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Q. …My question is, is President is ready to replace Kofi Annan with my friend, President Bill Clinton, as the United Nations Secretary General. (Laughter.)

Q. Your friend? (Laughter.)

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: …Go ahead, Les.

Q. What is the President’s –

MR. McCLELLAN: Actually, let me go to Ken. He was being patient. He had his hand up before you. Go ahead.

Q. Very good.

MR. McCLELLAN: “Very good,” I don’t know. (Laughter.)

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111884825932829096

SCOTT McCLELLAN: …Go ahead, Les.

Q. What is the President’s –

MR. McCLELLAN: Actually, let me go to Ken. He was being patient. He had his hand up before you. Go ahead.

Q. Very good.

MR. McCLELLAN: “Very good,” I don’t know. (Laughter.)

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111884817756498451

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Thank you.

Q. Thank you for dropping by. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Always good. I didn’t want to keep you here too long on a Friday afternoon.

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111884817756498451

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Thank you.

Q. Thank you for dropping by. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Always good. I didn’t want to keep you here too long on a Friday afternoon.

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111767511717819706

Q. …Vice President Cheney suggests that perhaps First Lady Laura Bush should run for President in 2008. If so, who would she choose as her running mate? (Laughter.)

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Mrs. Bush is a tremendous asset to this administration, and we appreciate all that she does. She just had a great, successful trip to the Middle East, and I think that the President and Mrs. Bush have made it pretty clear that once his term is up, they intend to go back to Texas and get about doing other things.

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111767511717819706

Q. …Vice President Cheney suggests that perhaps First Lady Laura Bush should run for President in 2008. If so, who would she choose as her running mate? (Laughter.)

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Mrs. Bush is a tremendous asset to this administration, and we appreciate all that she does. She just had a great, successful trip to the Middle East, and I think that the President and Mrs. Bush have made it pretty clear that once his term is up, they intend to go back to Texas and get about doing other things.

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Q. Scott, at the press conference yesterday, approximately 25 percent of the journalists were women, and the President went to 2 percent of the journalists. And back in April, again, it was about 25 percent, and the President took only one question from a woman reporter. Can you explain this pattern?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: That might be a reflection on the media. That’s not — I don’t think that’s a reflection on who the President calls on.

Q. Their hands were up, picked the female hands –

MR. McCLELLAN: You pointed out that there is a smaller percentage of women at the event. I think that’s a question you may want to address to the media, if it’s a question of diversity in the media.

Q. If 25 percent of the journalists are women, I would think more than 2 percent of questions — or, in fact, it was one question — would perhaps be directed to the women.

MR. McCLELLAN: The President looks forward to taking questions from a wide variety of people, and I don’t think that’s a reflection on the President. I think that’s a reflection on maybe the media and the diversity within the media. So I think that’s a question you ought to direct to the media, not us.

Q. Can you assure us that he will take note next time to count –

MR. McCLELLAN: He was pleased to call on women journalists yesterday –

Q. He called on one. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, like I said, there are a number of major media organizations that were represented there. The President believes it’s important to get to those major media outlets and start the news conference that way. And if it’s a question of diversity within those organizations, I think it’s a question to direct to those organizations, not us.

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111767506630206249

Q. Scott, at the press conference yesterday, approximately 25 percent of the journalists were women, and the President went to 2 percent of the journalists. And back in April, again, it was about 25 percent, and the President took only one question from a woman reporter. Can you explain this pattern?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: That might be a reflection on the media. That’s not — I don’t think that’s a reflection on who the President calls on.

Q. Their hands were up, picked the female hands –

MR. McCLELLAN: You pointed out that there is a smaller percentage of women at the event. I think that’s a question you may want to address to the media, if it’s a question of diversity in the media.

Q. If 25 percent of the journalists are women, I would think more than 2 percent of questions — or, in fact, it was one question — would perhaps be directed to the women.

MR. McCLELLAN: The President looks forward to taking questions from a wide variety of people, and I don’t think that’s a reflection on the President. I think that’s a reflection on maybe the media and the diversity within the media. So I think that’s a question you ought to direct to the media, not us.

Q. Can you assure us that he will take note next time to count –

MR. McCLELLAN: He was pleased to call on women journalists yesterday –

Q. He called on one. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, like I said, there are a number of major media organizations that were represented there. The President believes it’s important to get to those major media outlets and start the news conference that way. And if it’s a question of diversity within those organizations, I think it’s a question to direct to those organizations, not us.

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Les.

Q. Thank you, Scott. Thank you very much.

MR. McCLELLAN: Front row is still coming in. (Laughter.)

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111767494950369291

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Les.

Q. Thank you, Scott. Thank you very much.

MR. McCLELLAN: Front row is still coming in. (Laughter.)

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