110904545189038909

Q. Should we describe Bush an anxious to get back on the campaign trail tomorrow, after a week in which the Democrats have dominated the spotlight? At the risk of leading the witness. (Laughter.)

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904541689616321

Q. Has the President been watching the Democratic Convention? And will he watch Edwards tonight and Kerry tomorrow night?

TRENT DUFFY: Well, obviously, the President has a great stake in this election, a personal stake, and he has been keeping an eye on it. He has been monitoring closely, as you might imagine, the events in Boston. But he knows that the American League East won’t be decided until September. (Laughter.)

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904537253138147

Q. Scott, would you be at all surprised if the Democratic National Convention were to have as its speaker Ronald Reagan, Jr., introduced by Linda Ronstadt? (Laughter.)

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I’m not sure what that schedule is –

Q. Would you be surprised?

MR. McCLELLAN: — but if you have recommendations that you want to make to the Democrats on their convention, I think you should forward those recommendations to the Democratic National Committee.

Q. Wouldn’t you say that it’s full of surprises?

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Heidi.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904530367215488

Q. The Governor of California has refused demands that he retract his description of Democratic legislative budgetary obstructionists as, in his words, “girlie men.” And my first question: The President continues — fully supportive of Republican National Convention principal speaker Schwarzenegger, doesn’t he?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Les, I think that the Republican National Committee can talk to you more about who the speakers are at the convention –

Q. I want to know about the President. Does he support Schwarzenegger, or not?

MR. McCLELLAN: Does he support him? Yes, he supports Governor Schwarzenegger.

Q. Good. Then my second question –

Q. Are they girlie men? (Laughter.)

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904521291504102

Q. Ten days ago there was a growing consensus in this room, in the press, that Congressman Porter Goss would be named as the permanent DCI, Director of the CIA. And over the weekend the reports came out that Senator Rockefeller considered him too important, and that the administration had decided not to –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Too important?

Q. Too partisan.

MR. McCLELLAN: Senator Rockefeller said that?

Q. Yes, he did.

MR. McCLELLAN: That’s interesting. (Laughter.)

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904493489805210

Q. Prime Minister Blair took full personal responsibility for taking his nation into war under falsehoods — under reasons that have been determined now to be false. Is President Bush also willing to take full, personal responsibility –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I think Prime Minister Blair said that it was the right thing to do; that Saddam Hussein’s regime was a threat.

Q. Those were not the reasons he took his country into war. It turned out to be untrue, and the same is true for us. Does the President take full, personal responsibility for this war?

MR. McCLELLAN: The issue here is what do you to with a threat in a post-September 11th world? Either you live with a threat, or you confront the threat.

Q. There was no threat.

MR. McCLELLAN: The President made the decision to confront the threat.

Q. Saddam Hussein did not threaten this country.

MR. McCLELLAN: The world — the world, the Congress and the administration all disagree. They all recognized that there was a threat posed by Saddam Hussein. When it came to September 11th, that changed the equation. It taught us, as I said –

Q. The Intelligence Committee said there was no threat.

MR. McCLELLAN: As I said, it taught us that we must confront threats before it’s too late.

Q. So the President doesn’t take full responsibility?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President already talked about the responsibility for the decisions he’s made. He talked about that with Prime Minister Blair.

Q. Personal responsibility?

MR. McCLELLAN: Terry, go ahead.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904472435641471

SCOTT McCLELLAN: No, Jim, I wouldn’t look at it that way. I think that’s too simplistic to characterize it that way. I wouldn’t necessarily look at it that way.

Go ahead, Helen.

Q. I liked it.

MR. McCLELLAN: I’m not saying you’re simplistic. (Laughter.)

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904469052322770

Q. George Tenet came out and said those 16 words shouldn’t have been in the State of the Union address. It’s been proven by those two reports that those words were valid. Why did Tenet say that then, and does the President — do you still stand by the fact that those words should never have been in there?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Let’s see — if I recall, it was a year ago today when I first stepped up to this podium as Press Secretary, and we went through this issue back then. And all those questions were addressed at that time. (Applause.) Oh, thank you.

THE PRESS: Thank you.

MR. McCLELLAN: Thanks.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904463929575742

Q. The President’s strong support for the marriage amendment was publicly opposed by the Vice President’s wife. And my question, does the White House know of any other instance in U.S. history where a Vice President’s wife has publicly and openly opposed what the President –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Well, I would encourage you to go and look at exactly what she said. But the President’s views are –

Q. Are you saying that she was in favor of the –

MR. McCLELLAN: The President’s views are very well-known on this issue. The President believes, as do most Americans, that marriage is an enduring institution that should be protected and defending — and defended. And that’s what this President has worked to do. Unfortunately, you have some activist judges and some local officials in different communities in the country who are seeking to redefine marriage on their own terms. And that’s why the President felt that the constitutional process was the only alternative available –

Q. I agree, I agree, but what about –

MR. McCLELLAN: Jeff, Jeff. You’ve had your two questions. You’ve had your two questions.

Q. What about my question? You never answered my question. Has any other Vice President’s wife ever publicly opposed a President’s –

MR. McCLELLAN: Two question a day. Go ahead, Jeff.

Q. Thank you.

Q. Calhoun. (Laughter.)

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904459491746652

Q. If I can just follow on that, if it’s a scheduling problem and not his displeasure, as you’ve just echoed, with the NAACP’s leadership and their comments, Senator Kerry made the point, he’s the President of the United States, if he wants to rearrange his schedule, he can, right?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Well, there’s a lot of political talk. I urge you to look at the action that this President has taken. Let’s look at the record and look at the results because this President has a record of reaching out to all Americans, including the African American community. And he has a record of improving the quality of life for all Americans. This President has worked to expand opportunity for all Americans, and protect the rights of all Americans.

One of the first things he did when he came into office was work to pass historic and sweeping education reforms. This is what the President often refers to in his remarks as the new civil right, what he has referred to as having — he said that he refuses to accept the soft bigotry of low expectations. The President believes every child can learn and succeed, and that every child should receive a first rate education. And these reforms will help improve public schools and close the achievement gap for Americans.

And he has certainly worked very closely with African American leaders on those education reforms. And it also provides parents with options so that they can make decisions about how best to educate their children. Right here in the District of Columbia, we are implementing a pilot program — where you certainly have a large African American population here in the District — and now parents will be able to choose what school to send their children to if those children are in failing public schools.

And you look at other areas when it comes to expanding home ownership, the President has worked to close the minority home ownership gap. We now have 1.5 million new minority homeowners since he announced this initiative. And he has a goal of increasing that to 5.5 million new minority homeowners. He has worked to expand economic opportunity through his pro-growth policies, and cutting tax rates for — and expanding the child tax credit, and providing marriage penalty relief, and cutting taxes for small business owners. So look at the President’s record of results for all Americans. And look at what this administration has done — the first administration to ban racial profiling.

Q. But I asked about the schedule — (laughter) — and I’m wondering if the schedule that the President couldn’t get out of is really more of an excuse because he didn’t want to go to this group. Because he is the President and he can manage his own schedule.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, he’s going — as a matter of fact, Terry, next week he is going to — yes, that’s all part of the politics. Again, look at –

Q. No, I’m interested in the facts.

MR. McCLELLAN: You’re asking what Senator Kerry said. Put aside the talk, the political talk during an election year –

Q. I’m interested in the facts. Is it the schedule, or is it that he doesn’t like the way the NAACP leadership talks — because if it’s the schedule, he’s the President, why can’t he rearrange his schedule?

MR. McCLELLAN: You can look at the political talk during an election year, but let’s look at the action during people’s terms in office. And the record reflects the President’s commitment to improving the quality of life for all Americans. . .

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904454585494403

Q. Is the President doing any work today on naming a CIA Director? Is he talking to anybody? Is he meeting with anyone?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Let me give you a readout of the progress on the CIA Director.

Q. Oh, okay.

MR. McCLELLAN: Just kidding. (Laughter.) Everybody was looking. Put your pens down. (Laughter.)

Q. Who all — who’s been interviewed for that job?

Q. Is that going to take up any of his time today?

MR. McCLELLAN: The candidates are as follows. No, no — (laughter.)

Q. Is he going to be doing it?

MR. McCLELLAN: I’m sorry, we have a problem with the recording here. Sorry. (Laughter.)

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904450685881406

Q. Scott, a lot of those political watchers are saying that John Edwards, one thing that he has is the ability to connect with people, to communicate, he’s got charisma, he’s good on camera, he’s young, he’s vibrant. Compare that to Vice President Cheney, who’s, obviously, a bit older and been around a lot longer. Is the White House concerned that when you pair those two up it’s going to be a win for Edwards?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Kate, we look forward to discussing the differences and discussing the records. The President and the Vice President both look forward to a spirited discussion of the issues. The Vice President is someone who brings tremendous experience and expertise to the White House. And the President is pleased to have someone of his capability in that position, someone who he knows is fully capable of assuming the responsibilities of the Office of the President if needed.

Q. Is that an insinuation that Edwards may be not capable?

MR. McCLELLAN: I’m just stating — I’m just pointing out a fact.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904446008710224

Q. And is there — just to follow on Norah’s question, is there any timing issue in connection with tomorrow’s visit to North Carolina? Is that completely coincidence in –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Yes. Like I said earlier today — I think someone asked me — I said, we get credit for a lot of things, but that’s not one that I think you should give us credit for. (Laughter.) We didn’t see that well in advance.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904432340978252

Q. Scott, on that point, the President has talked about changing the tone in Washington, to making the debate more civil. But the Republican National Committee put out this statement on Edwards, calling him “disingenuous and unaccomplished.” The Bush-Cheney campaign put out talking points saying that Senator Edwards “delivers his pessimism with a southern drawl and a smile.” Is that helpful?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Well, I mean, is there something in there you’re disputing? (Laughter.) I think it’s perfectly reasonable to talk about the differences on the issues and to talk about the record. And I think that’s what you’re seeing being discussed here by the campaign and by the RNC. The President believes that we should focus on the policy differences and focus on the leadership styles, and that’s what he will continue to do as we move forward on this campaign.

Q. So you’re agreeing with those statements then, that he is disingenuous and unaccomplished?

MR. McCLELLAN: Like I said, it’s perfectly legitimate to talk about the issues and the differences on those issues, as well as to discuss the record. There are individuals in this race who have records, and those records are a reflection of how they would lead in office.

Q. You don’t seen this as personal attacks, you see this as policy –

MR. McCLELLAN: Suzanne, there are clear choices in this election, and the President wants the discussion to focus on the issues and the differences on those issues. There are clear choices and there are clear philosophical differences for the voters, come November. And the President will keep this focused on the issues and talking about his positive vision for the way forward for our country.

Q. So you don’t have a problem with the language and the tone?

MR. McCLELLAN: Like I said, it’s perfectly legitimate to talk about the issues and the differences and to talk about the record.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

110904426840976185

Q. Does the President feel that he had enough information about weapons to take this nation to war?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Well, I think you heard directly from the President earlier today in the Oval Office, following his meeting with Prime Minister Oddsson. The President talked about how Saddam Hussein was a threat. It was a threat that was real –

Q. — was a threat how?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we have learned since going into Iraq and removing that regime from power that the regime certainly had the intent and capability when it comes to weapons of mass destruction –

Q. What do you mean by intent?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the Iraq Survey Group, that was previously headed by David Kay and is now headed by Charles Duelfer, has looked into the issues and showed that Saddam Hussein was in serious and clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441. That resolution, you’ll recall, called for serious consequences if Saddam Hussein –

Q. It didn’t call for war.

MR. McCLELLAN: It gave him one final opportunity to comply, or face serious consequences if he continued to defy the international community. And the world is better off without Saddam Hussein in power.

Q. Do you know how vague you sound on that?

MR. McCLELLAN: And you heard that directly from the President of the United States earlier today.

FULL TRANSCRIPT