Talk Radio News Service

By Scott McClellan
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Downingtown, Pennsylvania)
_____________________________________________________________________


For Immediate Release October 21,
2004
PRESS GAGGLE
BY
SCOTT McCLELLAN
Aboard Air Force One
En Route Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
12:23 P.M. EDT
MR. McCLELLAN: Good afternoon. Let me begin with the President’s day. He
had his usual briefings this morning, back at the White House. Then he had the
signing of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, aimed at preventing teen suicide.
You all are aware of that.
Then he had some interviews with some Hispanic television networks,
Telemundo and Univision. I think he did two interviews with two different
Univision programs. And then he also had the Telemundo one. And then he had
some tapings at the White House.
Q Do you know when those Hispanics air?
MR. McCLELLAN: Let me try and get you that information. Let me just
double check that. I think one of the programs was Sabado, which airs on, I
think, Saturday nights.
And then we’ve got the first event in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, where the
focus will be on health care. I expect the President will talk about the
practical reforms he is proposing for his second term to make health care more
affordable and accessible. And I expect he will contrast his agenda with
Senator Kerry’s views, and talk about the stark differences there, both in terms
of the ideas, as well as the philosophy behind those ideas. And then we go to
Hershey, Pennsylvania, where he’ll make remarks this afternoon, as well. Oh,
he’s got the meeting with the Archbishop of Philadelphia, as well, in
Downingtown.
Q What’s that? Why is he doing that?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, he often meets with religious leaders both in
Washington as well as when he travels across the United States. I can try to
get you an update on the different meetings he’s had with Catholic bishops.
Q Is he reaching out to Catholic voters?
MR. McCLELLAN: Let me get you a readout of the meeting after it occurs,
and we’ll get you more information on that.
Q Does the President have any take on some Catholic officials feeling
that John Kerry should be denied communion and sacraments?
MR. McCLELLAN: Look, those are questions you ought to direct to those
religious leaders.
Q Jobless claims ticked down. What are you saying?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think you continue to see indications that the
economy is moving forward and continuing to create jobs. You look at the four
week average, as well, it signals we should be able to — we should expect
continued job growth. The economy is moving forward because of the pro-growth
policies the President has worked to implement. The last thing we need to do is
turn back from those policies by raising taxes. That would bring the economy to
a screeching halt.
Q The President was once quoted as saying, anybody but the Yankees. Did
he watch last night?
MR. McCLELLAN: He caught some of both games. I know we were kind of on
our way home last night, and I know he caught some of the Astros-Cardinals game,
and I know he caught some of the Yankees-Red Sox last night, as well.
Q Apart from watching, what’s his reaction, what’s his hope?
MR. McCLELLAN: He hopes for a great game tonight and he hopes for a great
World Series. It’s been an exciting playoff series to watch.
Q Some karma in a Massachusetts-Texas World Series?
MR. McCLELLAN: We’ll see what — see what happens tonight.
Q Scott, what did the President think about Teresa Heinz Kerry saying
that Mrs. Bush never had a real job?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that issue was addressed yesterday. I think Karen
talked about it yesterday, and I think I’ll leave it where Karen left it.
Q Pat Robertson is sticking by his story. I know you spoke on this
yesterday, but –
MR. McCLELLAN: I think what I — what I said yesterday still stands. You
know, the — what I said yesterday still stands.
Q British troops are going to Baghdad. Is that — is that a help to the
U.S. force?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that those are discussions that were had between
the multinational force commanders. It’s really military to military contacts.
We appreciate the contributions of all the 30-some coalition forces in Iraq,
including the British forces. The British, like the other 30 nations who are
contributing troops, are making tremendous sacrifices to help the Iraqi people
build a free and peaceful future. And the coalition forces are there to partner
with the interim government to continue to address the ongoing security
challenges in the country.
Q In the wake of the kidnapping of the head of CARE in Iraq, a number of
non-governmental organizations, NGOs, have been reassessing whether they want to
stay in the country. Is the President doing anything to urge them to stay?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the I don’t know about the number. I know what CARE
said, as well. I think that the international community recognizes the
importance of what we’re working to achieve in Iraq. And we’re all there to
help the Iraqi people build a brighter future and help them move forward on free
and fair elections. And that’s what we’re working to achieve. So, obviously,
people have to make their own decisions about — related to their own
circumstances.
Q Any schedule updates for us?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes.
Q — closed roundtable when we get to Downington?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes. I think he does before the — before the first event.
Sunday, October 24th, this Sunday, we will depart from the ranch and go to
Alamogordo, New Mexico for a Victory 2004 rally. That’ll be in the afternoon on
Sunday. Then we return back to the ranch that evening.
Then on Monday, the 25th, the President will make remarks at a Greeley,
Colorado Victory 2004 rally. And then he’ll make remarks at a Council Bluffs,
Iowa, Victory 2004 rally. And then remarks at a Davenport, Iowa Victory 2004
rally. We will overnight in La Crosse on Monday — La Crosse, Wisconsin, that
is.
And then on Tuesday, the 26th, it is a bus tour day. The President will
make remarks in La Crosse. Then he will participate in a Focus on the Economy
with President Bush event in Richland Center, Wisconsin. And then he’ll make
remarks at a Cuba City, Wisconsin Victory 2004 rally. And then he’ll make
remarks –
Q Cuba City — what state?
MR. McCLELLAN: Wisconsin. Then he’ll make remarks at a Dubuque, Iowa
Victory rally, and we will be back at the White House Tuesday night.
Q Wow. What else, anything?
MR. McCLELLAN: That’s all I’ve got for now.
Q You’re still not able to say when the leaving the White House, not
coming back day is going to be?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I’ll try to get — I’ll try to get you all that
information as soon as everything is finalized. At this point, we may have one
other night back at the White House.
Q In addition to the one you just –
MR. McCLELLAN: In addition to the one I just said. But, again, things are
still a little bit flexible at this point. But in the next day or so, hopefully
I can get you that information for your planning purposes.
All right. Thanks.
END 12:30 P.M. EDT