Scott McClellan shines his little beacon of truth (11/9/05 transcript)

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

ON CHALABI:

Q Scott, some people have noted that it's more than a little ironic that a year ago, the U.S. was kicking down Ahmed Chalabi's door, and now he's being welcomed at the highest levels here in Washington. It seems to be a startling rehabilitation.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Deputy Prime Minister Chalabi is one of a number of elected leaders who have visited Washington in recent months, and we believe it's very important to work closely with the Iraqi government and their leaders to advance democracy, build prosperity, and improve security for the Iraqi people. And that's what we're doing. And Vice President Mehdi is also in Washington later this week, and he will be meeting with a number of individuals while he's here.

Q But here is a fellow who the Pentagon embraced, and then, a year later, couldn't get far enough away from, and now he seems to be -- is he back in the White House's good graces?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, it's up to the Iraqi people to choose who their leaders are. And Iraq is a sovereign government, and they are a friend of America, and we work very closely with them to help address the needs and advance democracy for the Iraqi people.

Q How would you describe the White House's attitude toward him? Are you embracing him now? Is it strictly business?

MR. McCLELLAN: It's not -- I wouldn't look at it that way at all because it's not up to us to pick the leaders of Iraq. It's up to the Iraqi people. It is a free nation, a sovereign nation, and we believe it's important to work closely with the Iraqi government to advance the common priorities for the Iraqi people. And that's what we're going to do.

Q You mentioned that the Vice President and the Secretary of State and Mr. Hadley will meet with him. How about the President? Will he meet with him at all?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, and I don't expect the President to be meeting with -- now that the December 15th elections are underway, there are going to be people running for office, and I don't really anticipate the President meeting with any candidates for office until after the December 15th elections.

Q So it's because of the elections that he will not meet with him?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I just said I don't expect him to meet with any. So, yes. I wouldn't look at it as any one person, I would look at it as overall.

Q Scott, Chalabi is, as John pointed out, more than just a leader of Iraq now. He was a guiding force in lobbying this government to go to war in Iraq. Was he right, or wrong, about what he described as how the war would go, how the U.S. would be received, and whether Saddam was building weapons of mass destruction?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, it's for you all to look at his comments; it's not for me to make those kind of judgments.

Q Why not?

MR. McCLELLAN: In terms of the intelligence, I mean, you can go and look at the --

Q What does the President think about whether he was right or wrong?

MR. McCLELLAN: Are you asking me about the intelligence?

Q I'm asking you whether you think, or the President thinks that Ahmed Chalabi was right, or wrong, on Iraq.

MR. McCLELLAN: The President thinks it was right to remove Saddam Hussein's regime from power. And that's exactly what we did. There are many people who came to the same conclusion that his regime was a threat.

---SNIP---

"So the President is not a drag on the Republican Party?"

Q Can I ask you on a different topic, on politics -- the Democrats are looking at the results on Election Night yesterday and saying this is an indication that the President is really unpopular and is a drag on the Republican Party now, going into midterm elections.

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sure they're going to say a lot of things like that, but I think the facts say otherwise. I don't think any thorough analysis of the election results will show that the elections were decided on anything other than local and state issues and the candidates and their agendas. That's what I think. And I think that if you look at the facts, that bears that out.

The results in the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey, which I believe you're talking about, those are the same results that occurred in 2001, although I think they may have been smaller margins of victory for the Democratic candidates. And in Virginia, for instance, you had a candidate, Democratic candidate for governor who ran on a conservative platform, a platform that was very much out of line with the Democratic National Party.

Q Do you think that Republican candidates -- can you say now that you expect Republican candidates will embrace, will ask for, will want this President to campaign with them next year?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, they are. The President is going to be campaigning for Lieutenant Governor Steele here in just a short amount of time. And he looks forward to campaigning for those who share his compassionate conservative agenda for the American people, and who share his commitment to keeping America strong and safe and prosperous. And that's what he will do.

Q So he will help Republicans next year, he won't hurt them?

MR. McCLELLAN: He looks forward to helping Republicans, and helping Republicans who are running for office, and talking about our hopeful agenda for the American people. We are a party that is a party of ideas and solutions.

Q You're not in denial here? I mean, the President has got his lowest job approval ratings in his presidency. Do you not acknowledge that that's not, as Secretary Rumsfeld would say, not exactly helpful to Republicans?

MR. McCLELLAN: We have a proud record of accomplishment and a positive agenda for the future. And we look forward to continuing to talk about it.

Q -- the public doesn't agree with --

MR. McCLELLAN: I mean, you can get caught up in polls; we don't. Polls are snapshots in time. The President is someone who is --

Q It's quite a snapshot --

MR. McCLELLAN: But let me mention -- let's look at the facts. The President is a strong leader who addresses big challenges and who thinks long-term. That's what the American people want, someone who's going to go after the big issues facing this country, and the issues that the American people care most about, and solve those challenges.

Q So the President is not a drag on the Republican Party?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that you see Republicans that are looking forward to the President coming to campaign for them. And we are going to support those who -- who share the President's vision for the future. That's what our party is about. And the President looks forward to helping people next year.

It's way too early to get into the 2006 elections, but, again, if you go back to the elections that took place yesterday, look at Virginia. The legislature in Virginia remains a strong Republican majority. The legislature in New Jersey, there was no change in terms of the legislature. In Virginia, you had a Democratic lieutenant governor previously, and now you have a Republican lieutenant governor. You have an attorney general that is a Republican -- or candidate that is Republican, that is leading in that race.

So I think you have to do an analysis of the elections; I understand that. But let's look at the overall facts, and I don't think you can conclude anything in terms of a larger trend beyond what I said already.

Q But, Scott, is the President disappointed --

MR. McCLELLAN: I'll come back in a second. Go ahead.

---SNIP---

"Did the President hurt or help Kilgore?"

Q Scott, on the election, Corzine is casting his win as a victory over Bush-Rove. Are you concerned that the leak investigation is having a political fallout? Is that an indication that it is?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, we've expressed our view on the investigation. Our view is that it's a serious matter and that we are going to continue to cooperate fully with the investigation.

In terms of elections, I think I just expressed our views in terms of the elections. And this President is going to continue to lead and continue to act to address the priorities that the American people care about. That means helping the people in the Gulf Coast region; that means addressing high energy prices and moving forward on new initiatives to help reduce energy prices; that means moving forward and winning the war on terrorism and succeeding in Iraq. Those are the priorities the American people care about, and that's what we're going to continue to focus on.

If others want to engage in politics, that's their business. But the President has an agenda that he is working to implement, and it's an agenda that will improve the quality of life for all Americans.

Q Scott, on the elections, what does the Republican Party have to do for a change in 2006, to gain the major seats that are up for grabs in 2006?

MR. McCLELLAN: What do you mean? We have to continue to offer a hopeful and positive agenda for America's future. That's what we have been doing, and that's what we continue to do. We look forward to discussing the differences when it comes to how we confront the priorities and challenges facing the American people.

Q So do you think that they were doing -- the Republicans who were running in these races, particularly in Virginia and New Jersey, that they were doing these things that you were saying, and just lost?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I think they were doing exactly what I said. These elections -- I think if you look at the facts -- were based on state and local issues, and based on the candidates and their views and their agenda. And if you look at Virginia, as I pointed out, the lieutenant governor's race was won by a Republican. That's a change. The governor's race stayed the same, it's the same result as 2001. And in New Jersey, you have 300,000 more Democrats that are registered to vote than Republicans. And so New Jersey, for a long time, has been leaning Democratic.

Q But, Scott, the President campaigned for Kilgore. I mean, is he disappointed at Kilgore's loss?

MR. McCLELLAN: He did support his candidacy, and he supported the candidacy of the lieutenant governor, and he supported the candidacy of the attorney general, and the lieutenant governor won. The President congratulates all the winners, including the two newly elected governors in New Jersey and Virginia. And the President --

Q Has he reached out to Kilgore? Has he offered his condolences?

MR. McCLELLAN: We just offered our congratulations -- I don't have any updates on the President's calls -- but offered our congratulations to those who won. The President looks forward to working with those who won to help keep America safe and keep America prosperous. And that's exactly what he'll do. We need to continue to take steps to improve our public schools; we need to continue to take steps to keep our economy growing and reduce high energy prices. And all of us have a role to do in that.

Q Is he disappointed in Kilgore's loss?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, he congratulates the winners. That's the way I would express it. The President campaigned for Jerry Kilgore, he campaign for Lieutenant Governor-Elect Bolling, and he campaigned for the attorney general candidate, as well.

Q What does he have to offer in terms of political capital? When Republicans look to the President, their own 2006 re-election bids, what kind of agenda or --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the Republican Party, I think, has a shared agenda of addressing the biggest challenges facing this country. I know there's a tendency to look ahead a year from now. We're going to focus on addressing the priorities the American people care most about. That's what we will continue to do. And I think that's what the American people expect us to do.

The Democratic Party has no vision and no agenda to offer the American people at the national level. All they can do is say what they're against. They have not offered any sort of positive agenda for the American people, and certainly, they have not embraced the agenda that was outlined by the gubernatorial candidate in Virginia when he ran supporting gun rights, and supporting tax cuts, and supporting family values, and advocating for abstinence education.

Q So you think the President helped the Kilgore campaign, ultimately?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President was glad to go and do his part. I think that the election was decided based on state and local issues, and based on the candidates and their agendas. That's what I think. And I think that if you look at the facts, that points that out, as well, because those campaigns were run based on the issues that I pointed out, and based on those candidates' views and their agenda. And he is pleased to see that the Lieutenant Governor is now going to be a Republican in Virginia.

Q His presence was discounted, basically, he didn't hurt or help Kilgore?

MR. McCLELLAN: He was glad to go in there and do his part to help in that campaign. And he congratulates Tim Kaine for winning, and congratulates Governor-elect Corzine on his victory. And he congratulates Lieutenant Governor Bolling on his victory. And he congratulates all the other candidates that won.

---SNIP---

"Let this nice lady speak"

Q With respect to the ethics guidelines, I understand there's a document that was, I presume, being used, prepared by the Office of Government Ethics for the briefings. And I have just a few questions, if you could clarify this. Under 18 U.S. Code Section 2, would public disclosure of classified information constitute an offense against the United States government?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, that's for the authorities to determine and our legal system to determine.

Q Okay. And then under -- again, these are all -- documents.

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, Paula, I haven't gone back and read that like you have. It's all publicly available information. What the President believes is that the leaking of classified information is a very serious matter and it ought to be taken seriously. That's what the President believes. And all of us here at the White House understand what is expected of us. It's expected that we focus on the people's priorities and it's expected that we adhere to the highest ethical standards.

And in terms of these refresher briefings that our ethics council is holding, we have held ethics briefings since the very beginning of this administration. In fact, we do annual ethics briefings, and we do other briefings for staff on a continuing basis relating to ethics guidelines. It's something that we have always taken very seriously.

Q The reason I ask is because -- if you'll forgive me for a minute -- under this particular code section -- section two, principles -- it says that, "Whoever commits an offense against the United States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces, or procures its commission is punishable as a principal;" and secondly, "Whoever willfully causes an act to be done, which is directly performed by him or another, would be an offense against the United States, is punishable as a principal." And then, I'll give the other --

MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, thank you. That's been put into the record. Now, what are you trying to suggest?

Q I'm not trying to suggest anything. I'm asking to clarify these sections --

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think they need clarifying. They're very -- they're stated right there, available to the public.

Q Okay, so -- would any government official involved in the leaking of classified information, or in any way involved in making false statements about that, would they be in violation of 18 U.S. Section 1001, which -- and I'll end here --

MR. McCLELLAN: Paula, let me --

Q -- let me just --

MR. McCLELLAN: No, Paula, let me just add -- let me just stop you right there. This is asking a question relating to an ongoing investigation and legal proceeding. That is a very serious matter. We need to let that investigation continue and let that legal proceeding continue. There is a legal system that is in place. There is a presumption of innocence that is looking at one individual, and there is an investigation continuing on other matters. And we are going to do our part to cooperate with the special counsel in that matter, as we have done.

Q This has nothing to do with the special counsel. This has everything to do with the Ethics of Government Act. And for the record, I would just like to read --

MR. McCLELLAN: I think, for the record, people can go and look at this on our website. And for the record, this is being asked in the context of an ongoing investigation and legal proceeding, and I've already indicated to you that we're not going to have further comment on it while it is continuing. If you want to --

Q I would just like to read, for the record --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- go and read that, you're welcome to do that. But I think other people in this room would like to proceed forward with other questions that they have.

Q If I can take permission from the other people in this room, may I please read this one section? Does anyone have any objection?

Q Yes, I don't think we're getting anywhere.

Q Well, that's not the point.

MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, there. Thank you.

Q That's not the point.

MR. McCLELLAN: Carl, do you have a question?

Q Wait a minute, let the majority -- let this nice lady speak.

MR. McCLELLAN: That's all publicly available information.

Q I know. She just has one more --

MR. McCLELLAN: Do you have a question? She has to give a question.

Q She has just one more.

Q I asked if it was -- I asked --

MR. McCLELLAN: Let's go to the question. I mean, we can all go and look at that on the website.

Q Well, fine, but I'll save some time. "Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative or judicial branch of the government of the United States, knowingly and willfully, (1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device, a material fact, (2), makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation, or (3), makes or uses any false writing or document, knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry."

MR. McCLELLAN: It's been put into public record.

Q Thank you.

---SNIP---

"Of course we wanted to see them win..."

Q Last night's elections again. Does the White House really not see any cautionary lessons from last night? Or are you viewing this entirely as a situation normal, status quo, nothing to be learned?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think we are viewing it very much as status quo. It is the same results as from 2001. In terms of the two gubernatorial elections, there's no change.

Q And is there not a risk then that those Republicans who have been yearning for a more aggressive or more effective White House political thrust are now told, ah, don't worry about it, last night, we're just going forward with a losing strategy?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry. I don't know who said that.

Q I'm suggesting that there are Republicans across the country who would have liked to have seen a victory in Virginia and New Jersey, and that your assertion that, ah, it's a status quo --

MR. McCLELLAN: There's a Republican in the White House that would have liked to have seen victories in those two states.

Q Well, you were asked earlier if he was disappointed and didn't say that.

MR. McCLELLAN: We wanted to -- we supported the candidacy of both Republican candidates. Of course, we wanted to see them win. But the people of those two states have spoken, and they've spoken in the same -- they spoke in the way that they spoke in 2001.

Q Scott, two questions. One on elections in Virginia. The President always supported the rights and cause of immigrants toward this country, but Mr. Kilgore had a campaign against the immigrants, and all the immigrants in Virginia, they had a campaign against him. So you think this is one of the reasons that maybe Mr. Kilgore -- because of his anti-immigrant --

MR. McCLELLAN: I haven't done that in-depth of analysis of the electorate in Virginia, but I think the electorate in Virginia has spoken. And they've spoken on the governor's race, they've spoken on the lieutenant governor's race, and they've spoken on the attorney general's race, although that is yet to be decided. And they also spoke on the legislature. And the legislature remains a strong Republican majority.

---SNIP---

The Lewis Libby Legal Defense Fund

Q Scott, has there been any legal or ethical determination from the Counsel's Office on whether White House staffers can contribute to the newly established Lewis Libby Legal Defense Fund?

MR. McCLELLAN: People, including White House staffers, can contribute as individuals to whatever causes they so choose. I know of no prohibition on individuals.

Q So contributions to that would apply to the highest ethical standards that you mentioned yesterday, and again today?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that there's a First Amendment right guaranteed under our Constitution for people as individuals to support causes of their choosing.

Q So no ethical conflicts?

MR. McCLELLAN: I know of no legal prohibition.

Q Okay, thanks.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051109-1.html

[yellowcanine]

1. Scotty sees no problem with WH staffers contributing to Libby's defense

fund even though some of those staffers might be witnesses or might even be implicated in crimes by Libby's testimony. OK. Allrighty then. No ethics issue here. Move on, please.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. I swear, Scotty spins so hard that I'm surprised that his head

doesn't come unscrewed and just fly around the room like a frisbee. Truly amazing!

[LifeDuringWartime]

3. amazing

it must be like pulling teeth for those reporters...every single day

[Roland99]

4. I wish EVERY conference and gaggle had at least on reporter asking:

"Scott. The U.S invaded Iraq in order to disarm Saddam Hussein of weapons of mass destruction which, according to this administration, he was in possession of and, therefore, in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions. Where are those weapons of mass destruction, Scott?"