For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 19, 2004
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
12:37 P.M. EST
MR. McCLELLAN: Good afternoon. Who wants the first question? No
statement. Mark, you got your hand up first, I think.
Q Great, I won the race.
MR. McCLELLAN: Les, welcome back.
Q On Guantanamo, can you tell us about the decision to send
British nationals back to the U.K.?
MR. McCLELLAN: You heard -- two things. One, the State Department
is going to have a statement on that particular matter here shortly.
You heard from Secretary Rumsfeld last week about our process on
detainees. And I think that you will hear from the State Department
that we have -- what we have been doing. We have been working with
other governments to discuss the status of some of these detainees.
We've already returned some detainees to their country or origin. And
the State Department will talk about how this process is working and
how we will move forward on it, specifically with the United Kingdom,
one of our -- perhaps our closest ally in the war on terrorism.
I will remind you that these detainees who are at Guantanamo Bay
are people who are a threat to our country. That's why they were
detained there. They are a danger to America and our friends and
allies. And those that will be returned to their country of origin --
well, we have been provided assurances from those countries that we are
returning those detainees to that they will make sure that they do not
pose any future threat to America or our friends and allies.
Q In general terms, Scott, can you tell us what separates these
from the others? Are they less of a threat, or have we just gotten
better at --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, as we said, we were going to look at each one
on a case-by-case basis, and discuss those matters with those
countries. And now we're ready to move forward, after the -- following
discussions with the United Kingdom.
Q But do the other countries --
MR. McCLELLAN: But the State Department is going to have a
statement here very shortly on this very matter.
Q Will there be other countries that receive similar
repatriations?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think there are other discussions that we
are having. I would point out to you that we have already previously
have returned to Spain and Saudi Arabia some of the detainees.
Q Sources in this administration and in other countries have
said that the International Atomic Energy Agency has found evidence of
uranium enrichment and other nuclear activities in Iran, far beyond
what Iran had declared. What does the administration know about what
has been discovered, and is it proof to the President and to the
administration that this process in which the Europeans took the lead
in encouraging more openness in inspections, that that process has
failed?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I would say that these reports that we are
seeing of Iran enriching uranium and possessing more advanced
centrifuge designs raise serious concerns. We have always stated our
belief that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon program under the cover
of pursuing nuclear power for peaceful reasons. A country with the
vast oil and gas resources of Iran has no legitimate need for nuclear
energy. And full confidence about Iran's nuclear program requires Iran
to abandon uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities.
Iran agreed to -- a few months ago -- to implement an additional
protocol to stop enriching and reprocessing uranium and related
activities and to cooperate fully with the IAEA. The IAEA inspectors
have been in Iran looking at these programs, and we look forward to
hearing from the Director General of the IAEA at the March board
meeting and discussing the matter further at that time. But these
raise serious concerns.
Q When you say, serious concerns, and you have a discovery like
this, is it proof to the administration that Iran is not fully
cooperating?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, this is -- these are activities that were not
previously declared. And the President, in his remarks last week at
National Defense University, talked about how A.Q. Khan and his
associates provided Iran with designs for Pakistan's older centrifuge,
as well as designs for more advanced and efficient models. But again,
we have serious concerns about reports that Iran is enriching uranium
and possesses advanced centrifuge designs.
Q Scott, can you elaborate on any of the details of the
proposal that the United States is backing to resolve the political
crisis in Haiti?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think Secretary Powell spoke earlier today
about where we are. And he said that he is not prepared to get into
the details of a plan at this point, but he talked about how a
consensus is emerging within the Organization of American States and
the United Nations and other countries, including France and Canada --
certainly countries of the Caribbean community, and that we're working
for a peaceful political resolution to the situation in Haiti, and that
this might be a way forward to resolve the current political crisis in
Haiti.
Q Well, that's what I was looking for, is some of the details.
Can you --
MR. McCLELLAN: And Secretary Powell said he wasn't going to get
into some of those details at this point, and nor will I.
Q Back on John's question, do you have any concerns about the
deal with Japan and Russia are having with Iran right now?
MR. McCLELLAN: Actually, this question came up previously, and I
think that there have been certain reports -- there are certain
statements that Japan has made in terms of Iran adhering to the NPT and
its IAEA obligations that could affect such projects, and could affect
their future relations.
Q So you're not worried about it?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, I think Japan has stated that their
future actions in regards to the NPT and in regards to the IAEA could
affect those relations.
Q Do you take that as an assurance?
MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, John.
Q Got a couple here. Now that you have the backing of the
United Nations on this idea that you can't hold elections prior to June
30th, but you still want to transition power to Iraqis, is there any
other formula under which you could hand sovereignty over other than to
hand it to some form of the Iraqi Governing Council?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think we have made it very clear that it
should be transferred to a representative transitional government. And
there's an agreement reached with the Iraqi Governing Council that laid
out a framework for transferring sovereignty to a representative,
transitional government. It's important -- I think everybody
recognizes the importance of moving forward to transfer sovereignty to
the Iraqi people on the timetable that was spelled out in the November
15th agreement. There is wide agreement on moving forward to meet that
timetable.
And certainly the United Nations sent a team in there to look at
the feasibility of elections. And I think that there's certainly been
wide agreement there, too, that elections by the date of the transfer
of sovereignty is not something that is feasible at this point. But I
would repeat to you that our agreement with the Governing Council
spelled out very clearly the importance of holding free, fair, and open
elections. And it calls for three such elections moving forward.
Q But since this idea of caucuses appears to be going away, is
there any other way you could transfer sovereignty without giving it to
the Iraqi Governing Council and the idea being that you would expand
the Council to be a little bit more representative?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, there's certainly a lot of ideas that have
been suggested. And we've always said that we're open to refinements
and clarifications, but I'm not going to get into handicapping the
different ideas that have suggested.
Q Just one point on a related question, if I could. You talked
this morning at your gaggle about when the recession started. You
know, the Council of Economic Advisors now takes it to the fourth
quarter of 2000. The National Bureau of Economic Research says it's
seen no compelling reason to move the date from March, 2001, where it
is now, and even your own Bureau of Economic Analysis in this chart
shows that there was actually growth in the fourth quarter of 2000. So
how do you peg the start of the recession to that fourth quarter?
MR. McCLELLAN: John, I think any way you look at it, the economy
was declining and weakening well before the President took office, and
that that decline led us into a recession. That balloon was deflating
well before this President took office. The facts are pretty clear.
Q But you have said that you inherited a recession. What it
would appear is that you inherited slower growth, but not a recession.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, as I said, that any way you want to look at it,
the economy was weakening, the economy was declining well before the
President took office, and that is the reason we were headed into a
recession. This President acted to get us out of a recession. But the
facts are pretty clear. There is no question that the economy was
weakening well before the President took office. GDP peaked in the
fourth quarter of 2000; the stock market declined sharply, starting in
September 2000; business investment started declining in the fourth
quarter of 2000; initial jobless claims started increasing the week of
April 15, 2000.
The fact that the recession ended just two months after the attacks
of September 11th demonstrates the resilience of the U.S. economy and
the effects of the tax cuts that we worked to pass in 2001. And so
thanks to the President's actions and policies, it was one of the
shallowest recessions in history.
Q I just want to be clear on one thing, though. I'm sorry for
monopolizing your time here, but when you say, GDP peaked in the fourth
quarter of 2000, that's your declaration, no one else's, correct?
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I can get you all the sources for all this
information. It's well-known.
Go ahead, John.
Q You've got another indictment in Enron. The President
repeatedly said that he deplores the corporate malfeasance we've seen
around the country. But even since the President started speaking
about this, we've seen investigations, indictments. Is the President
concerned that corporate culture isn't changing, and that a lot of
companies, given the fact that a great majority are legitimate, that a
lot of companies -- some companies, at least, just don't get it? They
don't feel the chill from these prosecutions and they continue to do
bad things, continue to be compelled by greed?
MR. McCLELLAN: Actually, the President has talked -- talks often
about the importance of changing our culture, and one area, in
particular, is the importance of ushering in a responsibility era. And
that includes corporate responsibility. The corporate governance
scandals that you bring up took a real toll on our economy. Some
Americans lost their life savings, their lives were turned upside-down
--
Q Are you speaking of Halliburton, by chance?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm trying to answer a question here, Helen.
Q I mean, you talk about the loss of lives.
MR. McCLELLAN: Can I finish the question? Then I'll be glad to --
I said, some Americans lost their life savings, their lives were turned
upside-down. Investors lost confidence in the marketplace. Jobs were
lost because of wrongdoing. Businesses shut down. And this
administration has a strong record of working to crack down on
corporate wrongdoing and holding people accountable for misconduct.
The President established a corporate fraud task force, and it has
compiled a strong record in combating fraud and punishing corporate
wrongdoers. The task force has been aggressively investigating and
prosecuting fraud, which is helping to restore investor confidence.
The administration is successfully working to restore confidence in the
marketplace by rooting out this wrongdoing, to provide fair and
accurate information to the investing public, and rewarding shareholder
and employee trust, and to protect jobs and savings of hardworking
Americans. There is strong action that this administration has taken
to crack down on corporate wrongdoing and restore confidence in our
marketplace.
Q But given the continuing indictments that are out there --
not just this one with Enron today -- does the President feel that
these companies still don't get it, that there's still this culture of
greed among too many corporate executives?
MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, I think many corporate leaders recognize the
importance of taking responsibility to make sure that they're adhering
to the highest standards. When you talk about the corporate scandals,
I mean, this occurred -- the height of it occurred some time ago.
There were a record number of corporate financial restatements -- even
though many were not linked to misconduct -- questions about the
reliability of accounting practices and the credibility of business
leaders.
And so those concerns about what was sloppy and misleading
accounting, and allegations of misconduct, decreased the incentives,
increased the risk, and drove up the cost for small businesses. And so
that's why this administration has acted to crack down on corporate
wrongdoing. Since the Corporate Fraud Task Force was created, it has
made significant strides. You have 290 corporate fraud cases in which
640-plus defendants have been charged with some type of corporate fraud
crime. Over 250 of such defendants have either been convicted or plead
guilty. And as of November 30th of '03, the Justice Department was
investigating 354 corporate fraud matters, involving 617 different
subjects. The SEC has also been taking action and is producing real
results to stop this kind of corporate wrongdoing.
Q Scott, can I go back to Iraq for just a second? The talk
about expanding the Governing Council speaks to the question of whether
or not this administration concedes that there's something of a
credibility problem that the IGC has within Iraq, that there's still a
sense that it was imposed -- its leadership imposed by the United
States. Do you recognize that that is the case? And then, how does
that factor into any kind of adjustment you make for a transfer of
sovereignty, to whatever that body is?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we appreciate the efforts of the Iraqi
Governing Council and the ministers that have been appointed under that
Council. You have -- beyond that, you have councils and -- city
councils in towns and cities around, across Iraq. There are a number
of steps that we are seeing where democracy is taking root.
This is at a point where you're getting into some complicated
issues, when you talk about transferring sovereignty to a
representative transitional government. And I think everybody
recognizes that that's a complicated matter. And that's why we said
we're willing to discuss refinements and clarifications to the
framework that was agreed to on November 15th, but that we should
continue to move forward on the timetable that was spelled out in that
agreement.
Q One follow-up is -- but do you disagree that there is a
perception problem, at least, that the IGC has, or a credibility
problem that it has among a broader cross-section of the Iraqi people?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I think what we agree with is -- what others
agree with, as well -- is that there should be a representative
transitional government put in place once we transfer sovereignty back
to the Iraqi people. And that will be on June 30th.
Q Which would look different than the IGC, is what you're
saying?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, now you're getting into questions of
different ideas that have been suggested for having a representative
transitional government. Like I said, I'm just not going to get into
handicapping all the different ideas --
Q But there's a recognition that something has to -- there
needs to be an adjustment for it to really -- to really be able to
exist without the direct imprimatur of the United States.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think it -- I think it's important that
there be a representative transitional government in place by the time
that we transfer sovereignty. I think everybody agrees that that's
important.
Q Two quick questions. One, according to the Indian law
enforcement authorities, there are innocent people who are still being
killed in Kashmir in India. And on the other hand, the talks that are
going on between India and Pakistan, and they are saying that they're
progressing. What role do you think President Bush has given to the
new Ambassador to India, Mr. Mulford, in these talks?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we have been in close contact with leaders in
Pakistan and India for quite some time. There was certainly a period
there where tensions were on the up-rise, and now I think you're seeing
that tensions are decreasing in the region. And we saw the joint
statement that was put out at the end of the initial talks between the
foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India. And that lays out a
schedule for bilateral discussions. And we welcome these efforts and
applaud the vision and the determination of the governments of India
and Pakistan to seek a peaceful settlement of all bilateral issues,
some of which you mentioned.
Let me keep going. There are a lot of hands up. Go ahead,
Connie.
Q On the abortion amendments, can you elaborate or go further
than what the President said yesterday? As you know -- not abortion,
I'm sorry, homosexual marriage. As you know, there are a lot of --
your conservative supporters are clamoring for beginning of a
constitutional amendment.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that there are many in America that
share the President's commitment to protecting and defending the
sanctity of marriage. This is an issue that the President has been
looking at very closely. We continue to look at it very closely. And
he pointed to some of the recent events that have been unfolding in
different parts of the country that are seeking to redefine marriage.
The President believes strongly that marriage is between a man and a
woman and that we should protect this institution, this sacred
institution. And that's why the President has said that if necessary,
he is prepared to support the constitutional process to protect the
sanctity of marriage. There are some activist judges that are seeking
to redefine marriage without any regard for the voice of the people
being heard.
Q But they want to know whether you're going to wait until the
legal and legislative process plays out, which could be quite awhile.
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not putting any time frame on things. I'm
saying that the President continues to look very closely at this
issue. He believes very strongly in protecting the sanctity of
marriage.
Q Scott, can I follow up on that?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes.
Q There were several reports out that the President has, in
fact, already made a decision --
MR. McCLELLAN: It's not so.
Q -- and that he intends to announce it soon.
Q Are you saying right now that the President has not yet made
a decision on whether to support a constitutional amendment?
MR. McCLELLAN: It's something he continues to look at very
closely. He has indicated that, if necessary, he would be prepared to
support a constitutional amendment. If activist judges continue to
seek to redefine marriage, the only alternative would be the
constitutional process. And the President has specifically said that
the legislation introduced by Congresswoman Musgrave reflects the
principles which he has talked about.
Q So you're saying as of today, Thursday, he has not yet
decided whether to support the Musgrave amendment?
MR. McCLELLAN: Don't know I can say it any other way, no.
Q Scott, on that point, Scott, when the President does decide,
has he determined how he will do this? Will he just say, I'm now in
favor of a constitutional amendment, which wouldn't be that much of a
change from where he is, or will he propose a specific way of getting
there?
MR. McCLELLAN: And now you're asking me to speculate about a
decision that has not --
Q -- you said the President is in favor of one, if necessary.
MR. McCLELLAN: -- that has not been made -- a decision has not
been made. And there will be plenty of opportunity to talk about it
further, if and when that time comes.
Q Well, obviously the President is trying to decide whether or
not to do this.
MR. McCLELLAN: He is looking at it very closely. You're right
there.
Q That's what I'm saying. Therefore, as a part of that, will
he actually say how we should proceed in getting a new constitutional
amendment, or will he just throw his support behind one?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you're asking me to get ahead of something
that hasn't been decided. I'll wait until there's more to say.
Q Scott, thank you. Back on Iraq for a second. When the
United Nations reached out to the U.N., it was built around getting the
U.N. to play some role in the elections or caucuses. What role, if
any, do you see right now for the U.N. around the July 1 transition
date?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the immediate role was for the U.N. to go in
and send a team in to look at the feasibility of elections by June
30th. They did send a team in, and that team has reported back to the
Secretary General. We've always said, and the President believes very
strongly, that the United Nations has a vital role to play in Iraq.
The United Nations was playing a vital role in Iraq prior to being
attacked by terrorists in Baghdad. And we are hopeful that they will
be able to play a vital role in the future. And those are discussions
we'll continue to have with the United Nations and the Secretary
General.
Q Do you believe that it's going to be -- you're going to be in
a position where you're going to have to go back to the United Nations,
potentially, for a resolution? Some countries have already mentioned
recent -- in recent days, that maybe the United States has to come
back, talk to us about a resolution to lay out exactly what they want
us to do, whether it's reconstruction --
MR. McCLELLAN: That's what other countries have suggested. That's
not what we have suggested. We are continuing to move forward on the
November 15th agreement to transfer sovereignty by June 30th. That's
what we're doing.
Q Last night -- Scott, last night Senator Daschle, and a
handful of other Democrats, asked, in a letter to the President, if he
would update the economic forecast in connection with the jobs and the
economic report. What's the President's response to that request?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the President is focused on doing more to
create an even more robust environment for job creation. That's where
the President's focus is on. Presidents and congressional leaders make
policy decisions. And that's where the discussion should be. And the
policies that this President has pursued are working to strengthen our
economy and to create a robust environment for job creation. New jobs
are being created. There are some 366,000 new jobs that were created
in the last five months. Unemployment is declining. GDP is strong.
We're seeing sustained economic growth.
But the President is not satisfied. The President believes there
is more to do, and he calls on Congress to focus on acting on his
proposals to strengthen the economy even more. That's where these
leaders should focus their attention, on acting to create as robust an
environment as possible for job creation, so that we can create as many
jobs as possible. I mean, the forecast you point to, it was a snapshot
in time. It was based on the data available at that point in time.
Q They're asking if the snapshot could be updated.
MR. McCLELLAN: It's done annually in the President's Economic
Report. It's been done that way for some 21 years. That's why it was
put forward in the economic report. I think you'll see -- I think you
see lots of forecasts from economists that are updated all the time,
based on available economic data. This President is focused on one
thing, and that is creating as robust an environment as possible for
job creation. He is encouraged by the direction the economy is going.
And this debate ought to focus on the policy decisions that are being
made. And the policies that we are pursuing are working.
Q One last question. Would he make the CEA -- Council of
Economic Advisors available to congressional committees for a verbal
update?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think where Congress ought to spend their time is
working to act on policies that strengthen our economy even more.
That's what we would call on these congressional leaders to do, is to
get behind our efforts to create as robust an environment as possible
for job creation. That's where their focus ought to be, because we are
the policymakers, we are the decision-makers. And this President acts
decisively to create as robust an environment as possible for job
creation and economic growth.
Q Scott --
MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Jeff.
Q Thank you. Conservative groups have petitioned the public
integrity section of the Department of Justice to take possession of a
hard-drive now held by the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms. It contains memos
that allegedly detail unethical and possibly criminal activity by
Senate members and their staff. Since this conduct is focused on
defeating the President's judicial nominees, will the White House
support the confiscation of this evidence?
MR. McCLELLAN: You need to direct those questions to the
Department of Justice.
Go ahead, April. I'm coming to you, Les. You haven't shown up in
a while, so you shouldn't get special privilege ahead of everybody
else.
Q I've been listening to all that defamation of the President
in New Hampshire and South Carolina.
MR. McCLELLAN: You can always turn the TV off, Les. (Laughter.)
Q I've been listening to it live. I was freezing. (Laughter.)
Q I consider that a personal attack. (Laughter.)
Q Just a short -- well, a little bit more than short stone's
throw from here, at the AFL-CIO, John Kerry is getting a major
endorsement from an organization that believes in jobs and jobs in
America. What are your thoughts about that?
MR. McCLELLAN: From the leaders that have historically supported
Democrats. I think that working Americans support the President for
the policies that he has advocated and worked to implement. I've just
pointed out the importance of the tax relief that was passed, and what
that means to families in America, and what it means to small business
owners, and what it means to America's workers.
And the President is going to be talking a little bit more about
that this afternoon. He has made one of his highest priorities
creating a more prosperous America. And the actions that we are taking
are moving this country in the right direction, and we should not turn
back from those actions.
Q A follow-up to that, though, just because they support
Democrats, what's wrong with an organization supporting --
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, look, I know you're --
Q But wait, wait, wait. Can I finish my question?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, but this is getting into campaign talk and
endorsements --
Q You're in the campaign. Mrs. Bush is out there campaigning.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I'm the White House, and we're focused on our
priorities here --
Q Mr. Bush lives at the White House, though --
MR. McCLELLAN: -- but there is a campaign -- there is a campaign
office, if you have campaign questions.
Q This is not really a campaign issue, this is somewhat real --
come on, Scott. The deal is, whether it's Democrat or Republican,
what's wrong with the fact of supporting jobs in America?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry, what's wrong with supporting jobs?
(Laughter.)
Q I mean, what's wrong with supporting job growth in America?
You're saying these --
MR. McCLELLAN: That's exactly what this President has done. New
jobs are being created.
Q -- but you're saying that they go more so for the Democrats.
But what's wrong with that, whether --
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm just pointing out that I think there's a
difference between the leadership and the rank-and-file workers.
Go ahead, Jacobo.
Q Yesterday I asked you a question -- President Hugo Chavez of
Venezuela has been criticizing almost on a daily basis the United
States for intervening in Venezuelan political affairs. Yesterday the
President of Venezuela once again hurled charges against the United
States. You said that you're in favor of democratic reform in
Venezuela, but how about a stronger answer? (Laughter.)
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I don't have any update beyond that. I think
that you know that our views -- our views are very clear, that we
support democratic effort -- the democratic reforms. We support
efforts to fight corruption and root out corruption. And those views
we make known to all countries. And I think our views are well-known
when it comes to Venezuela. I think the State Department has talked at
length about it.
Anybody else want a stronger answer?
Q Yes. (Laughter.)
Q Scott, I just want to get an answer.
MR. McCLELLAN: Sarah is up.
Q And then?
Q Thank you. Well, you have answered my question -- part of my
question -- but the two leading Democratic candidates claim the main
issue in November election is jobs, not national security. How does
the President feel?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, without getting into a campaign
discussion from this podium, I would just remind you how the President
looks at the priorities of the American people. The most solemn
obligation the President of the United States has is to protect the
American people. And this President takes that responsibility very
seriously, beginning each day when he wakes up and he looks at the
intelligence reports that he receives about possible threats to this
country. And this President acts decisively to confront those threats
before it's too late.
September 11th changed the equation. But right up there with
taking efforts to -- with the efforts to win the war on terrorism is
taking steps to make America more prosperous, and to make America more
compassionate and better. And so this President is acting on all those
fronts. The highest priorities for this country are winning the war on
terrorism, protecting the homeland, and bringing about greater
prosperity in this country for the American people.
Q Sounds like a campaign speech to me.
Q A question on Haiti. If the ideology of this person is to
prevent threats to democracy, like Haiti, for example, and trying to
emerge democracy in countries that are under totalitarian regimes, as
Iraq, for example, why is he waiting for the OAS and the CARICOM to
help Haiti, when even the government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the
opposition, they don't really care about what the OAS are saying, what
the CARICOM are doing. Why is the President waiting? How many lives
have to be lost in Haiti?
MR. McCLELLAN: Actually, I don't think we are. We're working to
help those who need humanitarian assistance. There is a crisis going
on in Haiti right now, and the United States is working closely with
governments in the Caribbean, working closely with the Organization of
American States, France and Canada and others to bring about a peaceful
political resolution to the situation in Haiti. And we are moving
forward on a plan that we expect to have more to say about soon. That
was a question that was asked earlier. And there is a strong consensus
that is emerging around that plan. So we're working to address this
current political crisis in Haiti.
Q How many lives more has to be lost in Haiti until this
government --
MR. McCLELLAN: That's why --
Q -- acts quickly?
MR. McCLELLAN: That's why it's important to call for an end to
violence and to make sure that those who need humanitarian assistance
are getting that assistance. We've been working to do that, and we are
in close contact with a number of countries to bring about a peaceful
resolution to the situation in Haiti. It's a difficult situation there
right now. And we're working to address it with other countries.
Q Scott --
MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Les.
Q Thank you. The South Dakota State House of Representatives
has just overwhelmingly passed a bill to outlaw all abortions, except
to save the mother's life, with no regard for her health or if she's a
victim of rape or incest. My question, the first of two: Does the
President agree with this? Or does he feel it would be much wiser to
oppose partial-birth abortion alone, given the Kerry-Edwards' record on
that?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I think the President's views are very
well-known. The President is strongly committed to building a culture
of life in America. This President has taken -- this President has
taken steps to promote a culture of life in America. We worked to pass
a ban on partial-birth abortion, which is a brutal procedure. The
President has supported a number of efforts that will help build a
culture of life.
Q Does he support South Dakota?
MR. McCLELLAN: He's stood up and opposed the cloning of human
beings for reproductive or research purposes.
Q Given in the President's State of the Union address, I can
recall no mention whatsoever of either the moon or Mars, and given the
absolutely tremendous expense of a space station on the moon, and
sending men to Mars, isn't their absence from the State of the Union
due to the President's realizing this was a mistake, given the huge
deficit that conservatives are complaining about?
MR. McCLELLAN: Actually, he spelled out a long-term vision for
NASA in a lengthy speech that was given shortly before that. It is
something that was important to describe in detail. The President
believes it's important to focus resources on a clear mission, and
that's what we have worked to do. We are working to reallocate many of
those resources. This a long-term vision, though, Les. And at each
step of the way, it will be reevaluated. But what we now have for NASA
is a very clear vision for the future of our space program.
Q I've been gone three weeks. I should have one --
MR. McCLELLAN: No, no, no. No, no --
Q -- like those people in the front row --
MR. McCLELLAN: No. Greg.
Q -- who always get six --
MR. McCLELLAN: Greg -- Greg. Greg has got it, and then Rick.
Q Scott, thank you --
MR. McCLELLAN: No, no, Greg first. No, I said Greg first.
Q Let's get ready to rumble. (Laughter.)
Q Have any White House officials jumped the gun in talking
about the President's potential decision about gay marriage?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that White House officials have echoed what
the President has said, that, if necessary, he is prepared to look to
the constitutional process.
Q So conservatives who have said that they have received
assurances from White House officials on this matter, the President is
going to move forward, they are mistaken somehow?
MR. McCLELLAN: The White House officials I know that have talked
about this issue to others have expressed exactly what the President
expressed, and that is that, if necessary, the only alternative may be
a constitutional amendment.
Go ahead, Rick.
Q Scott, outsourcing has become a topic of currency in this
election, people are worried about our jobs going overseas. What
specific --
MR. McCLELLAN: As is the President.
Q At what specific steps does the President -- is the President
taking? Or does he envisage --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well --
Q -- to counter -- wait a minute, to counter outsourcing, or to
offset outsourcing of American jobs to overseas countries?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think the President talked about some of
those ideas just last week in one of his trips. Any time there is job
loss, it is regrettable. And this President is acting to make sure
that workers are prepared to meet the challenges of a 21st century
economy. We have a changing economy. It's important that we continue
to move forward and strengthen our economy even more. And the
President has a six-point plan to do that. One important aspect of
that is promoting free trade. But we need to make sure that as we
promote free trade, that there is a level playing field, because we
know that America's workers are the best in the world and that they can
compete --
Q --
MR. McCLELLAN: -- hold on -- that they can compete anywhere in the
world. And that's why this President has worked to promote free trade,
but make sure that playing field is level. Productivity is high in the
United States. You have a number of businesses, foreign businesses
that come to the United States to hire American workers, to create jobs
here in America because our workers are the best in the world.
And I also -- I was talking about the importance of meeting the
needs of a changing economy. This President has put forward a plan to
make sure that workers have the skills and training they need to meet
the jobs of the 21st century. There are a number of sectors of our
economy that are growing rapidly -- health care sector being one. And
we want to make sure that workers have the skills to fill those jobs.
These jobs are high-paying, high-skill jobs. Wages are up for
America's workers. Disposable income is up for Americans. And so
that's what the President is doing.
Q What about the suggestion by some that there be changes to
the tax code to give tax credits to industries that actually promote
jobs domestically and maybe penalties, too, on industries that
outsource jobs?
MR. McCLELLAN: I've seen others plans. The President has put
forward his plan, and you're very well of what that plan is.
Jeff, did you have --
Q Can I follow up on the outsourcing?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes.
Q How do we expect the President to convince the private sector
not to outsource jobs when state governments are doing exactly the same
thing? For example, Washington state outsources several government
functions.
MR. McCLELLAN: I hear you, but jobs have been going overseas to
some extent, and that's a concern. And the President has talked about
that. That's why the President is acting on the policies I just
described.
Go ahead, John.
Q Scott, there's been a number of scandals recently in college
football, mostly to do with recruiting. Now we've had a woman football
player claim that she was raped at her former school. Her former
football coach says she was a bad football player. Because of his
statements, the college president has suspended him. Is the President
concerned about the level of morality and ethics in college football?
Does he think this is going down a slippery slope?
MR. McCLELLAN: Without getting into specific allegations that have
been made, obviously allegations of that nature should be taken
seriously. The President believes everyone who is involved in
athletics, whether it be college or pro sports, has a responsibility to
adhere to high standards. He talked on one specific point within his
State of the Union about this. We need to make sure that our children
are making the right choices in life. And adults should set the
example by adhering to high standards.
All right, thank you.
END 1:14 P.M. EST
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