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Skriven 2005-10-14 23:33:08 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0510144) for Fri, 2005 Oct 14
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Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 14, 2005

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The James S. Brady Briefing Room

Press Briefing
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1:18 P.M. EDT

MR. MCCLELLAN: A good turnout for a Friday. As you all are well aware, the
President visited the Pakistan Embassy earlier today to express our
condolences over the loss of life and the destruction from the earthquake.
Following that visit, the President chaired a briefing on our disaster
relief efforts to help people that have been affected by the disasters in
Pakistan and Guatemala, the people that are in need in those two countries.
We have joint civilian/military disaster assistance efforts that continue
in both those countries. The President is grateful for all the assistance
our military is providing, and the life-sustaining support being provided
by our USAID teams in both those countries.

We have disaster assistance response teams in both countries. Food and
other life-sustaining supplies are being provided to those who are in need.
We're getting them emergency supplies like blankets and health kits;
shelter, like tents; and water, as well. We are coordinating very closely
with the government of Pakistan and Guatemala. As you are well aware, there
are a lot of military assets that are being deployed to help with that,
too, in terms of helicopters and other assistance.

And that's all I have to begin with, so I'll be glad to go to your
questions.

Q Scott, the departure of David Safavian from the Office of Management and
Budget would seem to indicate that this administration has no tolerance for
employees who face indictments. Is that an accurate assumption?

MR. McCLELLAN: I appreciate your question and I think you're asking that in
the context of some of the current events, and I'm not going to even jump
in to try to speculate on those matters.

Q Given the time that Karl Rove would need to spend preparing for the
testimony he delivered today and the hours that he spent at the courthouse
today, how does that kind of absence and that kind of additional assignment
for him affect the work that's going on here?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, there are a lot of important priorities that we're
focused on here at the White House. We are a nation at war. The President
is continuing to lead the effort to win the war on terrorism. We are
focused on the priorities of the American people. The White House has a lot
of work going on, and we remain focused on that work.

We are working to spread freedom abroad, we're working to spread
opportunity at home. The Iraqi people are moving forward on a
constitutional referendum tomorrow. We're doing all we can to support them
as they show, by their courage and determination, that they are going to
defy the terrorists.

We are working to get much-needed assistance to people in the Gulf Coast
region who are recovering from the two hurricanes that hit there. We're
helping people get back up on their feet and rebuild their lives and
rebuild their communities.

We're working with Congress on a number of important priorities. Congress
is moving forward on a budget. We're working to make sure that budget meets
our priorities, but that it exercises spending restraint elsewhere so that
we're cutting unnecessary spending.

We're working to keep our economy growing strong. It has been growing
strong, and that's important, particularly with some of the devastation
that hit a part of our country.

We're working to move forward on the Patriot Act renewal. The Patriot Act
has provided important tools to our law enforcement officers to help
disrupt attacks from happening here at home. And it's important that we get
that renewed, and Congress is moving forward on that.

We're working to move forward on a national preparedness plan for avian
flu. There are a lot of important priorities we got going on right now, and
there is a great White House staff that is focused on those priorities and
doing their work.

Q And of course there are many people who work here beyond Mr. Rove, but
you have always suggested that he is enormously important to this White
House and that the President has full confidence in him. And, clearly, Karl
Rove would have to spend some time working with his counsel on this matter,
and has spent some time away from the White House, and so he would not be
available to give the President advice in those moments. Has there been any
impact?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President has a great team, and the President is the one
who is leading our efforts to address these important priorities. And
that's where we're focused and that's what we will continue to do, is carry
out the work of the American people, because that's what they expect.

And while there are other things going on, the White House doesn't have
time to let those things distract from the important work at hand. And
that's why we remain focused on what the American people want us to do.
That's why we remain focused on keeping our economy growing. That's why we
remain focused on addressing high energy prices. That's why we remain
focused on winning the war on terrorism and helping the Iraqi people build
a strong and lasting democracy, so that our troops can come home. And
that's why we remain focused on addressing other important priorities that
I just mentioned.

Q Has he been released from the grand jury now? We understand he left the
building. Is his testimony completed?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know. You all are covering that.

Q Will he be back here today to work?

MR. McCLELLAN: I will try to keep you posted.

Q What do you say to reports that the White House is very jittery about
everything that's been happening, and that the President is under a great
strain?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think you've been covering the President today. The
President has been having a pretty full day here at the White House. Like I
said, we've got a lot of important work on the plate, and we are moving
forward on the President's agenda.

Q Where do these reports come from, that they -- do they have any validity?

MR. McCLELLAN: From your colleagues, who write them.

Q Pardon?

MR. McCLELLAN: From your colleagues, who write them.

Q I mean, do they have any basis?

MR. McCLELLAN: What do you mean, "do they have any basis"?

Q That's what I'm asking.

MR. McCLELLAN: Ask those colleagues.

Q No, I'm asking you --

MR. McCLELLAN: I told you what we're doing.

Q -- you know what's going on in the White House.

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, we're focused on the priorities of the American people.

Q Come on, Scott, have you got a case of the shakes, or not? Come on.
(Laughter.) Hold up the hands, let's see (Laughter.)

Q That's a very stock answer. Is there concern about all of these things
that are happening?

MR. McCLELLAN: "All these things that are happening" ---

Q The grand jury and the --

MR. McCLELLAN: I just mentioned a lot of things that are happening, and
that we're getting done for the American people. We've got a lot of big
challenges facing this country, and the President is focused on addressing
those challenges. That's where he's keeping his focus.

Q Scott, the White House argument up to now on Miers has been, just wait
until you get to know her, and you're going to like her, and you're going
to see the qualifications that we have laid out, you're going to see that
she's going to be a great Supreme Court Justice. And, yet, support
continues to hemorrhage for Miers. And so what is the White House prepared
--

MR. McCLELLAN: What support are you referring to? There are three former
Chief Justices --

Q I don't have to lay out for you what's happening.

MR. McCLELLAN: There were four -- well, you asked the question. I think if
you look at those who know her best, and those who are getting to know her,
they strongly support --

Q What about senators who --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- her nomination to the United States Supreme Court. She is
someone who is exceptionally well qualified. She has great legal ability,
sharp intellect, high integrity, and she is someone who has the kind of
judicial temperament needed on our nation's highest court. And she brings
30 years of legal experience to the Court. She has real-life experience
trying cases in state and federal courts, and in appeals courts.

She is someone who is widely respected by her peers. She was elected by her
peers to be president of the Dallas Bar Association, the first woman
president to serve in that position. She was elected by her peers to serve
as the first woman president of the Texas Bar Association. And when you're
talking about that election, you're talking about, I think, some -- over
20,000 people who voted in that election. These are people who are from the
legal community. Those who know her best know that she will make an
outstanding Supreme Court Justice.

We're not making the argument; her record makes the argument about why she
should serve on our nation's highest court. She has the qualifications and
record and judicial temperament that the American people want to see on our
United States Supreme Court.

Q But that's not what I asked. What I asked is what the White House is
going to do to convince other people of the same thing that you just said.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the United States Senate is moving forward on the
confirmation process. We're still very early in the confirmation process.
What Harriet Miers will do is continue to visit with members of the Senate
and get to know those that she does not know already. She has already
visited with some 16 senators. She's in the process of filling out a
questionnaire that was sent to her by the Senate Judiciary Committee. She
looks forward to getting them the information that they are requesting in
that questionnaire. And she looks forward to answering their questions when
the Judiciary Committee begins the confirmation hearings.

Q Do you think this whole process is going to change once she goes publicly
before the committee?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, there were some early on that were expressing their
reservations -- or withholding any judgment, in terms of Chief Justice
Roberts, when he began the confirmation process. And what we're doing is
reaching out to many groups from across the political spectrum. The
American people want someone on our United States Supreme Court that is
committed to strictly interpreting our Constitution and our laws. She
brings extensive experience from the legal community to the Court,
real-world experience.

This is the kind of diversity of experience and perspective that the
President believes is needed on the Court. Her experience is equal to or
greater than many of the Supreme Court Justices who have been confirmed
over the last 70 years. I would encourage you to look at her record and
qualifications, and I would encourage you to let the confirmation process
go forward so you can hear more about her judicial philosophy. She is
someone strongly committed to our Constitution and our laws and applying
those laws in a fair manner. She is someone who is viewed as very
fair-minded by her peers. And the letter that was put out by the Chief
Justices today talked about her extraordinary qualifications, her personal
achievement, and her intellect and integrity, and it talked about how she's
widely respected by her peers.

Q Scott?

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Jessica.

Q Does the President still have full confidence in Karl Rove?

MR. McCLELLAN: Jessica, this is asking questions all in the context of an
ongoing investigation. And --

Q He's one of the President's chief advisors. Does he have confidence in
his ability to perform the job?

MR. McCLELLAN: Karl continues to do his duties as Deputy Chief of Staff and
Senior Advisor to the President, and you're trying to ask a question in the
context of an ongoing investigation. The President has made it very clear,
we're not going to comment on an ongoing investigation. What we're going to
do is support the efforts of the special prosecutor --

Q But, Scott, there's a difference between commenting in a way that would
interfere with an investigation and conveying the sense and the clear idea
that the President is engaged and concerned --

MR. McCLELLAN: And I've already answered that question, and what I said
previously still stands. So I would encourage you to go back and look at
what I said previously. But you're asking this question today in the
context of some grand jury testimony that's going on. So that's asking a
question in the context of an ongoing investigation.

The President has made it clear that he wants to get to the bottom of this
investigation. It is ongoing. The best way we can help the investigation
proceed forward is not to comment on it here from this podium. We'll be
glad to talk about it once the investigation has come to a conclusion. And
we look forward to that time, once it does.

Q But going to the workings of the White House, you said that there is an
extensive White House staff that can take up the issues. Is the suggestion
that Karl Rove is less and less engaged and less able to perform his
duties?

MR. McCLELLAN: I didn't say that at all, did I?

Q What are you saying, then? Is Karl Rove fully engaged, and is this White
House --

MR. McCLELLAN: I just said he's continuing to do his duties.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you. This Washington Post story about the U.S. troops having to pay
massive debts even after they're wounded, according to Tom Davis, 331
soldiers -- massive debts. And I know it's a Pentagon issue, but is the
White House doing anything to cut red tape and to help out these wounded
soldiers?

MR. McCLELLAN: Absolutely, and the President visits with our wounded
soldiers on a regular basis. He frequently goes to Walter Reed to visit
those who have been injured in defending freedom and making the world a
safer and better place.

The President often will visit with those who have made such sacrifice. And
our most -- our concern is making sure that they're getting the help that
they need. The President asks them, when he visits with them, if they're
getting all the assistance that they need and if there's any issues that
need to be addressed. And when they bring up concerns, we make sure that
they're followed up on, and that they're addressed. I read that story
today, too, and felt just like everybody else. And as you saw in that
story, the Army has been working to address those issues to make sure that
that doesn't happen, or if it does, in an instance, then they resolve that
matter and take care of those debts.

Q Will you wipe out the debt of this man, Loria. He lost an arm, and now
he's over --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Connie, I can't speak specifically to each one of
these. I haven't had an opportunity to go and check into that, but I think
the Department of Defense will be glad to talk to you about those matters.

Q Scott, what is the administration's position on tomorrow's referendum in
Iraq? Does the administration hope and expect that it will pass?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think you heard from the Vice President earlier. I think
you had an interview with him, and he was expressing our views. We believe
that it's important for the Iraqi people to continue moving forward on the
political process. And that's why we are supporting them in those efforts.
Democracy is taking root in Iraq, and there's no turning back. The
terrorists continue to carry out their cowardly attacks. The latest we saw
was earlier today, when they carried out a cowardly attack against the
Sunni Party that came out in support of the constitution. They showed that
they are determined to defy the terrorists, and that they want to solve the
problems of Iraq through the democratic process and that they are committed
to building a free and peaceful Iraq.

Q And regarding yesterday's event with the President and the soldiers in
Tikrit, has there been any adjustment in the administration's position
about whether or not it was scripted or rehearsed, and what sort of
protocols will be followed in the future?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think you heard from the troops. The troops that were
participating in that event said that they were expressing their own
thoughts. So you heard directly from the troops. And these are troops that
are on the ground in Iraq, who were giving the President and the American
people a firsthand account of the progress that is being made on the
ground.

You bring up the constitution that's going to be voted on tomorrow. This is
an historic moment in Iraq's history. This is a very hopeful period for the
broader Middle East. A free and peaceful Iraq will serve as an example for
the rest of the Middle East, and it's important that as we fight the war on
terrorism, we not only stay on the offensive and take the fight to the
enemy and bring them to justice, but that we work to spread freedom,
because freedom is the way you defeat a hateful ideology that the
terrorists espouse, and that we saw in the letter that Zawahiri wrote to
Zarqawi. The Iraqi people are showing their determination and courage to
chart their own future. They are going to the polls again tomorrow, this
time to vote on a constitution that was drafted by their own elected
leaders. And we believe it is a good, strong constitution, and the Iraqi
people will have the opportunity to accept it or reject it.

What's important is that they continue to move forward on the political
process. It's the Iraqi people who are making the decisions. Just three
years ago, they were under the rule of a brutal, oppressive dictator; they
didn't get to express their views. The Iraqi people want to live in freedom
and we're going to continue to support them as they do.

The preparations for the referendum are going well. Our commanders on the
ground have talked about that. There are over 6,000 polling places
operating, that's up. There are over 15 million registered voters, that's
up. When I say "up," it's up from January, when you had more than 8 million
Iraqis show up and cast their vote for their first freely elected
government in some time. And the preparations for security have been
conducted by the Iraqi security forces. They are the ones who are in the
lead this time, as opposed to January, when American forces were the ones
leading those security preparations.

Q Scott, just to follow on the event yesterday the President had with the
troops. Was that a fairly typical way that he gets information about what's
happening in Iraq?

MR. McCLELLAN: No.

Q Could you elaborate?

MR. McCLELLAN: He talks to troops in a variety of different formats. He
gets information directly from his commanders, as you are well aware. He
has a number of meetings, participates in weekly meetings with his
commanders on the ground in Iraq. Those are commanders that came back and
briefed members of Congress and talked to them about the plan that we have
in place and the strategy we have in place for succeeding in Iraq. It's a
two-track strategy.

But the President does believe it's important to, one, thank our troops for
all that they're doing, and do that personally. And that was one thing he
wanted to do yesterday, is express to our troops that he's grateful for
their service. And there's some that seem to suggest that the comments that
they were making were not sincere or not genuine, that they weren't their
own. And they said otherwise. These were their own thoughts that they were
expressing and they were trying to talk to the American people and get
across the important progress that's being made.

Now, we know that the stakes are high in Iraq. The terrorists recognize how
high the stakes are. That's why they're trying to prevent the democratic
process from moving forward, but they are failing. They have failed before,
and they will fail again. They can't stop it from taking root. You see the
true vision of the terrorists, and it's a vision of murder and destruction.
And their campaign of murder and destruction is falling apart because the
Iraqi people want to live in freedom.

Q When the President meets with his commanders, is there a more vigorous
give-and-take, or what we saw yesterday --

MR. McCLELLAN: Of course there is. I don't even know why you're making such
a suggestion.

Q Just asking.

MR. McCLELLAN: And yesterday, the President was trying to engage in a
back-and-forth with our troops. And he visits with our troops in a lot of
different ways. I pointed out that he visits with our wounded troops on a
regular basis. He visits with the families of the fallen. He visits with
our men and women in uniform at their bases across the United States when
he travels this country, and it gives him an opportunity to hear directly
from them, and for the American people to hear directly from them.

I think you're missing the larger point of the event yesterday, which was
to highlight the historic milestone that is taking place in Iraq tomorrow
and the preparations for that election. This is a country that just three
years ago was living in tyranny, under the brutal rule of a dictator. And
look where they are today. And this is going to make the world a safer
place for our children and grandchildren, because spreading freedom in the
broader Middle East will bring hope to a region that is in need of it.

Q Scott, is the President, is the White House concerned that with all these
mass of natural disasters we've had recently -- Katrina and Rita, and now
the storms in the northeast -- that FEMA, that federal emergency officials
could become, simply, overwhelmed, stretched too thin, not be able to
respond to Americans --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, when you talk about our response
efforts, it's much broader than just FEMA. There is grant money that we
provide to state and local first responders. Remember, it's local first
responders who are typically the first ones on the scene. And so that's why
we've significantly increased by billions of dollars grant money to go
directly to those first responders so that they can be prepared.

We also have a military that does an outstanding job in responding to
natural disasters. We've seen that in the response efforts to natural
disasters here at home, we've seen it abroad by our other command posts,
like the Southern Command for Guatemala, and then the Central Command that
has been helping in Pakistan.

And so you have to look at the overall preparedness plans. You're narrowing
it down to just one agency, and it's much broader than that. We work very
closely to support the state and local efforts. Typically, in natural
disasters, it's the state and local governments and authorities that have
the lead in the response. And that one issue that we saw with Katrina was
the issue relating to the role of the military. And the President believes
we need to really consider and look at what role the military plays in the
event of a catastrophic natural disaster, like a hurricane four or five
that we saw with Katrina.

Q So is the President satisfied with the federal relief efforts that he
sees ongoing right now in the south -- Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama --
the northeast, as well?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, he has great confidence in the leadership of Secretary
Chertoff and the leadership of Admiral Allen, who is our point person on
the ground for those response efforts in the Gulf Coast region. He is doing
a great job working with state and local officials to make sure that we're
addressing needs. At a time like this, there are going -- there is going to
be a level of frustration because people are wanting to get help as quickly
as they can. And sometimes it takes time to get that help.

But Admiral Allen is someone that has a good relationship with those
officials, and he's been working very closely with them for when concerns
come up, as to how do we address those concerns. We've cut through a lot of
red tape and bureaucracy to get help to people in need in those affected
regions.

But it's work that continues. This doesn't stop. This is work that we
continue to address, and we continue to work closely with the state and
local officials. The President was just there earlier this week visiting
with them about issues like debris removal, housing. Housing is a priority
right now, getting people out of shelters and into housing. We've made a
tremendous amount of progress on that. Admiral Allen talked about that just
yesterday.

So there's a lot of work that continues, and I don't think you can just
isolate one or two instances here.

Q I'm just saying -- so pick a town, for example, Bay St. Louis,
Mississippi. They've been promised FEMA portables so that they can open
their schools November 1st, the last system on the Gulf Coast to open. They
were promised those 76 portables on September 26th. They have 16. They're
not going to be able to start school if they don't show up. The mayor
wanted a FEMA trailer. He can't get one. His house is a slab. He's sleeping
in the fire department. It doesn't sound like things are working.

MR. McCLELLAN: These people are trying to get -- these people are trying to
get back up on their feet and rebuild their lives and communities, and
we're working to address those issues. You're bringing up one or two
incidents here or there. You have to look at the overall efforts that are
going on. It's a massive relief and rebuilding effort that is underway. And
we're going to be with them throughout this process as they work to get
back up on their feet. And we've done an awful lot of work to get them the
benefits that they need, to get them into temporary housing, and we'll
continue to address those efforts. Admiral Allen is the one that will be in
the best position to address individual areas that you're talking about.
And he's been briefing about that regularly.

Q Scott, I just have two quick follows to some questions that were asked
earlier. One, are you trying -- are you saying that, CIA leak aside, you
can't say that the President has full confidence in Karl Rove?

MR. McCLELLAN: Maybe you didn't hear what I was saying earlier. I said,
what I said previously still stands.

Q What did you say previously? You say that all the time.

MR. McCLELLAN: You can go back and look at it. I'll be glad to share the
transcript of when that question came up last time.

Q Either he does or he does not. So he does have full confidence?

MR. McCLELLAN: We've already addressed that, Jim.

Q Why can't you repeat it?

Q But why can't -- if you've addressed it, why can't you repeat it for me?
Clearly --

MR. McCLELLAN: Why do you have to keep asking a question that I've already
answered when --

Q Because I don't know the answer.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, because you're asking in the context of an ongoing
investigation. And it's very easy to go and look at our transcripts and
pull that information --

Q That's why I said -- that's why I said, "set the leak aside," just in
general are you refusing to --

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes. And I said I stand by what I said previously.

Q Okay, topic two, since you won't answer that question.

MR. McCLELLAN: I did answer that question.

Q Okay. When we take a look at yesterday's event, last night the Pentagon
put out a statement saying essentially that they regretted if there's any
perception that the event was staged or that the participants were coached.
Does the President regret that --

MR. McCLELLAN: There you go again, because the statement also said that
these were their own thoughts that they were expressing. And you heard from
the troops.

Q Right. But the statement also said what I just said. Did it not end --

MR. McCLELLAN: The statement was -- the statement --

Q -- did it not end by saying that we regret --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- said a lot more than what you just said.

Q But I'm asking, does the President share -- does the President share the
concerns of the Pentagon --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, it's a wrong perception to suggest that the troops
weren't saying what they thought and what they believed. They were
expressing their views.

Q But the Pentagon felt that they needed to put out that statement and
clarify what happened, but also said that they regret there was a false
perception --

MR. McCLELLAN: Sure. There was a lot of attention given to it.

Q Was the President frustrated by how that was handled? Sorry, Dick.

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead.

Q Scott, you said a couple of minutes ago that you would be glad to talk
about the leak case once the investigation is over. Is that a commitment by
you to provide a full public accounting of what went on here in the White
House --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the special prosecutor is the one that's leading the
investigation --

Q -- when the grand jury finishes its work at the end of this month?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- and he's the one who's pulling together all the facts. We
don't know all the facts here at the White House. It's the special
prosecutor's job to do that, that's why we have been cooperating with the
special prosecutor. The President told the White House, cooperate fully
with the special prosecutor, and that's exactly what we have done.

Q There are a lot of questions, though, about whether the special
prosecutor will ever issue a report about what he has learned in this case.
There's intense interest in what went on here. Can you --

MR. McCLELLAN: Your readers, too.

Q -- commit right now to a public accounting of what went on here at the
White House during that period, once the investigation is over?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you're asking me to speculate about what the special
prosecutor may conclude.

Q No, I'm asking you --

MR. McCLELLAN: No, you said the special prosecutor --

Q -- to make clear what you said.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- may not issue a report. Let's let the special prosecutor
do his work, then we'll talk about these questions at that point.

Q Okay, but --

MR. McCLELLAN: But what our focus was on, was on cooperating with the
special prosecutor, letting him come to a successful conclusion. And he's
the one that was charged with overseeing this investigation, not us.

Q That's not what you said a moment ago, though. You said you would be glad
to answer these questions once the investigation is over.

MR. McCLELLAN: I said I'd be glad to talk about the investigation once it's
come to a conclusion.

Q No, that's not what you said.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, that's what I'm talking about.

Q Will the White House eventually provide an accounting of what went on
here?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, I just answered that question.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you. Scott, former Senator John Breaux from Louisiana is calling
for a national coordinator to handle all Katrina and Rita relief and
recovery efforts. Does the President intend to find such a person, and, if
so, what --

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry, who's calling for this?

Q -- about Senator Breaux for the job?

Q Senator John Breaux.

MR. McCLELLAN: We are continuing to look at ways we can continue to help as
the people of the Gulf Coast move forward on their rebuilding efforts. This
is, as the President said, going to be one of the largest reconstructions
in our nation's history. This was one of the largest natural disasters in
our nation's history, and we're not ruling things out. There are a lot of
ideas that we're looking at about how we can continue to support the state
and local efforts as they move forward.

Q Scott, a two-part. This morning's Washington Post quoted Louis Farrakhan
at a local press conference yesterday saying, "It is the responsibility of
government to prove the rumor false" -- that's the possibility that New
Orleans levees were intentionally blown up. And my question: Does the
President believe this government has any such responsibility to disprove
this astounding Farrakhan claim?

MR. McCLELLAN: I haven't even seen his claim, Les.

Q Oh, all right.

MR. McCLELLAN: We've got other things going on.

Q The editor of The Washington Times this morning referred to, "The laggard
protection of this country's southern border against the rising tide of
illegal immigration," while Dr. Michael Vickers, the Texas Republican
Committee is reported by The Times to have joined the Minutemen. And my
question: Does the President still consider the Minutemen to be
"vigilantes," or is he grateful for the many illegal immigrants they have
helped authorities to apprehend?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, immigration reform is a priority for this President.
He has been talking with congressional leaders about how we move forward on
comprehensive immigration reform. We need to continue to take steps to
strengthen our border and improve the interior enforcement of our
immigration laws, and we need to move forward on a temporary worker
program. The President had good discussions with congressional leaders
about this. The leaders of the House and Senate were here, I think just a
week or two ago, and that was one of the issues talked about, about how we
can move forward on that. I think you've had comments from Senator Frist
about it, as well.

And the President believes very strongly that if people see suspicious
activity along our borders, that they ought to report that activity to the
proper authority. There are --

Q Doe he know Dr. Vickers?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know, Les.

Q Did you know Dr. Vickers from Texas?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think so. I don't believe so.

Go ahead.

Q Scott, as you and others have said, that Harriet Miers would be able to
set aside her personal opinions, including her religious beliefs, if
confirmed to the Supreme Court, why was it important, then, for the
President to select someone who has such a strong Christian faith?

MR. McCLELLAN: Why was it important for him to?

Q Yes.

MR. McCLELLAN: I didn't say that he used that as a criteria. That's not
something he uses in his criteria for selecting a person to the Supreme
Court.

Q You're saying it played no role, then?

MR. McCLELLAN: Who has ever said it did? I answered that question the other
day. I think Kelly was asking about it, and I answered that question. The
President chooses people to serve on the bench who have the qualifications
and experience and judicial temperament needed to do so. And that's what he
bases the selection on, not religion.

Q Well, then why, in the White House outreach to religious conservatives,
is there this emphasis on her Christianity?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, there's an emphasis on her conservative judicial
philosophy. The emphasis that we have is on her view that judges should
strictly interpret our Constitution and our laws, and not legislate from
the bench. She is someone who is viewed by her peers as very fair-minded,
someone who will look at the facts and then apply the law. That's what she
is committed to do.

She is a person of faith, and that is part of her background. She
recognizes, though, that when you're a judge, decisions are based on the
Constitution and the law and the facts of that case, not on someone's
ideology or religion.

Q Scott, a few minutes ago you said Harriet Miers looks forward to getting
senators the information they are requesting. This morning when asked about
her experience in constitutional law, you cited her five years in this
building and the work she's done there. In question 17, the Senate has
asked her to provide "copies of any briefs you have drafted or filed,
transcripts or other records or other materials you have written relating
in any way to such issues" -- and this is a constitutional issues question
-- "as well as any other materials that reflect your familiarity with,
views on or reflections regarding such issues." Is executive privilege
going to get in the way of --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the President addressed that last week in his press
conference. We will respond to the requests made by members of Congress,
and we'll address each one in an appropriate manner. The President talked
about the privilege that you're bringing up, and I spoke about it last
week, too. And what I said then still stands, in terms of information that
is provided to the President. The President relies on getting candid, open
advice from his staff.

And if you're talking about releasing information that could have a
chilling effect on the ability of the President to receive the kind of open
and candid advice that he needs to protect the American people and carry
out the other responsibilities that he has, that's a different issue. And
the President has clearly stated what our view is on that.

Q But don't you have a problem here of her entire experience in
constitutional law is in this building, and you can't release anything
about it?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, see, you're focusing on one area. And you're making
assumptions that I don't think you can make at this point. What we're doing
is working with the Senate Judiciary Committee and moving forward on the
confirmation process. That means providing them with information, in terms
of documents; and it also means, eventually, going before the Judiciary
Committee and answering their questions. There's a process in place. And as
that information is provided to the Judiciary Committee, then they make it
available publicly. So let's let that process continue, before you make
sweeping assumptions that I don't think you can make at this point. And
then we'll be glad to talk about it, but I think you know very well what
our view is in terms of an important principle. There is a principle
involved here when it comes to executive office deliberations.

Q Right, and you zealously guarded it. It just seems like, inevitably, it's
going to be a roadblock to finding out anything -- on constitutional law.

MR. McCLELLAN: You jumped in before I finished, because the second part of
this is what I was just saying, that she will go before the Senate
Judiciary Committee and they will have an opportunity to ask her questions,
and she will answer those questions in the appropriate manner. And she
looks forward to that opportunity so that people can come to know her.

Now, you mentioned constitutional law experience. She has deep knowledge of
the Constitution and constitutional law. Among the constitutional law
matters that a White House Counsel has to deal with on a daily basis
include laws governing war powers, Commander-in-Chief powers, pardons,
executive privilege, the appointments clause, the commerce clause, the 1st
Amendment, 4th Amendment, which relates to the Patriot Act, the 14th
Amendment, and many other areas. So these are issues that a White House
Counsel deals with on a daily basis. These are complex constitutional
issues that a White House Counsel has to deal with.

And she's -- I would also point out that she is the -- she would be the
only Supreme Court Justice who has actually had to comply with the Voting
Rights Act and the Constitution in drawing a redistricting map, because she
served as a city councilwoman in Dallas, and so she had firsthand
experience with constitutional issues when she was on the Dallas City
Council.

Q Scott, can I follow up and just -- could you explain to us how some of
those things that you just described that she's been involved in would
demonstrate a judicially conservative philosophy? The things that you said
that she'd been dealing with -- give us an example of how that might
elaborate or illuminate a conservative judicial philosophy.

MR. McCLELLAN: Because 30 years of experience dealing with complex legal
issues, and a range of legal issues, has given her deep appreciation and
respect for our Constitution and our laws. She is someone who believes
strongly in strictly interpreting our Constitution and our laws, and that
judges shouldn't be legislating from the bench.

Other experience that she has had, too, is overseeing the judicial
nomination process. So she understands very clearly what the President is
looking for in a Supreme Court justice, and the President knows that she is
someone who is committed to that judicial philosophy, as well. She led the
effort when it came to selecting Chief Justice Roberts, in the first place.

Q Does the White House find this morning's CPI figure at all worrisome?

MR. McCLELLAN: I actually talked about this a little bit earlier today, and
I think that what you see is that the core price index is -- the core
inflation index is at 2 percent. That is much lower than it was four years
ago. And the President has great confidence in the Federal Reserve when it
comes to monetary policy, and their ability to address any inflation
concerns. So I think you have to look at it in the overall perspective of
where it has been in the past.

Q Scott, the President spoke by telephone with the Canadian Prime Minister
this morning. Can you comment on the substance of that discussion? And,
more specifically, Paul Martin has been repeatedly making the point here in
the United States that lumber tariffs on Canadian wood are adding $1,000 to
the cost of every new home built in this country. Is the President
concerned about that, and, if so, does he have any plans to do anything
about it?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President and the Prime Minister had a good and candid
discussion. It was a good discussion amongst friends. They talked about a
number of issues. I talked about some of those earlier today with
reporters. Hang on a second, John, if you don't mind. I talked about those
issues earlier with reporters. They did talk about trade issues, and they
talked about the softwood lumber issue. That was one topic that came up.
The President reiterated our strong commitment to NAFTA, the North American
Free Trade Agreement.

The President, also, said that we both should get back to the negotiating
table and work to find a solution that will be lasting. This is something
that the President would like to resolve. I know it's something that Prime
Minister Martin and the Canadian government wants to see resolved, as well.
And they had a very good and candid discussion about that matter. Canada is
our largest bilateral trading partner. And so if you put this in the
overall perspective of things, I think when it comes to softwood lumber, it
represents less than 3 percent of Canada's exports to the U.S. I think you
have to look at the overall trading relationship that we have, and it's a
good one and a strong one.

Q But the Prime Minister has released -- or his office has released
verbatim whole chunks of his conversation to the President this morning in
Canada, suggesting that the Prime Minister was very tough on the President,
threatening to go to court, threatening to embarrass the President by going
to the American consumers, and saying, look, you can get cheaper wood from
Canada; why don't you do this? What is your perspective on the fact that
verbatim quotes from the President have been released, and your perspective
on --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I haven't seen that. I'd be interested to see that.
But I do know that they had a good and candid discussion. They're friends,
they talked very frankly about the concerns that they have. And the
President said he believes we need to get back to the negotiating table and
try to find a lasting solution. This is an issue that has gone on for some
time, and we would like to see it resolved. And the President believes the
way to do that is to get back to the table and negotiate and work to find a
lasting solution.

Q The Canadian Prime Minister has been linking the issue with energy,
musing that perhaps Canada could sell its oil exports to China or India
rather than the United States, linking this issue --

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think that's something that came up. They did talk
about energy issues on the phone call, but that wasn't something that came
up.

Q Well, what was that about --

MR. McCLELLAN: That wasn't something that came up on the phone call. They
talked a little bit about ANWR, and the President talked about some of the
energy that they have available, as well. They didn't talk about that.

Q There must be some concern, though, when the Prime Minister talks about
situations of taking trade reprisals against the United States for the
failure of this country to acknowledge the numbers of victories they've had
before NAFTA. I appreciate that the relationship is strong and warm and
fuzzy, if I may suggest, as you say. But there's no question --

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think that's the way I described it. I said it's a
good relationship. (Laughter.)

Q Well, allow me to --

MR. McCLELLAN: They are friends, and that's why they've been able to talk
about these issues in a very candid way. It was a very direct conversation
on these issues.

Q But when the Prime Minister then talks about trade retaliation, there
must be some concern on the part of the White House that perhaps the issues
are getting a bit out of --

MR. McCLELLAN: The Prime Minister expressed his concerns. The President
also talked about his view -- and his view is that the way to get this
resolved is to get back to the negotiating table and try to find a
solution. And that's what he emphasized in the phone call. He also
emphasized our commitment to the North American Free Trade Agreement. We
believe it's been working well. We want to continue to work to make it even
better and work better.

But there -- this is one issue in our overall trade relationship. And --

Q But on that point --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- remember, Canada has a fairly significant surplus when it
comes to trade.

Q But simply on that issue of NAFTA, the Prime Minister today is saying
that it isn't working well, that there have been a number of decisions that
have favored Canada that have been ignored by the United States.

MR. McCLELLAN: This is one area where we have a dispute, and the President
would like to see it resolved. The Prime Minister would like to see it
resolved. We have some differences about how to go about that, but the
President believes the way to do it is to get back to the negotiating
table.

Thank you.

END 1:57 P.M. EDT
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