For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 14, 2004
Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
Aboard Air Force One
En route Las Vegas, Nevada
9:12 A.M. MST
Q What's your comment on the trade deficit?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, what's your question on the trade deficit?
Q Well, it's the second biggest in history, and it shows record
imports from China. And it also indicates that the cost of oil is
affecting --
MR. McCLELLAN: The way to create jobs here at home in America is
to continue to open markets abroad for American products and
producers. And as we do that, we need to make sure that there is a
level playing field for American -- for Americans to compete on,
because we can compete with anyone across the globe when the playing
field is level. Also, you have oil prices that have gone up.
Obviously, that has an impact. That's why the President has put
forward a comprehensive plan, that's one of the very first things he
did in office, to make America energy self-sufficient. We are
dependent on foreign sources of energy right now. We need to reduce
our dependency on foreign sources of energy. And the President's
opponent has stood in the way of a comprehensive energy plan.
Q Scott, is this the second time the President has come back to
Air Force One to chat with us? I know he did it early in his
presidency, but I don't recall if he's done that since.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, he wanted to come back and --
Q I'm just wondering is it the --
MR. McCLELLAN: Oh. You know, that may be right; that sounds
right, but I'd have to double-check.
Q Is he going to keep visiting us? I mean, he's such a fun
guest.
MR. McCLELLAN: He was glad to come back here and visit with you
all. He felt great about the debate last night. It was an opportunity
for him to sharply contrast the substantive differences on the big
issues facing the American people. And I think the President
demonstrated that he is the strong finisher in this race, and the
American people are starting to see that there are very real
differences on the big priorities they face.
Q Scott, was there some debate internally about how much and
how the President should prepare for this third debate? Some of what
you told us conflicted from what Dan Bartlett told us later, about
whether the President would prepare formally or not.
MR. McCLELLAN: What conflicted?
Q You said there would be no formal preparation --
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I didn't say that. I said -- and it was my
understanding earlier in the day on -- what was it, Tuesday, that he --
I said Senator Gregg would be there later, he'd be visiting with staff,
they'd be going through some things. And later in the day it ended up
being that was going to be a formal one, and then the one the next day
was less formal. So I told you
-- I've always told you we'd keep you posted. So I disagree with
that.
Q Okay, thanks. Did -- but was there a sense that the
President needed to buck up more between -- before the third debate
than there was between the first debates?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think what has come out of all these debates is
that there is a very clear choice in this election. There are big
challenges that we continue to face: the war on terrorism, our
economy, how we make health care more affordable and accessible for all
Americans. And there are clear differences in how we move forward to
address those challenges. The President has led decisively to put us
on a -- to help us win the war on terrorism. He has acted to put us on
a path to greater prosperity. And he is acting to reduce health care
costs and make health care more affordable and accessible for more
Americans. And that stands in stark contrast to Senator Kerry's
out-of-the-mainstream record and his litany of complaints that he has
offered during the election -- which does not add up to a plan. The
President has a clear agenda for where he wants to lead this country.
Q Is the President going to hit any of the -- any states in the
next three weeks that aren't popular, conceived as -- popularly
conceived as battlegrounds? Do you think he'll go to New Jersey?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, obviously, at this stage in the campaign
there's always a little bit of flexibility in the schedule, but we'll
keep you posted on the schedule. In fact, I've got -- if you want the
update now for Monday-Tuesday, I think -- and Saturday, one change to
Saturday. Thank you, Mr. Deckard.
On Saturday, the one change was we had had him going to Melbourne,
and now he's going to be going to Daytona Beach, Florida.
Q Say that again?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, let me go through the full Saturday, October
16th, in Florida. He'll make remarks at a Sunrise, Florida Victory
2004 rally. He'll make remarks at a West Palm Beach, Florida Victory
2004 rally. And then remarks at a Daytona Beach, Florida Victory 2004
rally. I think we were originally looking at Melbourne, but they're
still recovering from some of the hurricane damage, so that's the
updated schedule.
Q Starting in Sunrise?
MR. McCLELLAN: Sunrise, yes. On Monday, the 18th, the President
will sign the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for
2005, in the Oval Office at the White House. Then he'll make remarks
to the 2004 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams. That will be at the
White House on the South Lawn. And then we will go to New Jersey --
here's an answer to your question, Arash -- where the President will
make remarks at a Burlington County, New Jersey event, in Marlton, New
Jersey. Then the President will attend a Victory 2004 dinner in Boca
Raton, Florida. We'll overnight in St. Pete Beach, Florida. And on
Tuesday, the 19th, the President will make remarks at a St. Petersburg,
Florida Victory 2004 rally. He'll make remarks at a Newport Beach --
New Port Richey, I'm sorry, Florida Victory 2004 rally. Then remarks
at The Villages, Florida Victory 2004 rally. And we're back at the
White House that night, before hitting the campaign trail again.
And that's all I've got. Enjoy the rest of the flight. Thanks.
END 9:17 A.M. MST
|