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Skriven 2005-02-16 23:36:06 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0502162) for Wed, 2005 Feb 16
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Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 16, 2005

Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
Aboard Air Force One
En route Portsmouth, New Hampshire


  þ President's Schedule
  þ Iran explosion
      þ Reference B
  þ Iran and Syria Cooperation
  þ Officials aboard AF1
  þ Greg Mankiw
  þ Lebanon attack
  þ Social Security

11:03 A.M. EST

MR. McCLELLAN: All right, just a couple of things to begin with. The
President had a good discussion this morning with the congressional
leadership, the bipartisan congressional leadership. It was an opportunity
to talk about a range of issues, including the President's upcoming trip to
Europe. So the President appreciated the opportunity to sit down and visit
with the bipartisan leadership this morning.

At the conversation on Social Security today -- I think you have the fact
sheet already, but I wanted to bring to your attention on the panel today
will be former Democratic Congressman Tim Penny. I think that this is an
example of leaders on both sides of the aisle who recognize the importance
of addressing the problems facing Social Security and working to find a
bipartisan solution and doing so this year. So I just wanted to bring that
to your attention.

Also, the President's bipartisan advisory panel on tax reform is holding
their first meeting today at the Ronald Reagan Building. That was set to
begin at 10:00 a.m. this morning. And I think that's really all I have to
begin with.

Q What happened in Iran today, with that explosion? Have you determined
what caused it?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, we've seen the reports and we're looking into them. I
think you all have seen the reports coming out of the Iranian News Agency,
as well, saying that it might have been a fuel tank falling out of an
airplane. So that's what we know. We've been looking into it.

Q And did you see the reports that Iran and Syria apparently now are saying
that they're going to have some sort of cooperation with each other,
because of what the U.S. is doing? You know, what -- how, you know,
concerned are you about that?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, I saw the statement, I guess, from an Iranian official
in news reports. I'm not sure exactly what their referring to, from the
comments that I saw. But our views are very clear on Syria and Iran. The
President expressed those views again in the State of the Union address,
when he talked about both countries. But you say they were talking about
the United States?

Q They were saying they were going to --

MR. McCLELLAN: Because from what I saw, it wasn't clear.

Q The story that we had was that they were talking about cooperating with
each other because of the actions that the United States is taking against
them.

MR. McCLELLAN: If they're talking about the United States, you know, I
think that it's a fundamental misreading of the issue. Their problem is not
with the United States, it's with the international community. Both Syria
and Iran have international obligations and they need to abide by the
commitments they have made to the international community.

Q Did you see the report of them shooting at a drone, an unmanned --

MR. McCLELLAN: Did we what?

Q Did you see the reports of the Iranians shooting at a drone?

MR. McCLELLAN: The reports? No, I just saw the report out of the Iranian
News Agency, where they were suggesting it was possibly a fuel tank falling
out of an airplane.

Q Scott, so as far as you know, there's no U.S. plane involved, at all; any
U.S. assets whatsoever --

MR. McCLELLAN: Correct.

Q Who's on the plane with him today?

MR. McCLELLAN: Senator Gregg, Senator Sununu -- I think he's visiting with
them right now.

Q Talking about strategy for the bill, for a Social Security --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, yes, I expect they'll talk about that, as well as
other priorities going on in Congress. But they just started visiting a few
minutes ago, I think.

Q So there are a couple reports about Greg Mankiw stepping down at the end
of the week, and Ben Bernanke, the leading contender. Can you tell us
anything about whether Bernanke is the lead contender for CEA --

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I won't speculate on personnel matters. But we do have
Greg's letter of resignation that is available; if you all want it, you can
get it from our office. The President greatly appreciates the job that Greg
Mankiw has done serving as head of the Council of Economic Advisors. He has
done an outstanding job. I think Greg made it known when he began his
service that he intended to serve for two years and then return to Harvard,
to continue his teaching. And we have his letter of resignation, if you
want to see that. But, obviously, we're moving to name a replacement and I
expect that would be soon, but I won't characterize it beyond that.

Q Do you have any comment on the reports that the U.S. -- accusations by
Iran that the U.S. is flying spy planes over?

MR. McCLELLAN: I talked about this the other day, and I don't really have
anything further to say on it, than what I said previously.

Q Is there any new information at all on who was behind the attack in
Lebanon, anything new?

MR. McCLELLAN: No. From our standpoint? Well, I mean, what's new, I guess,
was the statement that was put out by the President of the United Nations
Security Council. It was a strong statement that was -- that received
unanimous support. It essentially talked about the importance of it being
fully investigated and those who are responsible being brought to justice.
And it talked about the importance of countries abiding by Security Council
resolutions.

It also pointed out the importance of the Secretary General preparing a
report looking at the causes and circumstances involving this brutal
terrorist attack. It was a horrible attack and we want to see it fully
investigated; we want to see those who are responsible brought to justice.

Q Scott, Greenspan is testifying today and he's expected to get a lot of
fiscal policy questions. What do you -- what will your response be to the
charges that although you plan to bring the deficit down, you cut it in
half in five more years, that the longer-term issue of Social Security
solvency hasn't been fully addressed with a detailed plan?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, that's why you've heard the President often talk about
the twin deficits that we face. And the President has made it very clear
that we need to address our long-term unfunded liabilities -- and that's
Social Security and Medicare. We took an important step to reform Medicare
and modernize it and bring some cost controls to the program. And the
President, again, is talking today to the American people about the
importance of strengthening Social Security and making it permanently
sound. And we've talked about how people are going to look favorably upon
action that will address these unfunded liabilities. And that's important.

We've also made a commitment to continue working with Congress to exercise
even greater spending restraint. Our economy is growing stronger. We've
seen increased revenues coming in to the Treasury. And that helps address
the deficit issue. But the deficit-reduction plan that the President has
outlined is based really on two things: one, continuing to keep our economy
growing stronger; and two, exercising spending restraint. And Congress has
met the top-line budget numbers that we have outlined over the previous
couple years, and we're confident they'll do it again this year so that we
can cut the deficit in half over the next five years.

Q Do you think the public fully understands the problem with Social
Security?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think if you look at some of the recent surveys, I
know last week the Washington Post pointed out that the American people --
that according to their survey, 73 percent, I think, was the number, 73
percent of the American people believe it's either a crisis or faces major
problems. And so I think the American people do understand the problems
facing Social Security, but it's important to continue reaching out to them
to talk about how those problems are only going to get worse over time, and
that that is why we need to act now to strengthen it for our children and
grandchildren.

The President is going to continue going out and talking to the American
people and seniors, and saying, if you're retired, nothing is going to
change. He's going to continue reassuring seniors -- those seniors who are
currently retired and then those who are near retirement that were born
before 1950. That's important that they recognize nothing changes for them,
because I think many seniors -- and I think you're going to have a
grandfather on the panel today -- recognize the importance of strengthening
Social Security for our children and grandchildren. They want to make sure
that it is around for them, and give them the opportunity to realize an
even greater grater rate of return.

Q So this process will continue for some time?

MR. McCLELLAN: Absolutely. I mean, this process is still in the early
stages. He's only been on the road in a handful of states, or even less. So
he's going to continue going out across the country, reaching out to the
American people, talking about the problems facing Social Security and the
need to advance a bipartisan solution and to act this year.

Q Is the discussion going to continue for a while on the same line it's
been on, which is, this is a problem, as opposed to, what are the solutions
for the solvency issue?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, it's both, but, yes. We're still in the early stages
of this session of Congress. The President believes it's important to go
directly to the American people and talk about the big challenges that this
country faces. And one of the biggest challenges we face is Social
Security. That's why he's reaching out to the American people all across
the country. We're just in the initial phase of that at this point.

He's going to continue reaching out, talking about the problem. But he's
also talking more about some of his ideas for strengthening Social
Security. He's talked about the importance of personal accounts, so that
younger workers can realize a greater rate of return. He's talked about
ideas that others have suggested for solving this problem. And the
President welcomes all ideas; he's made that very clear. And he wants to
advance a bipartisan solution. And so one of the things we're focusing on
today is bringing a Democrat on the panel -- a Democratic leader, to talk
about some of those ideas.

Q But when does this initial phase end, talking about the problem, and move
to the -- you know, how much longer do you think --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we're doing two things. One, we're reaching out to the
American people, and two, we're reaching out to members of Congress. But
there is going to be a period where the President is going to continue
traveling the country and reaching out to the American people. I'm not
putting a time line on it at this point, it's still in the early stages
right now.

Q It's safe to say months, though, and not weeks or something, right?

MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, I think that this is an issue he will continue to talk
about. Obviously, there's a legislative process. And I think everybody
recognizes that that's going to -- it's going to take some time to move
through the process. But the President has made it very clear he wants to
get it done this year, and this is one of our highest domestic priorities.
And so, yes, he'll continue --

Q The conversations?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- for some time he'll continue reaching out to the American
people. And I expect he'll do it even throughout the process. But this is
still -- we're still in the stage of talking with the American people about
the problem and reaching out to members of Congress to say, we welcome your
ideas, too; and let's talk about how we can work -- solve this together.

Q If the goal is to convince people who have doubts about the problem of
Social Security, why do, it seems like we go to these rallies where people
mostly seem to agree with the President. Why not -- is there some question
as to whether the President's base of support is doubting the plan? Or at
what point will you --

MR. McCLELLAN: I disagree with your characterization. One, the President is
reaching out to all Americans. This is an issue that affects all Americans.
So he's reaching out to all Americans in that regard. Now, the American
people expect us to solve problems and not pass them on to future
generations. So I think it's important to highlight the problems facing
Social Security and have a discussion with the American people about those
problems. That's what the President's doing.

He's doing it in different ways. He's doing it by participating in these
conversations, he's doing it by sitting down with news outlets from across
the country, like he did yesterday to talk about the challenge we face.
These newspapers he sat down with yesterday are from states that had a
larger percentage of seniors. And he wanted to make -- he wants to continue
to make it clear to seniors that nothing changes. There are some that
continue to use scare tactics, and the President is saying that leadership
is about confronting problems and finding solutions. And there are some
that want to ignore the problem or try to say there isn't a problem. That's
not a solution.

Q Congressman Penny, did he come to you all, or did you go to him?

MR. McCLELLAN: I can double-check. I mean, I'm sure we reached out to him,
but he was more than happy to participate in this.

Q Since the State of the Union?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'll double-check. I didn't -- I'll double-check that, and
you can check with me later on it.

Q He was on the commission.

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, he was on the President's bipartisan commission. That's
correct. And he was someone the President referenced in the State of the
Union address, as you mentioned, someone who has expressed some ideas for
solving the fiscal problem facing Social Security.

Okay, thanks.

END 11:18 A.M. EST
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