Friday
Oct132006
White House Gaggle
Friday, October 13, 2006 at 3:00AM
By Victoria Jones
October 13, 2006
President's Schedule
The President taped his weekly radio address this morning. The topic is North Korea. The President had his usual briefings. At 10 am he will sign HR 4954, the Safe Port Act. At 11 am, he will have a photo-op with members of the 57th Bombing Wing from WWII. At 12.05 pm, there will be a Republican National Committee luncheon at Evermay (closed press) followed by a 1.45 pm meeting with the President's Management Council on the President's management agenda. Later today at 2.20 pm, he will have another photo-op with members of the US Air Force Thunderbirds and then depart at 3.15 pm for Camp David.
President's Week Ahead
Monday
Meeting with Minister Mentor of Singapore
Iftar dinner with ambassadors and Muslim leaders in the State Dining Room
Tuesday
Signing of S3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006
Ceremonial swearing in for Secretary of Transportation
Meeting with Prime Minister of Croatia
Wednesday
Lunch with community leaders in Greensboro, North Carolina
Remarks on No Child Left Behind at an elementary school
Republican National Committee dinner (closed press)
Thursday
Friends of Don Sherwood reception, La Plume, PA
Friends of George Allen reception, Richmond, VA
Friday
National Republican Senatorial Committee reception, Mayflower Hotel
HR4954
Asked if the President supports the online gambling provision of the Safe Port Act, White House Press secretary Tony Snow replied that it is in the Act and we have signed and supported it. The primary interest is port safety. It was passed by wide margins of Democrats and Republicans. The comments today have to do with port security.
North Korea
Snow was asked whether it has been determined if North Korea set off a nuclear device. He replied that it has not. There may not be a moment where there is a definitive announcement. Snow was asked where things are at the end of a week at the United Nations. He said the draft resolution that they have seen is very good. The governments are reviewing it and there has been considerable cooperation on this. The Chinese have made it clear that they are concerned about mass evacuations into China, but they are also concerned that North Korea has neglected the advice of the Chinese not to proceed with a nuclear test, Snow said. There is no ideological split, and people are working together very closely.
John Bolton/Senator Chafee
Snow was asked about discussions the administrations may have been in with Senator Chafee over whether he is willing to relent on the nomination of John Bolton to be US Ambassador to the UN. Snow replied that Bolton has done a spectacular job as ambassador, on some of the most important issues to face not only the Unites States but also the United Nations generally, and the administration thinks he deserves confirmation by the whole Senate.
British Army General's Remarks
Britain's Army chief has said that Britain should get out of Iraq soon. He says that our presence exacerbates the situation. He has since walked back somewhat from those remarks. Snow was asked whether anyone in the US government has spoken to anyone in the UK government to get them to walk back. Snow replied no, but they had called to find out what he had said and they had received transcripts. Snow said the comment was taken out of context. The point is that when the work is done, you hand over authority to the Iraqis. The point was made that the general said they should pull out soon because they are making the situation worse. Snow quoted the general as saying they should leave when the job is done.
Snow said the general's argument is that there is no difference between him and the Blair government or between the Brits and the United States, and that this is not an injunction to leave or that everything is getting worse. The Iraqis have said they want continued presence, Snow said. When they think they will be able to assume full control, they are eager to do so. The long term design is not occupation. It is to create the capability of the Iraqis to provide security for the Iraqi people.
Evangelical Leaders
Snow was asked whether evangelical leaders have ever been referred to in derogatory ways behind the scenes at the White House, and whether the Faith Based Initiative had ever been used in a political way. Snow replied that the answer to both was no. The White House has not seen the new book which makes the allegations. The allegations that Karl Rove refers to evangelicals as nuts is flatly untrue, Snow said. Karl Rove was asked by Dana Perino, and he said flatly untrue.
As far as the political use of the Faith Based Initiative, there have been a number of investigations into the use of it, and the President has said all along that this is not to be used as a political device but instead as a way of trying to marshal the compassion and capabilities of faith based organizations to address the people who live in their communities, Snow said. This is one of the most heartfelt things the President does.
Mark Foley
Snow was asked if Karl Rove or anyone in the White House pressured Foley to run for re-election. Snow replied no.
Detainee Bill
Snow was asked for details of the signing of the bill, including any statements and executive order. He replied that he would find out what he could.
Don Sherwood and George Allen
Both Congressman Sherwood and Senator Allen have had difficult situations this year, Sherwood with regard to allegations in his private life, and Allen with allegations of racial insensitivity etc., it was pointed out to Tony Snow. He was asked if these were lawmakers the President wanted to stand by and felt comfortable standing by. Snow replied that the President supports their quest for election and understands what is going on. In Virginia, the same question could be thrown at Jim Webb for his past, Snow said. He said that Allen is not a bigot. The President absolutely supports his candidacy and supports the candidacy of Rep. Sherwood.
October 13, 2006
President's Schedule
The President taped his weekly radio address this morning. The topic is North Korea. The President had his usual briefings. At 10 am he will sign HR 4954, the Safe Port Act. At 11 am, he will have a photo-op with members of the 57th Bombing Wing from WWII. At 12.05 pm, there will be a Republican National Committee luncheon at Evermay (closed press) followed by a 1.45 pm meeting with the President's Management Council on the President's management agenda. Later today at 2.20 pm, he will have another photo-op with members of the US Air Force Thunderbirds and then depart at 3.15 pm for Camp David.
President's Week Ahead
Monday
Meeting with Minister Mentor of Singapore
Iftar dinner with ambassadors and Muslim leaders in the State Dining Room
Tuesday
Signing of S3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006
Ceremonial swearing in for Secretary of Transportation
Meeting with Prime Minister of Croatia
Wednesday
Lunch with community leaders in Greensboro, North Carolina
Remarks on No Child Left Behind at an elementary school
Republican National Committee dinner (closed press)
Thursday
Friends of Don Sherwood reception, La Plume, PA
Friends of George Allen reception, Richmond, VA
Friday
National Republican Senatorial Committee reception, Mayflower Hotel
HR4954
Asked if the President supports the online gambling provision of the Safe Port Act, White House Press secretary Tony Snow replied that it is in the Act and we have signed and supported it. The primary interest is port safety. It was passed by wide margins of Democrats and Republicans. The comments today have to do with port security.
North Korea
Snow was asked whether it has been determined if North Korea set off a nuclear device. He replied that it has not. There may not be a moment where there is a definitive announcement. Snow was asked where things are at the end of a week at the United Nations. He said the draft resolution that they have seen is very good. The governments are reviewing it and there has been considerable cooperation on this. The Chinese have made it clear that they are concerned about mass evacuations into China, but they are also concerned that North Korea has neglected the advice of the Chinese not to proceed with a nuclear test, Snow said. There is no ideological split, and people are working together very closely.
John Bolton/Senator Chafee
Snow was asked about discussions the administrations may have been in with Senator Chafee over whether he is willing to relent on the nomination of John Bolton to be US Ambassador to the UN. Snow replied that Bolton has done a spectacular job as ambassador, on some of the most important issues to face not only the Unites States but also the United Nations generally, and the administration thinks he deserves confirmation by the whole Senate.
British Army General's Remarks
Britain's Army chief has said that Britain should get out of Iraq soon. He says that our presence exacerbates the situation. He has since walked back somewhat from those remarks. Snow was asked whether anyone in the US government has spoken to anyone in the UK government to get them to walk back. Snow replied no, but they had called to find out what he had said and they had received transcripts. Snow said the comment was taken out of context. The point is that when the work is done, you hand over authority to the Iraqis. The point was made that the general said they should pull out soon because they are making the situation worse. Snow quoted the general as saying they should leave when the job is done.
Snow said the general's argument is that there is no difference between him and the Blair government or between the Brits and the United States, and that this is not an injunction to leave or that everything is getting worse. The Iraqis have said they want continued presence, Snow said. When they think they will be able to assume full control, they are eager to do so. The long term design is not occupation. It is to create the capability of the Iraqis to provide security for the Iraqi people.
Evangelical Leaders
Snow was asked whether evangelical leaders have ever been referred to in derogatory ways behind the scenes at the White House, and whether the Faith Based Initiative had ever been used in a political way. Snow replied that the answer to both was no. The White House has not seen the new book which makes the allegations. The allegations that Karl Rove refers to evangelicals as nuts is flatly untrue, Snow said. Karl Rove was asked by Dana Perino, and he said flatly untrue.
As far as the political use of the Faith Based Initiative, there have been a number of investigations into the use of it, and the President has said all along that this is not to be used as a political device but instead as a way of trying to marshal the compassion and capabilities of faith based organizations to address the people who live in their communities, Snow said. This is one of the most heartfelt things the President does.
Mark Foley
Snow was asked if Karl Rove or anyone in the White House pressured Foley to run for re-election. Snow replied no.
Detainee Bill
Snow was asked for details of the signing of the bill, including any statements and executive order. He replied that he would find out what he could.
Don Sherwood and George Allen
Both Congressman Sherwood and Senator Allen have had difficult situations this year, Sherwood with regard to allegations in his private life, and Allen with allegations of racial insensitivity etc., it was pointed out to Tony Snow. He was asked if these were lawmakers the President wanted to stand by and felt comfortable standing by. Snow replied that the President supports their quest for election and understands what is going on. In Virginia, the same question could be thrown at Jim Webb for his past, Snow said. He said that Allen is not a bigot. The President absolutely supports his candidacy and supports the candidacy of Rep. Sherwood.
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