Wednesday
Nov012006
White House Gaggle
Wednesday, November 1, 2006 at 3:00AM
By Victoria Jones
President's Schedule
The president had his usual briefings. At 9.45 he meets with the Secretary of State. At 10.45 he will tape an interview with Rush Limbaugh, At 11.10 he meets with the Secretary of Defense. At 11.45 he is recording a message about voting, encouraging all Americans to vote on election day. At 1.15 he will have a press interview.
Senator John Kerry
White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked whether the White House accepted Sen. Kerry's explanation that he made a botched joke. She said the president and others have called for an apology to the troops. The words he said are plain as day, and everyone saw them. Perino was asked if the president is satisfied that he knows what Kerry meant. She said she did not know how anyone could take them any other way. Senator Kerry has explained it was a botched joke, but no one knew that beforehand.
It was pointed out that the RNC has put Kerry's remarks on its web site. Perino was asked if there is a point at which the exploitation backfires. She said Tony Show answered a question yesterday, and then Kerry put fuel on the fire by coming out with personal attacks against the president, and even the press secretary.
Perino was asked if voters will be turned off by the back and forth. She said voters will make their decisions based on the issues. They will look at who will best provide our security and continue the prosperity of the past five years.
Perino was asked the reason for the timing of the interview with Limbaugh. She said the president has done interviews with Limbaugh in the past, especially leading up to major elections. This has been in the works for some time, she said. The president has said it was appropriate for Limbaugh to apologize regarding Michael J. Fox. Perino was asked if the green light was given for this interview once the Michael J. Fox controversy had been quelled. She said she did not remember any discussion of that in their communications planning.
It was pointed out that Limbaugh did not really apologize, he said "if people were offended", but did not apologize. Perino said he apologized, and everyone has acknowledged that. Kerry said he was sorry it happened. "Being sorry for yourself is not an apology to the troops", she said.
Perino was asked if the White House feels that Kerry's comments represent Democrats' views more broadly. She said that as a former presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, he is certainly a leader within the party. We have all noted the silence in terms of coming out and supporting him, although Sen. Schumer put out a supportive statement, she said.
Central Command Analysis
It was pointed out that US Central Command prepared an analysis of the conflict in Iraq that came to the White House before the president's most recent press conference. In it Central Command said Iraq is getting closer to chaos. Perino was asked why the president said the US is winning in Iraq, when Central Command says that is not the case. Perino said this New York Times story is about a classified document which she would not comment on. She did not know if it came to the White House before the press conference, but would find out.
North Korea
Perino was asked when the president would send a team to the region, and whether the White House had spoken to the Japanese about what they said about possibly not wanting the talks to go forward. She said she did not have an update.
President's Schedule
The president had his usual briefings. At 9.45 he meets with the Secretary of State. At 10.45 he will tape an interview with Rush Limbaugh, At 11.10 he meets with the Secretary of Defense. At 11.45 he is recording a message about voting, encouraging all Americans to vote on election day. At 1.15 he will have a press interview.
Senator John Kerry
White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked whether the White House accepted Sen. Kerry's explanation that he made a botched joke. She said the president and others have called for an apology to the troops. The words he said are plain as day, and everyone saw them. Perino was asked if the president is satisfied that he knows what Kerry meant. She said she did not know how anyone could take them any other way. Senator Kerry has explained it was a botched joke, but no one knew that beforehand.
It was pointed out that the RNC has put Kerry's remarks on its web site. Perino was asked if there is a point at which the exploitation backfires. She said Tony Show answered a question yesterday, and then Kerry put fuel on the fire by coming out with personal attacks against the president, and even the press secretary.
Perino was asked if voters will be turned off by the back and forth. She said voters will make their decisions based on the issues. They will look at who will best provide our security and continue the prosperity of the past five years.
Perino was asked the reason for the timing of the interview with Limbaugh. She said the president has done interviews with Limbaugh in the past, especially leading up to major elections. This has been in the works for some time, she said. The president has said it was appropriate for Limbaugh to apologize regarding Michael J. Fox. Perino was asked if the green light was given for this interview once the Michael J. Fox controversy had been quelled. She said she did not remember any discussion of that in their communications planning.
It was pointed out that Limbaugh did not really apologize, he said "if people were offended", but did not apologize. Perino said he apologized, and everyone has acknowledged that. Kerry said he was sorry it happened. "Being sorry for yourself is not an apology to the troops", she said.
Perino was asked if the White House feels that Kerry's comments represent Democrats' views more broadly. She said that as a former presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, he is certainly a leader within the party. We have all noted the silence in terms of coming out and supporting him, although Sen. Schumer put out a supportive statement, she said.
Central Command Analysis
It was pointed out that US Central Command prepared an analysis of the conflict in Iraq that came to the White House before the president's most recent press conference. In it Central Command said Iraq is getting closer to chaos. Perino was asked why the president said the US is winning in Iraq, when Central Command says that is not the case. Perino said this New York Times story is about a classified document which she would not comment on. She did not know if it came to the White House before the press conference, but would find out.
North Korea
Perino was asked when the president would send a team to the region, and whether the White House had spoken to the Japanese about what they said about possibly not wanting the talks to go forward. She said she did not have an update.
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