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Q. Scott, a two-part. In Chicago –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Is it ever one-part? (Laughter.)

Q. No. I’m only — I’m allowed two.

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Q. Okay. Since the White House Press Office has undoubtedly learned what Al Gore said and shouted at length in New York, you may also be aware that columnist John Podhoretz has written and the New York Post has published the statement, and I quote, “It is now clear that Al Gore is insane.” (Laughter.)

And my question, does the White House, with a lofty “no comment,” want to let that statement stand unchallenged, or how can you disagree with Podhoretz?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Les, I’ve already addressed this issue of his speech the other night and I’ll leave it where I said it.

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, we hope that the media will continue to show respect for the daughters and allow them to –

Q. Respect. If they’re going to be in the campaign –

MR. McCLELLAN: — go about their lives. But the daughters have also expressed a strong interest in helping the President on his reelection. And I know the President very much appreciates that.

Q. Therefore, they are subject to questions, aren’t they? If they’re going to be in the political campaign, they’re certainly subject to questions?

MR. McCLELLAN: Les, I think I addressed your question.

Go ahead.

Q. You addressed it — you evaded it.

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that the media, hopefully, will continue to show respect that — and recognize that they are the President’s daughters –

Q. — and ask respectful questions.

MR. McCLELLAN: — and that they have their own lives.

Go ahead.

Q. Do they have any questions for us? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: They are not — they are not the person on the ballot.

Go ahead.

Q. If they’re on the campaign trail, they’re fair game to questions.

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead. Helen, I just made a comment on that. I just said we hope the media will continue to show respect for –

Q. That doesn’t connote that we don’t –

MR. McCLELLAN: — for the daughters.

Q. That doesn’t mean we don’t respect them, but we can question them.

MR. McCLELLAN: Understood. Oh, understood.

Q. They’re out there.

Q. We respect you. We respect you.

MR. McCLELLAN: You all have an important role to play.

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: Speaker Hastert is a friend; Senator McCain is a friend. I certainly –

Q. They say it was –

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to get between someone who has a history in wrestling and someone who has a history in combat. (Laughter.)

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Q. Yes, two questions, please. From your statement at the podium, that Mr. Brahimi –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Is the Spanish okay? (Laughter.)

Q. We can do it in Spanish.

Q. Yes, we could ask the question in Spanish.

Q. Bueno.

Q. Quien es mas macho, Jorge Bush, o Scott McClellan? (Laughter.)

Q. Now we know. Now we know.

Q. You said that Mr. Brahimi –

MR. McCLELLAN: With a little Texas twang.

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Q. Scott, the President is known to be very loyal when it comes to his staff, especially his Cabinet and those working in the White House.

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Hopefully his press secretary, too. (Laughter.)

Q. He draws the line. (Laughter.)

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Q. Can I follow on that, please?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I’ll get to you in a second. Unless — do you want to yield? Okay, you won’t get your question today — go ahead.

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: …Go ahead, April. Bob, is that red jacket for a reason, or did you take it from Les? (Laughter.)

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Q. Why is it so difficult to pin down the date? If his response was one of concern directed at Rumsfeld –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: It wasn’t something he was informed about in the last week. I mean, he learned more about the precise nature in the last week, but –

Q. I understand that. But if his reaction was, let’s look into this, I’m concerned about this, I mean, that reflects well on him. Why can’t we know when it was that that exchange took place? Do we have to wait for the next Woodward book? (Laughter.)

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Q. You’re suggesting the President is satisfied with the approach Secretary Rumsfeld –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: He’s going to continue asking them where things stand and what is happening in terms of the investigations. The President wants to know the facts. He wants to know the truth. So he will continue asking those questions, as he did earlier today with Secretary Rumsfeld.

Q. You didn’t answer that question at all.

Q. We can agree you didn’t say “yes”?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, no, go — ask your question again.

Q. Is the President satisfied with the specific steps that Secretary Rumsfeld has taken in dealing with this matter?

MR. McCLELLAN: He believes that they are taking appropriate action to address the matter and that they are looking fully at whether or not there’s a systemic problem beyond the actions of a few that we have already been made aware of.

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Q. In that connection, has he issued a worldwide alert that all military prisons under U.S. control are not participating in such abuse? And does he know — how about Guantanamo? Is it clean?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Helen, our military adheres to high standards of conduct. And when — and when there is a bad behavior –

Q. We don’t need that lecture. We know that. We believe in our country.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the way you phrased your question doesn’t make it sound like you do –

Q. I’m asking you if he is looking into other military prisons that we have control over, as to whether there –

MR. McCLELLAN: I think the Pentagon has talked about how they are looking at their entire prison system and making sure that –

Q. This new man at Abu Ghraib also believes in interrogation, of keeping the lights on, no sleep and so forth.

MR. McCLELLAN: There are international accords under the Geneva conventions that we are committed to adhering to. We are committed to treating prisoners humanely and committing [sic] prisoners with dignity and respect, and I think that our military has made that clear, as well.

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Q. In that connection, has he issued a worldwide alert that all military prisons under U.S. control are not participating in such abuse? And does he know — how about Guantanamo? Is it clean?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Helen, our military adheres to high standards of conduct. And when — and when there is a bad behavior –

Q. We don’t need that lecture. We know that. We believe in our country.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the way you phrased your question doesn’t make it sound like you do –

Q. I’m asking you if he is looking into other military prisons that we have control over, as to whether there –

MR. McCLELLAN: I think the Pentagon has talked about how they are looking at their entire prison system and making sure that –

Q. This new man at Abu Ghraib also believes in interrogation, of keeping the lights on, no sleep and so forth.

MR. McCLELLAN: There are international accords under the Geneva conventions that we are committed to adhering to. We are committed to treating prisoners humanely and committing [sic] prisoners with dignity and respect, and I think that our military has made that clear, as well.

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: Last one in gets the first question.

Q. I’ll remember that. (Laughter.)

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