Wednesday
May252005
White House Gaggle
Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 3:00AM
By Ellen Ratner
May 25, 20005
Briefer: Scott McClellan
President's Schedule:
The President had his usual round of briefings. He met with the Secretary of State. He will go to a Hydrogen Fuel Station today and then participate in wards for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Later today, he will meet with the President of Indonesia and attend an event in the East Room with the Indonesian President for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. He will also be meeting with members of the President's Export Council on CAFTA.
Emergency Notification and May 11th:
There will be a test of the White House Emergency Notification system today. During the plane-in-air space incident on May 11th, the Emergency Notification system was turned off. After extensive questioning by the White House Press Corps about where the system was turned off, Scott revealed that there was a problem in the basement of the Press room but that it not had been activated in the entire White House. Scott said that the report was wrong about shooting down the plane and that reporters should check with the Secretary of Defense.
Stem Cells:
Asked about the possible veto of the House passed bill yesterday, Scott said that the President said he would veto the bill for reasons he stated in his East Room Speech on Tuesday. Twice he referred to embryos as "children as embryos". Scott was questioned about how the four to five hundred thousand embryos in storage were all going to be adopted and he went back to what the President stated yesterday. Scott was asked about the President's remarks that there is no such thing as a "spare embryo" and was asked about lost embryos in the artificial insemination process. He said that he would, "come back to that later."
Palestinian Authority President:
The President will visit with the "democratically elected leader of the Palestinian Authority on Thursday. The President remains committed to the two state outline and the Road Map for Peace". Scott said that there was now a real opportunity with the Gaza Disengagement Plan and that we have "provided strong support to the PA". He said that President Abbas has been taking some steps. Scott also said that the most important thing was "getting it right on Gaza".
John Bolton Nomination:
Asked about the letter sent to the other Senators by Senator Voinovich, Scott said he hoped the Senate will move forward as soon as possible and he was confident that John Bolton would be confirmed.
Iran and Afghanistan:
Helen Thomas asked about being in Iraq and Afghanistan by invitation. Scott said that they are sovereign governments and that "the people of these two countries elected these governments".
Other issues:
Asked about Republican defections on stem cells and judicial nominees, he said that, "we have made great progress in this Congress" and then listed the accomplishments. He said we are "working together on big priorities facing the American people". He said that the investigation about the grenade in Georgia was still ongoing and that he did not have an additional update.
May 25, 20005
Briefer: Scott McClellan
President's Schedule:
The President had his usual round of briefings. He met with the Secretary of State. He will go to a Hydrogen Fuel Station today and then participate in wards for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Later today, he will meet with the President of Indonesia and attend an event in the East Room with the Indonesian President for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. He will also be meeting with members of the President's Export Council on CAFTA.
Emergency Notification and May 11th:
There will be a test of the White House Emergency Notification system today. During the plane-in-air space incident on May 11th, the Emergency Notification system was turned off. After extensive questioning by the White House Press Corps about where the system was turned off, Scott revealed that there was a problem in the basement of the Press room but that it not had been activated in the entire White House. Scott said that the report was wrong about shooting down the plane and that reporters should check with the Secretary of Defense.
Stem Cells:
Asked about the possible veto of the House passed bill yesterday, Scott said that the President said he would veto the bill for reasons he stated in his East Room Speech on Tuesday. Twice he referred to embryos as "children as embryos". Scott was questioned about how the four to five hundred thousand embryos in storage were all going to be adopted and he went back to what the President stated yesterday. Scott was asked about the President's remarks that there is no such thing as a "spare embryo" and was asked about lost embryos in the artificial insemination process. He said that he would, "come back to that later."
Palestinian Authority President:
The President will visit with the "democratically elected leader of the Palestinian Authority on Thursday. The President remains committed to the two state outline and the Road Map for Peace". Scott said that there was now a real opportunity with the Gaza Disengagement Plan and that we have "provided strong support to the PA". He said that President Abbas has been taking some steps. Scott also said that the most important thing was "getting it right on Gaza".
John Bolton Nomination:
Asked about the letter sent to the other Senators by Senator Voinovich, Scott said he hoped the Senate will move forward as soon as possible and he was confident that John Bolton would be confirmed.
Iran and Afghanistan:
Helen Thomas asked about being in Iraq and Afghanistan by invitation. Scott said that they are sovereign governments and that "the people of these two countries elected these governments".
Other issues:
Asked about Republican defections on stem cells and judicial nominees, he said that, "we have made great progress in this Congress" and then listed the accomplishments. He said we are "working together on big priorities facing the American people". He said that the investigation about the grenade in Georgia was still ongoing and that he did not have an additional update.
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