then he used that to launch
into false and baseless attacks against the President. I said that
that shouldn't be -- his losing his cool shouldn't be an excuse to
falsely attack the President. And this -- these kind of groups have
been out there for the last year participating in similar attacks
against the President. And the Kerry campaign has just been silent on
it.
Q Scott, oil is now creeping up to $50 a barrel. And people
are saying that it could threaten recession, et cetera, a very serious
problem. I know you keep talking about the energy bill, but the energy
bill doesn't appear to be going anywhere at this point, and the problem
is really very serious. What's the administration going to do?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, remember, we called for passage of a
comprehensive energy plan more than three years ago. The President
remains concerned about rising energy prices and the impact those
prices have on families and workers.
And it is for this reason, now, that the President, on day one of
this administration, has been working to pass a comprehensive energy
plan. The President continues to call on Congress to pass his
comprehensive energy plan that will reduce our dependence on foreign
sources of energy. We need comprehensive solutions, not patchwork
crisis management. And this is something we go through every year,
because Congress has not acted on the President's plan, and because the
Senate -- certain members of the Senate, including the President's
opponent, have blocked passing the comprehensive energy legislation.
Q But if that is the fact, and if it's been going on for three
years, then isn't that beating a dead horse? Maybe there's another
approach. Would you, for instance, consider opening the strategic
reserves, as Kerry has been proposing, and others?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Senator Kerry could change his position and
join the President and call on the Senate to get it passed and get it
to the President's desk. And then we wouldn't be going through this
situation every year. But the President does keep an eye on the energy
prices. We've seen gas prices come down, but oil prices have been
going up. And we've made our position very clear when it comes to the
strategic petroleum reserve. It's not there to manipulate prices for
political purposes, it is there for national emergencies or in the
event of a severe disruption of supply, in order to protect consumers
and our economy. And if that -- in such circumstances, it should not
be doubted that we would act. But the strategic petroleum reserve is
vital to our national security, and filling it helps protect American
consumers and protect our economy against a severe disruption in the
supply of oil.
Q But, Scott, are you saying that Senator Kerry is contributing
to high oil prices? I mean, isn't that what you're suggesting with
your comment about the energy --
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm saying that if we passed a comprehensive energy
plan, it would reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy.
Senator Kerry has been out there talking recently about the importance
of expanding conservation and clean coal technologies and looking at
alternative sources of energy. Well, we welcome him talking about the
very things the President has outlined in his comprehensive energy
plan. Now he needs to get on board and call for the Senate to vote on
this and get it to the President's desk. We keep going through these
problems every year, and people look for patchwork solutions. We need
long-term, comprehensive solutions, so that we don't go through it
every year.
Q Let me go back to the Reserve. Why don't you just stop
filling it -- I mean, not using it, but just stop filling it? Don't
you think that would send to the market a --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, because of how important it is to our
national security. We still are dependent on foreign sources of
energy. And that helps protect us and strengthen our national
security, in the event that there is a severe disruption in supply.
And I think people have pointed out that filling it really has a
negligible impact, just like tapping it would -- in the past has had a
negligible impact.
Q In terms of signal, don't you think it would send to the
market the right signal, saying we just stop filling it for the time
being and --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, remember -- remember, we're a nation at war.
And tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve solely for political
purposes to lower prices would reduce our protection and weaken -- and
weaken us while we're at war.
Q I'm not saying, tapping, I'm saying, stop filling it.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I understand. But that's why I said, the
importance of doing so helps strengthen us and strengthen our national
security in the event that there is a severe disruption.
Q But how does the energy bill help with a factor like China --
MR. McCLELLAN: By the way, Bob, remind me about the week ahead at
the end, while I'm thinking about it. Go ahead, sorry.
Q What does that -- the energy bill -- do to deal with the
pressure of China, that is taking more and more oil, because it's
growing? How does -- what's the connection?
MR. McCLELLAN: The connection of what?
Q The energy bill. How would that solve the problem --
MR. McCLELLAN: There are -- no, there are demand and supply
issues. Those are things that we always -- that we always look at.
But if you look at our comprehensive energy plan -- and much of it
we've already implemented by executive branch action. There are some
100 -- I think, 105 recommendations, and more than 90 of them, we've
been able to implement administratively. But what the comprehensive
energy plan will do is exactly what I was talking about a minute ago,
will diversify our supply of energy here at home, it'll expand our
conservation efforts, it'll increase fuel efficiency, and it'll put us
in a position where we're less dependent on foreign sources of energy
and help us meet the demand here at home.
Q Scott, following up on that, since there is a log-jam in
Congress right now on the energy bill, and when Congress does come
back, there will be focus primarily on the 9/11 Commission
recommendations and the budget, is the President contemplating any
other measures that he can take, or the Energy Department can take to
bring down the price of oil, with the exception of SPR?
MR. McCLELLAN: The administration is always looking at -- looking
at ways to address these issues. Absolutely. And we need to -- and we
will continue to do so.
Q Can you give us an idea of what --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, and most importantly, what needs to happen is
Congress needs to act and pass a comprehensive energy plan, because
it's a recurring problem every year that we run into. We also need a
comprehensive energy plan to modernize our electricity grid. So --
Q But short of getting that --
MR. McCLELLAN: But -- but people keep looking for patchwork crisis
management solutions. We need comprehensive, permanent solutions.
Go ahead. Go ahead, Richard.
Q This morning, in a conference call with Senator Schumer, on
behalf of the Kerry campaign, accused the President of doing nothing to
solve the energy problem. Is the administration doing things like
diplomatically or anything being done right now --
MR. McCLELLAN: You're very well aware that we are, and we've kept
you -- kept you apprised you of contacts that we have with producers
around the world, both OPEC members and non-OPEC members, to make sure
that there are adequate supplies of energy. So that's important to our
growing global economy.
Go ahead.
Q Scott, do you have any information on that American
journalist who's being held in Iraq? There are some stories that he
might be released.
MR. McCLELLAN: Even if I did, I wouldn't get into a discussion of
it. Obviously, any time there is an American that is hostage, it's a
high priority for the administration. This is another example of those
who are the enemies of freedom seeking to shake the will of the
multinational force. And they cannot. They will be defeated.
Q On Iraq, the President of Iran has called on Muslim nations
to get together and discuss what he's calling a spiritual and human
catastrophe that's existing right now.
MR. McCLELLAN: The President of?
Q Iran.
MR. McCLELLAN: Okay.
Q And I was wondering, does the President think there's any
truth to this characterization at all?
MR. McCLELLAN: I haven't seen the exact comments. Is this
something recent?
Q Well, today.
MR. McCLELLAN: I haven't seen his exact comments. But what Iran
needs to do is work to help -- be helpful to the interim government in
Iraq and helpful to the Iraqi people as they move to build a free and
peaceful future, and not take steps that would be harmful in that
respect. And I think we've made that clear. But Iran also needs to
take action to end its pursuit of nuclear weapons. And so I think the
Iranian government says a lot of things from time to time, but I
haven't seen those specific comments.
All right. Bob.
Q Week ahead.
Q How is the speech going?
MR. McCLELLAN: It's coming.
Let's see, on the week ahead. I already talked to you about
Monday's meeting here with Secretary Rumsfeld and defense leaders.
On Thursday, August 26th, we will leave here and go to Las Cruces,
New Mexico for a rally. Following that, the President will make
remarks at a -- at Farmington -- at a Farmington, New Mexico rally,
then remarks at an Albuquerque, New Mexico rally. We'll overnight back
in Washington.
On Friday, the 27th, the President will make remarks at a Miami,
Florida rally.
And then on Saturday, August 28th -- I know everybody is anxious to
get back on the bus -- the President will make remarks at a Troy, Ohio
rally. Then he will participate in an "Ask President Bush" event in
Lima, Ohio. And then he will make remarks at a Toledo-Maumee, Ohio
rally.
On Sunday, the 29th, the President will make remarks at a Wheeling,
West Virginia rally.
And then, one update on the schedule the following week. The
President, on Tuesday, the 31st, will make remarks at the American
Legion National Convention in Nashville.
Q What about Monday the 30th?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, no update on the rest of the schedule that
week. I'm going to try to get you more of an update early next week on
all the activity leading into the convention.
Q Is he overnighting on the road starting Friday?
MR. McCLELLAN: What's that?
Q Is he overnighting on the road starting Friday?
MR. McCLELLAN: Friday -- you mean, Friday the 27th?
Q Yes.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I believe we're back in D.C. Yes, all those
are back in D.C. Those are back in D.C.
Q They're all day trips, Friday, Saturday --
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, those are day trips.
Q Is he back in D.C. on Sunday the 29th?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, back to D.C. Those are all day trips.
Q Is he there on Monday, as well?
MR. McCLELLAN: That's why I said, next -- I'm trying to, like,
maybe Monday or Tuesday of next week, get you an update on his schedule
leading into the convention. And that would be leading into convention
that Monday.
Q American Legion is also a day trip?
MR. McCLELLAN: What's that?
Q The American Legion, that's also a day trip, the Tuesday?
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I'll update you on the rest of the schedule
that week next week and let you know for sure on all that.
Q Olympics?
MR. McCLELLAN: Last question, okay. Yes, the President has been
following the Olympics, and pulling for all of our American athletes.
He is proud of all of our Olympians. They are performing with great
skill and determination, and it is inspiring to watch. He has been
keeping a close eye on Team USA and watching it when he can, is the way
I would describe it.
Q Hey, Scott, was the President surprised, as I was, to learn
--
MR. McCLELLAN: Next to last question.
Q -- Puerto Rico has its own teams? (Laughter.) Against the
United States? Can you explain that?
MR. McCLELLAN: That was new to you?
Q Yes, it was.
MR. McCLELLAN: When you found out the basketball game, huh?
Q Who was he cheering for, the U.S. or Puerto Rico?
(Laughter.)
MR. McCLELLAN: There's no question on that one. But no, I mean,
look, all the swimmers, Michael Phelps and Aaron Peirsol and Amanda
Beard, and the gymnasts -- you know, Paul Hamm and Carly Patterson -- I
mean, that's all been very inspiring to watch.
Q Any sport --
MR. McCLELLAN: What's that?
Q Is there a particular sport he's drawn to?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'll try to find out more. But like I said, he's
been keeping an eye on it and watching it when he can. So, thanks.
END 1:09 P.M. CDT
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