This was quite a briefing, at least the transcript is quite something. Here are several questions and an answer or 2 covering several topics. More @
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/06/20050615-3.htmlEdited to add that the following has been highly edited, questions are in order but not all answers or questions have been given. I picked out the highlights from the first part of the press conference before I gave up.
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Q Is the President concerned that he's taking the heat in terms of poll numbers and public perception because of what's happening up in Congress?
Q His direct confrontational approach that we heard last night, is that something that you'll hear mostly at fundraisers, or is that going to be part of his standard speech from now on?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, it depends on the actions by the Democrats. The Democrats need to come to the table with ideas and show more of a willingness to work together to get things done, instead of simply saying "no" to progress on important priorities for the American people. That's not the way you gain the trust of the American people, as the President pointed out last night. The American people want us to get things done. The President is going to continue doing what he has done, which is elevate the discourse, put forward a positive and optimistic agenda for our future, and reach out to others who want to get things done.<clip>
Q Well, does he think it's productive and that it will make the Democrats more cooperative by calling them the "party of 'no'" and "obstructionists"?
Q Well, we're talking about changing the tone and trying to improve relations. Do you think that the kind of statements that you're making and that he made last night are helpful in that regard?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the President has always worked to elevate the discourse, Terry.
Q But does he believe that adding to the name-calling helps to change the tone?
MR. McCLELLAN: Let me keep going. I'll come back to you, John. You've already had your question. I'll come back to you.
Q The President says he wants to see an end to the partisan bickering, at the same time he is singling out Democrats, not congressional leaders overall, and using definitely stepped-up language in front of a GOP $2,500-a-plate dinner last night. How do you reconcile those two things?
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Q Can you define for me the end of the war?
MR. McCLELLAN: Terry, the President has talked about this. There are those who espouse an ideology of hatred and oppression. What we are working to do is defeat the ideology of hatred and oppression by spreading freedom and by taking the fight to the enemy. That's why we're staying on the offensive and going after those who seek to do us harm. We're fighting them abroad so we don't have to fight them here at home. So there's a comprehensive strategy that we have for winning the war on terrorism, which I think is what you are getting at. But it is a war that continues.
Q Right, so just as a matter of policy now, the United States is, then, claiming the power and the right in its national self-interest, at least until the ideology of hatred is defeated and freedom and democracy are spread --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think eventually, you would hope --
Q -- to nab people around the world and hold them indefinitely.
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Q Scott, more official British documents are seeming to indicate that the Bush administration was trying to justify an invasion of Iraq as early as March, 2002. And tomorrow, Representative John Conyers, as you know, is holding some Democratic hearings to get testimony about this. Is the President concerned that as more documents come out seeming to indicate a decision very early on to invade Iraq and possible manipulating --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think you've asked these questions, the President has been asked these questions, and I think it's been addressed.
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Schiavo, Korea, Gitmo, on and on and on, spin spin spin. To everything, there is a season.
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