111716249561301133

Q. Scott, just a clarification before a question. Yesterday the President in the East Room with the Indonesian President, he said that we are both among the world’s largest two democracies. I hope he will not that — with the Prime Minister of India, he will be in July here.

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I’m sorry?

Q. When the President said that we are here with the — among the world’s largest two democracies –

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, yes.

Q. I hope that he was not talking that he — with the Prime Minister of India.

MR. McCLELLAN: You hope that he would not what with the Prime Minister of India?

Q. Indonesia is not the world’s largest democracy.

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, that — you’re correct.

Q. Okay, that’s the –

MR. McCLELLAN: He looks forward to visiting with Prime Minister Singh in the future. They have a good relationship, and he looks forward to seeing him and talking about how we continue to strengthen our relationship.

Q. The question is on this –

MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, that was a statement, okay. (Laughter.)

Q. Yes, I’m sorry. My question — the question is –

MR. McCLELLAN: Careful now, some others make statements, too, before their question. (Laughter.)

Q. Just clarification.

Q. Who would that be?

Q. It was not a question — just a clarification.

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111716249561301133

Q. Scott, just a clarification before a question. Yesterday the President in the East Room with the Indonesian President, he said that we are both among the world’s largest two democracies. I hope he will not that — with the Prime Minister of India, he will be in July here.

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I’m sorry?

Q. When the President said that we are here with the — among the world’s largest two democracies –

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, yes.

Q. I hope that he was not talking that he — with the Prime Minister of India.

MR. McCLELLAN: You hope that he would not what with the Prime Minister of India?

Q. Indonesia is not the world’s largest democracy.

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, that — you’re correct.

Q. Okay, that’s the –

MR. McCLELLAN: He looks forward to visiting with Prime Minister Singh in the future. They have a good relationship, and he looks forward to seeing him and talking about how we continue to strengthen our relationship.

Q. The question is on this –

MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, that was a statement, okay. (Laughter.)

Q. Yes, I’m sorry. My question — the question is –

MR. McCLELLAN: Careful now, some others make statements, too, before their question. (Laughter.)

Q. Just clarification.

Q. Who would that be?

Q. It was not a question — just a clarification.

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111671652083269138

Q. There have been dozens of syndicated columnists and editorial pages, including today, such as The Wall Street Journal, which have all strongly denounced Newsweek. And the Drudge Report republished several lines of the briefing transcript on Tuesday where certain network people in this room “ripped into Scott on this issue,” as Drudge headlined.

And my question, since MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann wrote about Scott’s alleged letter of resignation, you can assure us that the President regards this as being as asinine and abusive as the network bullying of Scott, can’t you?

TRENT DUFFY: Let’s see, if I start on that — (laughter.) I think we’ve been clear about Newsweek making an error, retracting their story, and we –

Q. What about the letter of resignation, this –

MR. DUFFY: Hold on a second, hold on –

Q. — the letter of resignation and the bullying of Scott?

MR. DUFFY: I think we’ve covered Newsweek cover to cover.

Q. No — no comment? You’re not — Scott has not submitted a letter of resignation, has he?

Q. He’s gone. (Laughter.)

MR. DUFFY: Les, we all serve at the — we all serve at the pleasure of the President. Scott has not offered any letter of resignation.

Q. So that is just absolutely rubbish, isn’t it?

MR. DUFFY: Thank you, Les.

Q. Where is Scott, seriously? (Laughter.)

Full Transcript

111671652083269138

Q. There have been dozens of syndicated columnists and editorial pages, including today, such as The Wall Street Journal, which have all strongly denounced Newsweek. And the Drudge Report republished several lines of the briefing transcript on Tuesday where certain network people in this room “ripped into Scott on this issue,” as Drudge headlined.

And my question, since MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann wrote about Scott’s alleged letter of resignation, you can assure us that the President regards this as being as asinine and abusive as the network bullying of Scott, can’t you?

TRENT DUFFY: Let’s see, if I start on that — (laughter.) I think we’ve been clear about Newsweek making an error, retracting their story, and we –

Q. What about the letter of resignation, this –

MR. DUFFY: Hold on a second, hold on –

Q. — the letter of resignation and the bullying of Scott?

MR. DUFFY: I think we’ve covered Newsweek cover to cover.

Q. No — no comment? You’re not — Scott has not submitted a letter of resignation, has he?

Q. He’s gone. (Laughter.)

MR. DUFFY: Les, we all serve at the — we all serve at the pleasure of the President. Scott has not offered any letter of resignation.

Q. So that is just absolutely rubbish, isn’t it?

MR. DUFFY: Thank you, Les.

Q. Where is Scott, seriously? (Laughter.)

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: Talked about it yesterday. Where were you?

Q. I was not paying as close attention — (laughter.)

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111647246865642090

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Talked about it yesterday. Where were you?

Q. I was not paying as close attention — (laughter.)

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111602738522555491

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Connie. Happy birthday.

Q. Thank you. How did you know that? (Laughter.)

Q. I didn’t get a happy birthday.

Q. Where’s my happy birthday? (Laughter.)

Q. I’ve got cookies for you all afterward.

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111602738522555491

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Connie. Happy birthday.

Q. Thank you. How did you know that? (Laughter.)

Q. I didn’t get a happy birthday.

Q. Where’s my happy birthday? (Laughter.)

Q. I’ve got cookies for you all afterward.

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Q. Scott, why did the — why didn’t the internal emergency notification system go off here in the White House?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I think that there were — there was a notification system that was going off.

Q. No, it wasn’t.

Q. It’s called April Ryan. (Laughter.)

Q. Yes, thank you.

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111586294820510629

Q. Scott, why did the — why didn’t the internal emergency notification system go off here in the White House?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I think that there were — there was a notification system that was going off.

Q. No, it wasn’t.

Q. It’s called April Ryan. (Laughter.)

Q. Yes, thank you.

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Q. — that the Secret Service has a pecking order of who they’re going to save, the President, the First Lady and then the press would be — (laughter) –

Q. Way down. (Laughter.)

Q. We might be below Barney and Ms. Beazley. (Laughter.)

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I think everybody is a priority for the Secret Service, and everybody’s safety and security is the priority for the Secret Service. There are a lot of personnel that work here at the White House. Obviously, there’s a detail that is assigned to the President, there’s a detail assigned to the Vice President, as well as Mrs. Bush, and they take their steps, as well. And then others around the White House are taking steps at the same time. So I don’t think I would characterize it that way.

Q. Scott –

MR. McCLELLAN: Wait, are we jumping subjects now?

Q. No, I’ve got one more.

MR. McCLELLAN: Ed Chen. Who’s in your seat?

Q. Evildoers.

Q. I just want to be clear on the color –

MR. McCLELLAN: Stop the name-calling.

Q. — on the color alerts. The feeling is not as good back here. (Laughter.) This is totally separate from the post-9/11 Homeland Security alert system, first of all, right, the color scheme? And is it –

MR. McCLELLAN: I believe that’s correct.

Q. And so, how far back does it go, and how many — how many colors?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, I don’t have that for you. You might want to double-check with the Secret Service on that.

Full Transcript

111587423518061645

Q. — that the Secret Service has a pecking order of who they’re going to save, the President, the First Lady and then the press would be — (laughter) –

Q. Way down. (Laughter.)

Q. We might be below Barney and Ms. Beazley. (Laughter.)

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I think everybody is a priority for the Secret Service, and everybody’s safety and security is the priority for the Secret Service. There are a lot of personnel that work here at the White House. Obviously, there’s a detail that is assigned to the President, there’s a detail assigned to the Vice President, as well as Mrs. Bush, and they take their steps, as well. And then others around the White House are taking steps at the same time. So I don’t think I would characterize it that way.

Q. Scott –

MR. McCLELLAN: Wait, are we jumping subjects now?

Q. No, I’ve got one more.

MR. McCLELLAN: Ed Chen. Who’s in your seat?

Q. Evildoers.

Q. I just want to be clear on the color –

MR. McCLELLAN: Stop the name-calling.

Q. — on the color alerts. The feeling is not as good back here. (Laughter.) This is totally separate from the post-9/11 Homeland Security alert system, first of all, right, the color scheme? And is it –

MR. McCLELLAN: I believe that’s correct.

Q. And so, how far back does it go, and how many — how many colors?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, I don’t have that for you. You might want to double-check with the Secret Service on that.

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Q. If the President is going to be ending tyranny, is he going to be staying up later on this trip? (Laughter.)

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Looking at the schedule — it depends on what time zone you’re in.

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111541970347007026

Q. If the President is going to be ending tyranny, is he going to be staying up later on this trip? (Laughter.)

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Looking at the schedule — it depends on what time zone you’re in.

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111538564028125140

SCOTT McCLELLAN: — and he would like to see it more affordable. I haven’t heard him discuss it recently.

Q. What is the definition of “more affordable,” please?

Q. Scott, is the President going to meet –

Q. What should — yes, what should I pay a gallon?

Q. What should April pay per gallon?

Q. What is the definition of “more affordable”?

MR. McCLELLAN: April, I think you’ve asked this question; it’s been answered –

Q. I sure have, and the horse is not dead. What is the definition –

MR. McCLELLAN: I hope you have a good weekend, while we’re off in Russia. We’ve been through this question. I told you that the government isn’t the one who sets the prices.

Q. Well, what about a — how much should a barrel of oil–

Q. Scott –

Q. Wait a minute — how much should a barrel of oil cost then?

MR. McCLELLAN: Does anyone want to keep this going?

Q. Yes. Come on. Yes, seriously.

Q. No, no.

Q. I’m one party; I have democracy, freedom here. Come on. (Laughter.) Minority rights.

MR. McCLELLAN: We need to make sure there are affordable and abundant supplies of energy.

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