For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 6, 2004
Press Gaggle with Scott McClellan
Bittersweet Farm
Stratham, New Hampshire
12:55 P.M. EDT
MR. McCLELLAN: We'll get started. I'm here for your questions, and
then I'll do the week ahead.
Q Will there be any pulling of attack ads on Senator Kerry?
MR. McCLELLAN: What are you referring to?
Q Will there be any initiative to get the attack ads on Senator
Kerry, as we were discussing yesterday --
MR. McCLELLAN: Are you talking about yesterday?
Q Yes. The military service attack ads.
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, we continue to urge Senator Kerry to join us
and call for an end to all the ads and activity by these shadowy groups
that are funded by unregulated soft money. These ads are examples of
the kinds of problems with this unregulated soft money. The President
signed the campaign finance reforms into law in part to get rid of this
kind of activity.
Q New job figures today -- 32,000 new jobs. That's a pretty small
number compared to expectations. Unemployment dropped a bit. Can you
talk about this --
MR. McCLELLAN: Sure. You may hear more from the President in a
minute. Yes, I think that today's employment report shows that our
economy is moving forward and it also is a reminder that we are in a
changing economy. There is more to do. The President is not satisfied
and he will continue to act with pro-growth, pro-jobs policies that
build upon what we're already doing. The economy has been through a lot
the last few years, and we must continue to act to create as robust an
environment as possible for job creation.
Q Economists say that 200,000 to 300,000 a month is what you have
to do for a substantive recovery. And you're at 32,000. Isn't this a
situation where job recovery is in a pattern where it's about to stall
out?
MR. McCLELLAN: That's why I said -- we're continuing to add jobs.
We've seen nearly 1.5 million jobs created since last August. The
unemployment rate did drop from 5.6 to 5.5 percent. It's well below the
averages of the last three decades. Consumer confidence is up;
homeownership is up. You have to look at all the indicators. There are
some indicators that have been mixed, but I think you have to look at
all the indicators and the overall -- to look at the overall state of
the economy.
And that's why I said the economy is continuing to move forward,
but we've got more work to do. And that's why the President is calling
on action -- calling for steps to be taken on his six-point plan that
will create a robust environment -- as robust an environment for job
creation as possible. We need an energy plan -- and there's two reasons
we don't have an energy plan right now, called John Kerry and John
Edwards, who voted against an energy plan in the first place.
So there are a number of steps that we can take. There are clear
choices, but the policies that we have put in place are working and our
economy is moving forward. But we've got more work to do.
Q Doesn't this make his pitch more complicated, though? I mean, he
talks about how there's still more that needs to be done, but it's a
pretty upbeat assessment --
MR. McCLELLAN: And again, I think you'll hear from him -- no, the
President is not satisfied. He believes there is more that we must do
and can do. And that's why he's put forward the six-point plan that he
has. That's why he talks about the changing economy we're in. We're in
a changing economy. There are a lot of high-growth jobs that we need
to make sure we have an educated work force to fill those jobs. And
that's what he's going to continue talking about.
But the economy, when you look at what it's been through -- the
recession and the attacks of September 11th, the corporate scandals and
the lead-up to the war in Iraq -- there are a number of indicators that
show that it is moving forward. But we've got more work to do, and
that's what today's employment report shows. It is a changing economy,
and that's why we must continue to act.
Q How dangerous is the apparent collapse of this truce in Iraq? Are
we at a flashpoint here?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, I think you need to talk to both the
Iraqi leaders and coalition forces there in the region to talk about
the latest developments. I think they can give you the best update -- I
haven't received a report in the last couple of hours.
Q Surely you know there's been two days of very heavy fighting and
Al Sadr says they must renew the resurgency.
MR. McCLELLAN: I think you're seeing that Iraq is assuming more and
more responsibility for their future, both when it comes to moving
forward on elections and reconstructing the country and to the security
-- addressing the security threats. You're seeing steps being taken by
Iraqi forces to address some of these security threats. And we're there
to partner with those Iraqi security forces to defeat those who seek to
derail the transition to democracy. And so we will continue partnering
with the Iraqi forces and continue helping to expand and strengthen
Iraqi security forces, because they'll ultimately assume responsibility
for their future.
Q I'm asking whether or not the White House --
MR. McCLELLAN: In terms of the latest developments on the ground, I
think that, again, those are -- you're talking about military questions
that are best addressed right now by those who are in the field.
Q You won't weigh in on the administration's level of concern on
this explosion of violence in the last couple of days?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I didn't say that. I mean, it's --
Q What is your level of concern?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, that's why I said that we've always said that
there will be difficulties as Iraq moves forward toward elections. And
Iraq is continuing to move forward to build a free and peaceful future.
The Iraqi people are assuming more and more responsibility for their
future. But there are those who are opposed to a free and peaceful and
democratic future for Iraq. And they will be defeated. The Iraqi
leadership has made it clear that they will defeat those who seek to
spread violence and fear and stop the transition to democracy. And
we're there partnering with them to address these ongoing security
threats. These are ongoing security threats, and we'll be working
closely with Iraqi forces to address them. And that's what we're doing
right now. But we've always said that there are going to be
difficulties along the way, particularly as we move closer and closer
to holding elections.
And I think -- NATO is -- my point about NATO is moving forward on
helping to train Iraqi security forces, and that's important. And you
have a number of countries that have reaffirmed their commitment to
helping the Iraqi people defeat the terrorists and those regime
elements who seek to derail the transition.
Q Scott, does the President expect the two al Qaeda suspects
arrested in Pakistan to be handed over to the United States?
MR. McCLELLAN: Who are you referring to? One, I'm not getting into
discussing any particular names of individuals. We have -- or I'm not
in a position at this point, either, to update you on any of those
discussions. But we continue to stay in close contact with Pakistan,
with the United Kingdom, and others to defeat the terrorists and to go
after al Qaeda leaders, wherever they are. And that's what we will
continue to do.
Q Can you talk a little bit, before you get to the week ahead,
about this weekend? Is there a pool tonight, a rehearsal dinner,
anything like that?
MR. McCLELLAN: We'll keep you posted on that. I don't know all
those off the top of my head, but I'll check on all that, and we'll
keep you posted.
Q -- the church tomorrow, do you have anything --
MR. McCLELLAN: I'll see --
Q If you could brief us later on the weekend, including tonight.
MR. McCLELLAN: You all tend to go where he goes. So I assume that
would be the same situation.
Q -- if there's a pool this evening.
MR. McCLELLAN: I just -- I don't have all those details right now.
Week ahead.
Q Week ahead.
MR. McCLELLAN: All right, Monday, he will --
Q That's my line.
MR. McCLELLAN: He will -- oh, sorry, Hillman.
Q Week ahead.
MR. McCLELLAN: Thank you, Hillman. On Monday, he will participate
in an "Ask President Bush" in Annandale, Virginia. Then he will meet
with the Prime Minister of Poland, which we've already announced, at
the Oval Office.
On Tuesday, he makes remarks at a Pensacola, Florida rally,
participates in an "Ask President Bush" event in Niceville, Florida,
and then remarks at a Panama City, Florida rally in Panama City. We'll
overnight at the ranch that night in Crawford.
Q Is that a bus tour?
MR. McCLELLAN: That is a bus tour.
Q Overnight in Crawford?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, Tuesday night. Then Wednesday, we will go to
New Mexico where he'll participate in an "Ask President Bush" in
Albuquerque, then make remarks at a Phoenix, Arizona rally. We
overnight in Phoenix on Wednesday.
On Thursday, he'll make remarks in Las Vegas, Nevada, and then
attend a Victory 2004 reception in Santa Monica, California. We
overnight in Los Angeles.
And then, Friday, the 13th, the President will make remarks at the
Portland, Oregon Small Business Summit in Portland, Oregon. And then he
will attend a Victory 2004 reception in Medina, Washington. We'll
overnight in Redmond, Washington.
And then on Saturday, the 14th, he will make remarks at a Sioux
City, Iowa rally. Good place, right? And then we overnight back at the
White House. That's the week ahead.
Q Saturday night back --
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q Saturday night, back at the White House.
MR. McCLELLAN: Saturday night, back at the White House.
All right, thanks.
Q Thank you.
MR. McCLELLAN: Go listen to the speech.
END 1:10 P.M. EDT
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