Text 1239, 621 rader
Skriven 2005-08-01 23:33:46 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0508014) for Mon, 2005 Aug 1
===================================================
===========================================================================
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 1, 2005

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
James S. Brady Briefing Room

Press Briefing
"); //--> view


12:18 P.M. EDT

MR. MCCLELLAN: Good afternoon, everybody. I want to give you a couple of
updates. First, on the Supreme Court confirmation process, Judge Roberts,
over the last couple of weeks met with 43 senators. Some of those he met
with twice. He also talked to additional senators by phone. He met with 23
Democrats in that overall number, and he also met with all 18 members of
the Senate Judiciary Committee. He has additional meetings that are already
scheduled during August, and he looks forward to continuing to pay those
courtesy visits and consult with senators as they move forward on the
confirmation process.

We also appreciate Chairman Specter reaching an agreement with the
Judiciary Committee that will enable the committee and the Senate to move
forward in a timely manner to have an up or down vote on Judge Roberts by
the end of September, so that he can be in place come October, when the
Court comes back into session.

Secondly, on Ambassador Bolton. Ambassador Bolton is planning on taking the
oath of office today and he is also planning on going to New York today to
get about doing the important work at the United Nations. The President
began thinking about the -- a nomination, a recess appointment of
Ambassador Bolton after it became clear that a handful of Democrats were
going to continue engaging in partisan delaying tactics and prevent him
from having a fair up or down vote on the floor of the Senate. This was
despite the fact that he had a clear majority of support from the United
States Senate. On two occasions, as Chairman Lugar noted in his statement,
the Senate showed a clear majority was in support of his nomination to the
United Nations.

And the President, after it became clear that the Senate was -- that the
Democrats were going to continue playing politics and blocking the
nomination from receiving an up or down vote, the President began thinking
seriously about recessing him, and he came to a final decision after the
Senate had recessed over the weekend.

Q When did he begin thinking about it?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, if you go back and look at the votes, there was a vote
on, I believe, May 26th, and then a follow-on vote June 20th, and then it
was becoming clear that Senate Democrats -- well, even after that time
period, I think there was a lot of outreach by Republican senators and
Republican leaders in the Senate to find a middle ground to move forward on
providing him with a fair up or down vote. But it became increasingly clear
during that time that Senate Democrats were simply interested in playing
politics and not allowing his vote to go to the floor for an up or down
vote, where he would have been approved.

Q Setting aside the question of the merits, or demerits of Ambassador
Bolton, just that aside, the reality now is he goes up there without Senate
confirmation. Does the President regret this in a sense, and does he feel
that Bolton's efficiency up there, his effectiveness is going to be damaged
by not having confirmation?

MR. McCLELLAN: Not at all. In fact, he has the full and complete confidence
of the President of the United States and Secretary of State Rice. He has
their full and complete confidence to get about doing the important work of
reform at the United Nations and making sure that the United Nations is a
strong and effective organization. Ambassador Bolton is someone who has a
long record of working to get things done and bringing people together to
move forward on important priorities, and he will take that record of
accomplishment to the United Nations with the full confidence of the
President of the United States and Secretary of State.

Q So Senate confirmation really makes no difference in how he carries out
his job?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think it's clear to everybody that he had the
majority support of the United States Senate. But, unfortunately, a handful
of Senate Democrats were intent on using partisan tactics to delay the
nomination from receiving an up or down vote on the floor of the Senate.

Q How do you square that, Scott, with the opposition from folks like George
Voinovich?

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me keep going on the first row, and then I'll come back
to you, Carl.

Terry, you had something.

Q A lot of people say that he was very sharp with subordinates and that he
was tough and too hard on them. Does he intend to moderate his behavior in
this new job?

MR. McCLELLAN: A lot of people that have worked very closely with
Ambassador Bolton recognize that he is someone who brings a
results-oriented approach to the position. If you go back and look at
people who know him well -- like former Secretary of State Baker, former
Ambassador to the United Nations Jeanne Kirkpatrick -- they recognize that
he will be a strong advocate for the priorities that we want to see at the
United Nations.

The American people want to see comprehensive reform at the United Nations.
The American -- we spend some $2 billion-plus a year, I think that we send
to the United Nations. They want to make sure that those resources are
getting real results, and that the United Nations is an effective and
strong multilateral organization. And John Bolton is -- shares the
President -- John Bolton shares the President's commitment to making sure
that the United Nations is a strong and effective multilateral
organization.

Q In fact, Scott, what a lot of people accuse Bolton of is being a
hard-charging guy, abrasive, abusive. I mean, some of his critics have used
all of these words. Even Kofi Annan, Secretary General, saying essentially,
hey, take it easy up here; it's good to push, but you've got to work with
other ambassadors. Is in fact -- is that, in fact, exactly what the
President is looking for?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think the Secretary General actually said he looked
forward to working closely with Ambassador Bolton. He put out a statement a
short time ago.

Q Right, and what I said is also what he said.

MR. McCLELLAN: Now, Ambassador Bolton is someone who has sometimes used a
blunt style, but he is someone who brings passion and experience and a
results-oriented approach to the position. That's exactly the kind of
person we need at the United Nations during this time of war and time of
reform. And that's why the President nominated him to be the ambassador.

Q And the President is a pretty plain-spoken guy, as well, so why don't we
be -- why don't you be a little bit more blunt here. (Laughter.) Does, in
fact --

MR. McCLELLAN: I try to be diplomatic with you all.

Q Yes. But the rap here is the President has chosen somebody who is quite
undiplomatic for a diplomatic post.

MR. McCLELLAN: No.

Q Is that what he wants?

MR. McCLELLAN: He is a strong and proven diplomat who gets things done. And
that's the kind of person we need at the United Nations. That's why a
majority of the United Sates Senate supported him. He is the right person
for this position at this critical time of war and critical time of reform
at the United Nations. He is someone who, like the President, wants to make
sure that the United Nations is a strong and effective multilateral
organization. And if you look at his record, he has worked to get things
done whether it's stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction, or
working to repeal a resolution that tried to equate Zionism with racism.
John Bolton has a record of getting things done.

Q He's the finger in the eye of Democrats?

Q Scott, some of the Democrats are saying this is abuse of power, and if
you'd given over some of the information that you had, he would have gotten
a vote. How do you respond to that?

MR. McCLELLAN: It was the -- well, first of all, there was a thorough
confirmation process, and Ambassador Bolton spent more than eight hours
before the committee answering their questions. He provided a number of
additional responses in writing, when they came forward with additional
questions. If you'll remember, Senator Roberts and other leaders in the
Senate, I think Senator McCain tried to reach out to these Senate Democrats
who claimed that they wanted more documents. It wasn't more documents that
they wanted; they just wanted to play politics with this position.

And the President believed all along that he deserved a fair up or down
vote on the floor of the Senate. I think the American people expect the
Senate to do their duty and give people a fair up or down vote. It was
Senate Democrats that chose to play politics and prevent him from being
confirmed, which he would have been if it had gone to the floor of the
Senate.

Q Scott, does the President envision Bolton being in this job for four
years? And, if so, would he re-recess appoint him?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I'm not going to speculate about things down the road.
He has been nominated to -- or been recessed appointed to this position,
and he will continue to serve through that recess period. And beyond that,
I wouldn't want to speculate, but he is someone --

Q But one of the knocks --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- the President believes in strongly.

Q Right, but one of the knocks on doing a recess appointment is you send
someone in with a relatively short time period to actually implement the
reforms that he would want. Does he think that you can do it in that short
of time frame, or does he envision this being basically a --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, if you remember, first of all, the United Nations is
coming back into session in September, so this is an important time for our
ambassador to get in place after months of partisan delay tactics by Senate
Democrats. And we want to move forward on major reforms this year. We've
outlined a comprehensive reform agenda that includes management reform. It
includes the establishment of a peace-building commission. It includes
reform of the human rights commission. It includes the establishment of a
democracy fund and the adoption of a comprehensive convention on
counterterrorism. Those are important priorities.

And we want to move forward this year on major reforms. And that's why it's
important to have him in place, in addition to the fact that we remain at
war, we remain engaged in a global war on terrorism up against an ideology
of hatred.

Q Scott, on Bolton's aggressive and abrasive managerial style, what does
this send to --

MR. McCLELLAN: Is that your characterization?

Q Well, no, that's not -- I didn't work for him, but others are saying
this, others who testified against him. Scott, basically, what does this
send to corporate America, that the President hires someone or appoints
someone who has this kind of style -- as you say, results-oriented -- but
definitely there were workers who were upset, many workers who were upset.
And they feel that he is not qualified to run anything because of his
style. What does this send to --

MR. McCLELLAN: The United States Senate confirmed him on four occasions
prior to this time. They would have confirmed him again, had not a handful
of Democrats used partisan delay tactics to prevent him from receiving a
fair up or down vote. And the President makes decisions based on what is
right for the American people. The American people want to see reform at
the United Nations. John Bolton is committed to reform at the United
Nations and committed to making the United Nations a strong organization
that is effective in getting real results, based on what its charter
establishes.

Q Well, following up on what you just said, you're basically saying that a
handful of senators, Democrats, are holding you up. What do you think about
Senator Ed Kennedy talking about Bolton misled Congress by denying he had
interviewed in the State Department CIA investigation of faulty pre-war
intelligence on Iraq?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think the State Department addressed that last week --

Q No, but you're saying that it's a delaying tactic.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I'm saying Senator Kennedy's views are well known.

Q No, but tell me -- no, but you made a statement; respond to this. You're
saying that it's delaying tactics --

MR. McCLELLAN: It's already been responded to.

Q No, you're saying it's a delaying tactic. This is concrete information
that Senator Kennedy is throwing out, and that's not delaying tactics,
that's something that needs to be addressed.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I heard your question. It was addressed last week.

Go ahead, Bob.

Q He goes to New York today into an organization where delicacy is
oftentimes the watchword. John Bolton has a reputation to live down, as
evidenced by the questions you're still getting. What is he going to do to
do that?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, but look at the facts. Look at his record of bringing
people together to get things done. Look at his record of resolving the
payment issues to the United Nations. Look at his record of rallying the
coalition for the Persian Gulf war. Look at his record of getting people to
come together within the United Nations and repealing a resolution that
tried to equate Zionism with racism. Look at his record of building a
coalition of 60-plus nations to stop the spread of weapons of mass
destruction, one of the gravest threats we face, if not the gravest threat
we face in this day and age.

Q So you're saying that he's going to operate up there as he has before?

MR. McCLELLAN: He's going to continue to focus on getting things done, and
addressing the important priorities that we face in the 21st century.

Q Well, if I could belabor it just a little bit, his --

MR. McCLELLAN: You bet he's someone that is committed to getting things
done.

Q But do you expect him to -- he is very, very proud of his hard-charging
style. Do you anticipate that he's going to continue to operate that way in
the United Nations environment?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, like I said, he's someone who cares passionately about
these issues that are of concern to all Americans. And he's someone who
brings a lot of experience and expertise to the position, having served for
some two decades in various positions within government. And sometimes a
blunt style is needed in order to get things done, and he has definitely
gotten things done.

Q Scott, some Democrats are saying that this appointment will complicate
the confirmation process for Judge Roberts. Did the President consider
that? And does he have any strategy for trying to convince Democrats that
they should abandon partisanship --

MR. McCLELLAN: I haven't seen any comments to that effect and I really
haven't heard much about that from the Senate. I think the Senate -- the
Judiciary Committee, as I just pointed out at the beginning, reached an
agreement to move forward on the confirmation process in a timely manner.
And that's what the President has called for. All indications are that the
Senate is committed to moving forward in heeding what the President's call
was, which was to move forward in a way that will give him a fair
confirmation process in a timely manner so that he can be in place by the
time the court comes into session in October.

Q Scott, when was the last time the President spoke to George Voinovich
about the nomination of Mr. Bolton? And to what extent do you square the
criticism of Democratic stalling and partisanship with the idea that there
was some Republican misgivings, led not least by Mr. Voinovich?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, like I said, he had a clear and strong majority
support of the United States Senate. If you go back and look at the votes
previously, on May 26th and June 20th, I think his views were expressed,
well known. And in terms of the last time the President talked to him, I
think it was the last time I informed you all -- I don't recall the
specific date. I know our legislative staff reached out to let him know
this morning, as well.

Q Scott, has President met with John Bolton, the concern he will be
representing the United States at the United Nations during a critical time
of reform and the 60th anniversary of the United Nations? As far as the
Security Council membership for India is concerned, the Prime Minister
(inaudible) with President Bush here at the White House --

MR. McCLELLAN: Right.

Q -- where is the Ambassador John Bolton going to stand on the membership
of the United Nations --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we haven't made any decisions beyond supporting Japan
for being a member of the Security Council at this point. We believe that
Security Council reform ought to be criteria-based, that there ought to be
some clear criteria for who should be a member of the Security Council. And
we believe that Security Council reform ought to be undertaken in the
context of broader reform at the United Nations, and that's how we're
proceeding.

We have had good discussions with others who have expressed interest, but
that's why we believe it's important to outline some criteria and make sure
that it is in the context of broader reform at the United Nations.

Connie, go ahead.

Q Thank you. Would it be the President's preference, if he could, to
overturn Roe versus Wade? And, also, does he think that embryonic stem cell
research should be made illegal?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that -- two things. One, on the issue of abortion,
the President has made it very clear that there are ways -- common sense,
practical ways that we can work together to reduce the number of abortions
in America. And he has worked to do that, if you look at what we have done,
by placing a ban on partial birth abortion, by supporting efforts to
increase adoption. The President is strongly committed to finding ways we
can work together to reduce the number of abortions in America. He is
someone who is pro-life.

Now, in terms of the question you bring up, I think this is trying to bring
it up in the context of does the President have a litmus test for the
Supreme Court -- no, he does not. And the President has made that very
clear. He is not the one who has a litmus test. He believes that a judge
ought to interpret our Constitution and our laws and not try to legislate
from the bench. A judge is someone who ought to look at the facts and look
at the law and look at our Constitution and apply the law. And that's what
the President has consistently said.

In terms of -- what was the second part of your question?

Q The legality or illegality of embryonic stem cell research.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the President felt that taxpayer dollars should not be
going to fund research where human life is created for the sole purpose of
destroying it. Now, he believes strongly in advancing medical research, but
we also must work to maintain the highest ethical standards. And that's why
he came to the policy that he did. It doesn't place any prohibition on the
private sector and research done in the private sector. He drew the line at
taxpayer dollars because he is President of all the people.

And I think people do appreciate the need to move forward aggressively to
advance science, but also look at those ethical considerations that really
have far-reaching consequences into the future.

Q Scott, is the White House concerned about the latest moves by Iran to
return to some of its nuclear research?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think the Europeans who have been working to
negotiate a resolution, diplomatic resolution, to Iran's nuclear programs
has expressed their concerns. I just -- yesterday I think they put out a
statement saying that they would seek further clarification, but that it
would be an unnecessary and damaging step by Iran. Iran made an agreement,
the Paris agreement -- they agreed to abide by the Paris agreement, which
called for Iran to suspend their uranium enrichment and reprocessing
activities while the negotiations were ongoing. The Europeans, along with
the United States, believe that Iran should adhere to the Paris agreement
and continue to work with the Europeans to resolve this issue.

We've made clear that if Iran is going to violate its agreement and restart
uranium reprocessing enrichment activities, then we would have to look to
the next step and we would be talking with our European friends about that
next step.

Q What would be the next step?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think we've repeatedly said that if they're not
going to abide by their agreements and obligations, then we would have to
look to the Security Council. And I think the Europeans have expressed
that. But right now the Europeans are seeking clarification about what
Iran's intentions are.

Q Do you have anything on the -- oh, I'm sorry.

Q Scott, two things. One, is there -- in January 2007, do you expect the
Senate to give Bolton and up and down vote? And, also, is there any update
to the delegation going to King Fahd's funeral?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not going to speculate about things down the road. In
terms of the delegation, hopefully, we'll have more for you a little bit
later today for the King's funeral. And in terms of -- the President will
have a couple of statements out later today regarding the passing of King
Fahd, as well as the ascension of King Abdullah to the throne.

Q Thank you, Scott. I have two questions. First -- and by the way, in
answer to Carl's question earlier, that was my question to you about when
the President spoke to Voinovich. And if you go back to your transcript --

MR. McCLELLAN: I thought you were going to give me the answer to that
question.

Q Yes, it was the night before the vote on the foreign relations --

MR. McCLELLAN: Right.

Q -- you should check the date. The CIA reported last week in a story that
did not get much attention in the newspapers that the President-elect of
Iran was not a hostage-taker, and not the person in the photographs. Does
the administration consider the matter closed?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, as I said, we were still looking into whether or not he
was explicitly one of the hostage-takers. And what we know, and I think you
heard some comments out of Iran, too, that he was a leader of the student
organization that oversaw the takeover and the taking of hostages. What we
don't know is whether he was explicitly one of the hostage-takers.

Q Well, the CIA --

MR. McCLELLAN: So that's something we continue to look into. Now, in terms
of -- you're referring to pictures. I think they were talking -- the
intelligence community was talking about their analysis of some of the
pictures that we have seen from that time period.

Q So the matter is not closed then?

MR. McCLELLAN: No.

Q Scott, there are some U.N. members, including Security Council members,
who are suggesting that Bolton begins as a lame duck, and they would have
preferred to have someone, you know, who came with Senate approval. Is this
something that the administration had to take into account --

MR. McCLELLAN: I haven't seen any such comments out of any Security Council
member. And, secondly, he did have the support of the majority of the
United States Senate; most importantly, he has the complete confidence of
the President and the Secretary of State. That's what he needs to be able
to do his work at the United Nations.

Q And just to go back to April's question, aside from what came out of the
State Department last week --

MR. McCLELLAN: And I don't think you've seen any indication out of anyone
at the United Nations, other than they look forward to working with him.

Q I think the people are speaking otherwise, quite frankly, but getting
back to April's --

MR. McCLELLAN: I'd look at Secretary General Annan's remarks.

Q Getting back to April's question, aside from what came out of the State
Department last week, did the President have to -- was there any questions
for Mr. Bolton regarding his filling out of that form after -- as the
President made the decision this weekend?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, as I said, the State Department addressed that last
week, and Ambassador Bolton was the one who addressed that last week, too.

Go ahead, Les.

Q Scott, a two-part. In his 18-minute speech to the Boy Scout National
Jamboree last night, the President said not one word about Senate Majority
Leader Bill Frist's Support Our Scouts Act of 2005. And my first question:
What if Senator Frist decides to say not one word in support of President
Bush's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that he has said a lot of words about the
President's nominee to the United States Supreme Court. And we appreciate
-- and we appreciate his commitment to move forward on a floor vote as soon
as the Judiciary Committee votes on his nomination.

Q But why didn't he say anything --

MR. McCLELLAN: In terms of the Boy Scouts, the President has always been a
strong supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, and he was pleased to go to
their Jamboree last night in Virginia.

Go ahead.

Q Today -- wait a minute.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I've got to keep going. Go ahead.

Q Wait a minute, just two.

MR. McCLELLAN: I've got some interviews I've got to get to.

Q Today 19 members of Congress --

MR. McCLELLAN: Les, one question today. Sorry, go ahead.

Q Okay, thank you, Scott. Do you have anything up to date on the six-party
talks?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I don't have any further update other than what you've
heard from Ambassador Hill out of the region. They continue to move forward
and have discussions about moving forward on a set of principles. And those
-- the meetings continue. As Ambassador Hill said last week, this is going
to take some time. But we are committed to seeing real progress. The
parties are having good discussions, businesslike discussions. And we are
committed to working with all the other parties on the goal of a
de-nuclearized peninsula. And we want to see progress toward that goal from
these talks.

Q Scott, the oil-for-food scandal happened under Kofi Annan's watch, and he
is under investigation for possible involvement in that scandal. Is John
Bolton going up to New York to say, hey, the party is over, and possibly,
this Secretary General should resign?

MR. McCLELLAN: There are people that are looking into all the allegations
in the oil-for-food program. And Paul Volcker has been leading the
investigation from the -- independently, from the United Nations
standpoint. Congress has been looking into these matters. We want to know
what the facts are, and that's something that they continue to look into at
this point.

Q What's Bolton's position?

MR. McCLELLAN: His position is that we need to reform the United Nations.
In terms of that, people are looking into those matters, and we want to see
what the facts are. It's important that it be a transparent and open
process, so that we can see what the facts are and get to the bottom of it.

In back, go ahead.

Q According -- is the White House concerned about the growing drug violence
in the border with Mexico, and that force already to the temporary closure
of the U.S. consulate in Nuevo Laredo?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think the State Department can probably provide you with
the latest update. I think you're talking about the Nuevo Laredo region,
and the violence there. Certainly, that is something that has been a
concern of ours. And it has been something we've had discussions with the
government of Mexico about. In terms of specifics, I think the State
Department can provide you with additional details.

In the back.

Q Is the President concerned about the disappearance or death of John
Garang, the Sudanese Vice President?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, we are deeply saddened to learn about the death of Vice
President and Chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, Dr. John
Garang. He is someone who will be remembered as a visionary leader and true
peacemaker, who was instrumental in ending a 22-year civil war. His legacy
of peace and democracy for all the people of Sudan survives in the
comprehensive peace agreement. He was someone who was committed to moving
forward on the peace process and implementing the agreement. And a way to
honor him is to continue to move forward on the comprehensive peace
agreement.

The United States remains strongly committed to the peace process in Sudan,
and assisting in the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement,
and also working to resolve the situation in Darfur, as well. Secretary
Rice, as you're aware, was just out there. But we are deeply saddened to
learn of his passing, and we extend our condolences to his family and to
the people of Sudan.

Go ahead.

Q Scott, Major League Baseball has just suspended Rafael Palmeiro 10 games
for steroid use. He's a friend of the President's, and the President has
spoken out about steroids. What is his message to Palmeiro, and what does
that do to his friendship with him?

MR. McCLELLAN: This must be breaking news, first I've heard about it.

Q And does the President --

MR. McCLELLAN: So you're asking me his views. I haven't had a chance to
talk to him about it, or see the reports. But, obviously, that is an issue
that the President took head on and called on Major League Baseball to
address. They are taking steps to address it. It is a serious matter, and
we appreciate the efforts by Major League Baseball and the representatives
of the players to move forward and address it with stronger enforcement and
stronger penalties.

Q What does that do to the President's friendship with a player like that?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I just heard about this.

Thank you.

END 12:45 P.M. EDT
===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050801-4.html

 * Origin: (1:3634/12)