Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Okay, I've got two things for you -- I said I would have the radio address preview and tomorrow's commencement address. In this week's radio address the President will outline several important legislative matters pending in front of Congress and note the dwindling number of days they have left in session to get this work done.

He will call on them to pass a war supplemental that focuses on the needs of our military; to support our military families by passing an extension of the GI Bill that makes it easier for our troops to transfer unused education benefits to their spouses and children; ensure that our intelligence professionals have the tools to monitor terrorist communications effectively and quickly -- that's the FISA law; approve the Colombia free trade agreement, which would open a growing market for American goods, services and crops; confirm nominees to important government positions, including Steve Preston, who the President nominated to be the next Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; pass legislation to modernize the Federal Housing Administration; reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to ensure they focus on their housing mission; and allow state housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to refinance sub-prime loans. And at a time when Americans are concerned about gas prices, Congress needs to pass legislation to expand domestic energy production.

Tomorrow night the President will travel to Greenville, South Carolina to deliver the commencement address at Furman University. It is a speech that calls on students to help build a culture of responsibility. It will reflect on how he went into public service because he was concerned about the culture and how he is heartened by the progress that has been made, especially in the young people who are embracing bedrock values of faith and family. He will talk about the importance of service to others, including volunteering and military service and being a part of the faith-based communities; contributing to the civic and economic life of the country by voting and public engagement and entrepreneurship; and being accountable to your family and to yourself -- parenting, strengthening the family and living lives of integrity.

That's it. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Congressman Wexler has called on Scott McClellan to testify before Congress, and Congressman Conyers

MS. PERINO: I checked on it for you. The White House Counsel's Office takes these things when we have a formal request. We don't have a formal request yet. When we get one, that's when we look at the request, weigh it fully -- as we do with all the others -- and it's just not a decision that we would make prior to getting a formal request. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Conceivably? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Hypothetically -- which I'm not supposed to answer hypotheticals -- (laughter) -- yes, I think so. The law would allow for that, but by saying that I'm not suggesting that that's what would happen or not happen. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, he's been regularly briefed. I think he's read a lot of the articles about it, but I don't anticipate -- he may or may not read the book. I don't know, we haven't talked about that. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: No. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Sure, as I talked to you about all week long -- I know I haven't been here for you, but we were out on the road -- (laughter.) Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: We've been out on the road; I've missed the podium greatly. But as I said all along, that the President expressed disappointment and sadness at the situation, surprise by the charges that he has read about that are in the book.

And we've known for a while that this is what the tone of the book would be. Of course last November we knew because of the excerpt that came out, and then more recently, as with all manuscripts, the White House Counsel's Office has an opportunity to look at manuscripts for any possible classified information or any means for executive privilege to be asserted. None of them were in this case. So we've known for a little bit of time that this was coming. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Sure. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: That doesn't make them true. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q But what I'm saying, though, isn't it the fact that a former member of the inner circle is saying

MS. PERINO: I don't believe -- no, and I don't think that any time that we have argued about this that we've argued just about the messenger when it comes to Democrats either. We argue about it on the merits. And our central objection to the book to the book is that it is not based in fact.

And I think that one of the reasons we are puzzled and surprised and disappointed and saddened by it is because the charge, the loaded charge, in the book is that the President and his senior advisors purposefully misled people into war, and that we sent our young men and women into war, knowing something that we weren't telling the American people.

That is not true. And several independent non-partisan reviews have been done about pre-war intelligence. Is it true that WMD wasn't found? Of course it was. And we admitted that. We have said over and over that the intelligence was wrong. And we have worked very hard at President Bush's direction to change the way the intelligence community works together. But what hurts us is the suggestion that we purposefully sent men and women to war without acknowledging the consequences. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I think it's an outrageous claim. I've been here myself for a long time, almost as long -- I've known the President not as long as Scott has, but quite a long time. This is a President who is -- I've never witnessed any self-deception at all. I think it's an absurd claim. And it's such a loaded charge. And you're right, when it comes from somebody like Scott, who was a close friend of many of us here at the White House, those of us who fully supported him before, during and after he was press secretary are disappointed by this and saddened by it. We certainly wish him well. We harbor no ill feelings towards him. We just are really disappointed, and we're going to combat the central premise of the book.

And I don't -- again, when you say that it's different because it's coming from him and not the Democrats -- I've always argued about this on the merits, so regardless of where untruths come from, we're going to push back on them. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q One more. Just in terms of sort of the ongoing battle for public opinion, people who have been

MS. PERINO: I think that's giving this book a lot more weight than it actually carries.

Martha. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Can we just talk about what isn't true in the book? I mean, you go to the part about weapons of

MS. PERINO: Not that I'm aware of. But did we communicate about the war? Yes. And I would point you to the President's speeches -- all the speeches that the President made leading up to it; he made several comprehensive speeches making the case for why Saddam Hussein was a threat, which was, based on the intelligence that we had -- and not only the United States had, but that's what the world had. And in addition to that he talks about -- in his speech especially on February 26, 2003, when he spoke to AEI; it was before I was a part of the press office, so I would encourage you to go back and look at it, as I've had to do myself -- where he talks about that the benefit to a free Iraq would be to the Iraqi people and also to the region, and establishing a change in the Middle East when it comes to freedom and justice and democracy. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I think that that was -- well, I think you could go back, you could weigh it -- you know, I'm looking at it, what I have seen is a comprehensive case for confronting Saddam Hussein, and that's what the United Nations of course was talking about, specifically weapons of mass destruction. But there was also a gathering threat in terms of the nexus of working -- for example, paying suicide bombers, paying families of suicide bombers.

And you know better than anyone, Martha, about the buildup to this, the reaction to this. The problem that we have is this -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: But paying them in the Palestinian Territories and in Israel. That's something that Saddam Hussein himself said. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: You know, it's a term that I don't necessarily use. I come out here, I answer your questions, I answer them to the best of my ability based on the information and the facts that I have. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Sure it is. That's part of it. And my job is to be his spokesperson. But I also, as many of you in this room know -- especially you -- that I work very hard on behalf of the press as well. I defend the press, I advocate for the press and I make sure that all of you have answers as quickly as possible to the best of my ability every single day -- Saturdays and Sundays included.

Ann. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q In the book it reports that there came a time when the administration ignored contrary evidence

MS. PERINO: No, I don't necessarily think so. Again, I wasn't here, but I would point you to -- at least three that I can think of -- independent reviews of pre-war intelligence and the decision to go to war that all came to the conclusion that nobody purposefully misled anybody in this endeavor. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: No, it was close -- it was tightly held. And in fact I haven't read the whole thing myself. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: The Counsel's Office is the recipient of the manuscript. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: As I said, he was briefed about it by members of senior staff who were aware of it, but it was very tightly held thing. It was not circulated and of course I think you can know that it was pretty tightly held from our end because we didn't get -- we didn't give any reporters or anyone else outside the information or the manuscript. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I don't know for sure, but I don't believe so.*

Mike. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I'm not -- I won't question his motivations. He's free to have his opinions and he's free to have a look back at his period. I think one of the reasons I think it's sad is for those of who worked with him and saw how much he loved being press secretary, and how much he loved being a part of the back and forth in this room, and how much he delved into policy and tried to understand it as best as he possibly could, that to realize now that he looks back and looks so unfavorably upon his time at the White House -- I think that's one of the things that's really sad.

I mean, all of us are moderately talented people made very special because of an opportunity, and, you know, you can choose to use that opportunity in any way that you wish, and he's chosen this path. It's not a path that I will choose, that many others have not chosen. But I think that this is quite a unique circumstance, and I think that's one of the reasons it's sad. He's obviously very displeased and discontented with his time here. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q How about the idea of somebody from the inner circle writing a book, whether it's a Republican

MS. PERINO: I think there's something to be said for that. I think that one of the things that you have in any organization -- be it your news organizations when you have editorial meetings or here at the White House, but especially here at the White House -- that you want to have some level of trust that when you speak up, that it's going to be held in confidence; when you push back on something, that that is held as -- in confidence. And if it's not, I do think that that's difficult for people necessarily. But I don't know of anybody at the White House who is sitting around a room thinking, oh my gosh, is he taking notes and going to report on this later? I think that is one of the reasons, when I say we were so surprised -- and not just puzzled, in terms of surprise -- at the tone of this book, of the language that he chooses to use; that's what is so disappointing and surprising to us. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I really don't care who he votes for.

Connie. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, frankly, Connie, this isn't about me. Whether or not I -- what I care -- what I think on any issue is of no interest to any of you -- maybe until I leave and write a book -- (laughter.) But my job -- any press secretary's job is to articulate the President's positions and message, and answer your questions. And that's what any press secretary is supposed to do. So I'll continue to do it for the next seven months, or for however long he'll have me here. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Have I had a crisis of conscience? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: No, I have not. But I think that if I feel the need to speak up at any of the number of meetings that I have, or my -- if I need to step through the open door that the President has provided for me, I will do so without any concern about my future. And I have -- you have to be confident in going out -- coming up here every day, and I am. I have no crisis of confidence. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: They have to all make that decision on their own.

Anybody else on this? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I'm going to go here to Jim. You had one this morning.

Go ahead. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: In the Palestinian Territories? I saw that report this morning. Obviously we want people in the Middle East, students in the Middle East, to be able to come to America. The President thinks it's critically important to have that type of exchange, cultural exchange, between American students and the Palestinian students or Middle Eastern students. And in fact it's one of the things he talked about in the World Economic Forum speech just a couple of weeks ago when we were in Egypt.

It's something that he has asked Secretary Rice and Secretary Spellings to specifically concentrate on, and Ambassador Hughes when she was here. And we have made strides. But I think Hamas obviously has made it very difficult for students to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves, like the Fulbright scholarships. I don't specifically have information from the White House, and I'll have to refer you to the State Department for anything more on that. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: It's okay. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I would refer you to the Department of Commerce on that. I don't have anything specifically here. I know that they are looking into the matter over there, and for security reasons we don't comment on particular matters that are being investigated. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, we are continually working to increase our capabilities to make sure that all of our information is safeguarded; that any cyber risk that is out there we take into account, and we are constantly trying to work on it. Other governments are, too, so we take that into account. We're always looking for ways to safeguard our systems and we'll continue to do so. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I've not heard him say otherwise. I don't know. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, I think that private sector corporations are probably just as concerned about their own information as we are here in the government. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I just don't -- I don't know. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Wow, now that's a hypothetical I'm not going to answer.

Olivier. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: The one from yesterday -- or was it two days ago? I can't remember; it's been kind of a long week. Well, we are deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact, not only of just cluster munitions, but really the whole range of munitions that are used at war. It's a moral obligation to clean up, and we do so. You need to try to do everything you can to clean up after a conflict zone to make sure that there aren't innocent victims that are hurt with unexploded weapons that are lying around on the ground.

We've played an important role in it since 1993. We've spent more than $1.2 billion on such cleanup. No other country in the world comes close to that. We are strongly committed to working to address this problem. I would refer you to the State Department because I believe that they will be able to articulate for you some of the disagreements we may have with the tactics or the venue for addressing this problem. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I would expect that if he comes to the AIPAC conference that the President would meet with him. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I don't think the President has any plans to be anywhere but the White House next week for any sort of meeting. So if he comes, it would be here at the White House. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Not that I know of. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Dana, two quick questions, please. One, as far as Scott is concerned, we all have known him very

MS. PERINO: I think I'll just leave that one alone. What's your second question? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q And second one is that, as far as terrorism is concerned in Afghanistan and on the Pakistan border

MS. PERINO: What's your question? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Yes. You might not have heard, the President this morning spoke to President Musharraf. That was followed on his meeting with Prime Minister Gilani in Sharm el Sheikh, which was just a couple of weeks ago. We are very concerned, but we believe that the Pakistanis are, as well, and that we need to continue to make sure that we can confront the terrorists there on the border. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Okay, can we do one? It's decision time. (Laughter.) Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q I have one question that has nothing to do with your -- (laughter.) This morning The Washington

MS. PERINO: Certainly not. I think it's referring to the U.S. Air Force Academy commencement ceremony, and the President had a wonderful time with 1,012 cadets, personally acknowledging each of them. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Good morning. I don't have a lot to start off. He obviously had the meeting this morning with the President of the Mormon Church and had about -- I guess it lasted almost an hour. He hadn't met this President before -- I think that was the President's fourth visit -- and they had an hour-long visit. Topics ranged on issues everywhere from the President's dad, Bush '41 -- the current President of the Mormon Church knows President Bush '41 and Mrs. Barbara Bush very well, so they talked a little bit about that. But also talked about foreign policy issues, Middle East peace, domestic issues ranging from the economy and energy, and then a little bit about what the President will do afterwards. So they had a good visit.

And now we're on our way to Kansas, where the President will do a fundraiser for Nick Jordan, who is running for office in -- I think it's the 3rd district of Kansas. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Dana, I wanted to ask you, I know you don't want to go line-by-line with the whole book thing,

MS. PERINO: I don't know. Obviously I wasn't there and -- obviously I don't know the context. I think the -- it's hard for me to say. I don't have the book in front of me either and I don't know.

But what I do know is that what we have said before, which is defending the President's decision to go to war is something that we have done repeatedly, and the suggestion that the President had sent Joe Wilson to Africa was false. And so I don't know if that was what it was in regards to or not, so I'm -- I don't know. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I don't think that's what Scott says in the book and I think that everyone should go back and look at it a little bit more carefully. I don't think that's what he says. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I'm not aware of that, no. And I also know that President Bush would never ask anyone to knowingly go out and lie. But do we defend the President's record vigorously? Yes, you bet we do. And I think -- parts of the book that suggest that there was propaganda or -- you know, I just don't know how substantiated that is in the book. I would ask to -- you know, where, when, how, specifically? What are you talking about, were there charts, were there et cetera that you thought were lies? And I don't think that he's saying that either. So I just question the accounts.

Anything else? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: About John McCain? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I would submit to you that whether it's closed press or open press for the fundraisers you've been to, the message is very similar: about Republicans and the issues that we stand for, the importance of national security, the importance of keeping taxes low for the economy, the compassionate conservatism types of things.

People are interested about what it's like to be President; he talks a little bit about what it's been like to be President. Oftentimes he'll give sort of a visual tour of the Oval Office, describe that. Sometimes he talks about significant moments in his presidency. You've heard him talk a little bit about that time he gave a speech in Bucharest when the rainbow came out. That's a story that he likes to tell to audiences and I think it helps them understand.

He also likes to remind people when we talk about the global war on terror how it's an ideological struggle, it will take a long time, but that he believes in the power of freedom and liberty. And if you remember the story about how he, as the son of George H.W. Bush who fought against the Japanese -- I know that you all have heard it a lot, but I'm telling you something, people like to hear this message and it's important. People can understand it and people can then understand when the President talks about 60 years from now what we could be enjoying in terms of democracy and freedom and liberty and justice in the Middle East. That's where the President takes a little bit of a look back at history and then talks about the reasons for why we have to stand strong and committed. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: That he thinks he is the best person to be President. That he stands strong for what he believes in. That he fully understands the global war on terror, and keeping America safe. And that he has the experience necessary to be able to walk in and from day one be a fantastic Commander-in-Chief and leader of the freest nation in the world. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: No, not recently. But it depends. Sometimes he will; but the past few, no. We've obviously been on a pretty tight schedule. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: No. No. They talked a little bit about how their church is growing around the world and -- but they didn't talk about anything specifically religious. They did say that they do pray for the President, they support the presidency, and [are] a very patriotic people. But they didn't talk about any specific thing in terms of their church and their needs, no. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: No, nothing more to announce. But I think you've heard the President talk before about his plans to have a library and he's a little bit thinking about that -- sort of on the margins. He doesn't have a lot of time to think about it. There are people who are thinking about that for him. But he's interested and I think that -- one thing that I think I was asked last week: And what is the President -- is he upset or is he concerned because he's not going to be President next January?

And the truth is that he doesn't wish for something that's not possible. He thinks the two term system is a really good one and that new fresh eyes and fresh energy is important for our country; and that the peaceful transfer of power that we've been able to establish in our country is a good model for the rest of the world; and that he is excited about continuing to spread the message of freedom and liberty long after he's President.

So I think he's thinking forward just a little bit and looking towards the time when they do go back to Texas. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Yes. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I don't know. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I'm sorry -- but if the location is a private residence, then the practice is that they're closed. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I saw a brief report about it. I don't know a lot about the decision. I think that I would go back to that the President believes that we should try to make this decision based on a nationwide agreement for the what the definition of a marriage should be, and that activist judges and different states trying to impose something of that importance on the rest of the nation is to be looked at skeptically. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Yes, I'm sure that there is, but again I briefly saw the reports and I would refer you -- let me see if I can get something from the Justice Department -- I'm sure there's going to be a lot of people who analyze the legal ramifications of it. I think the President's point is that judges shouldn't be making these decisions; the people should be making these decisions. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Just one question on Israel -- you had the Defense Minister call for Olmert's resignation this

MS. PERINO: Well, there's no doubt that it obviously takes up some oxygen when you're trying to deal with intense and complex negotiations with the whole of the Middle East, but especially in the Palestinian Territories and Israel. But the President believes that Israeli politics is something that Israelis are going to have to deal with. And setting that aside he believes that the people who are in the government -- in the Palestinian Territories and the Israelis now recognize that in order for both to have a state that is democratic and free, that a Palestinian state needs to be defined. And that's the goal that we're reaching towards for the end of the year. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I believe so. I don't have a specific schedule, but I believe so.

Okay. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Hi, guys. All right. Well, we are on our way now to Utah, after a great morning -- and the President is running a little bit late because it took a little longer for him to shake 1,012 hands, salute them all and take his picture with them. But he had a really fantastic time at the Air Force Academy and thinks they were great hosts. And so we'll try and make up a little bit of time in the air so that we can get to Utah and get on with our events today, which are the fundraisers that you know of.

That's all I've got. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Sure. Well, you will recall that it was last November, right before Thanksgiving when we first heard about the book, when the excerpt came out. I was with the President at the time and told him about it -- we were at Camp David, right after an interview he had just finished.

And at that time, was led to believe that the excerpt was a little bit over-written and not necessarily representative of what the book would be like. And so I believe the original publishing date was sometime earlier this spring, so I've been anticipating the book to come out for a while. I think the June 2nd publishing date has been a little bit more firm recently, and so we knew that it would come out maybe next Monday, with some pre-publicity right before then.

So the President has been aware that it was going to come out. I talked to him a little bit yesterday -- I can't exactly remember where, but on the plane here -- I guess it was on the plane; I don't remember where we were on our way to, since we had three stops yesterday. And his reaction was similar to what I said this morning, which is he is puzzled, and he doesn't recognize this as the Scott McClellan that he hired and confided in and worked with for so many years; and disappointed that if he had these concerns and these thoughts he never came to him or anyone else on the staff that we know of.

So I think it's just a sad situation. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Yes, but I think I may not be the only one; we've known it's been coming for a while, so I'm assuming that other members of senior staff had alerted him. But we didn't really know what was in the book until yesterday -- well, I shouldn't say that, there are some people in the White House who get -- they get on any book chances to review, like from the legal perspective, but it was not widely distributed at all. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I don't think it's necessary to do that for this situation. You know, you can go through that, look at it yourself. I don't think it's the White House's responsibility to do a fact check of someone's memoirs, where they're rewriting what we all thought was a very different history with him at the White House. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I think you can fairly characterize it is as surprised, as well as he thinks it's a sad situation and was disappointed, as I said just a moment ago. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I don't. I think that if you look at -- look, setting aside his comments about what he now thinks about the war in Iraq, people can argue back and forth as much as they want about the ultimate decision to go to war. I think that the questions about the intelligence being wrong have been answered by the White House. The intelligence was wrong, and we have taken measures to make sure that intelligence failures like that don't happen again. And one of the ways we've done that is by modernizing and improving coordination amongst the intelligence agencies. And by any measure, that coordination is better than it's ever been in the United States. That doesn't mean there was anyone purposefully misled.

So fast-forward to where we are today in Iraq. We have a government led by Prime Minister Maliki that is going after criminal elements on both sectarian sides. We have a government that is increasingly able to sustain itself as it's been able to raise revenue and start paying for its own reconstruction. And there also -- have already had two elections; they're about to have another, coming up this fall. And the surge, as you heard the President say in the Air Force Academy speech, has worked. And Americans, along with others, are winning in -- winning and being successful because of changing strategies. It's a different type of struggle, in terms of an ideological struggle, as well as a counterinsurgency one, where you're trying, as the President said today, [to] help rebuild a country so that it will have a democracy from which to govern, sustain and defend itself.

And so, no, I'm not concerned about that. I don't think that -- I think people will be a little bit more interested into questions about why, if somebody has these concerns now, they wouldn't have brought them up.

I mean, I know that I was very fortunate to be hired by Scott McClellan. He's given me a great opportunity. I then worked for Tony Snow. And I have been around the White House since mid-September 2002. I have always had the opportunity to have a seat at the table, to make my opinions known whenever and to whomever I wanted to or felt I needed to, and I have done. So it's just curious to me why all of a sudden it seems that these were his actual feelings. It's hard for us, especially for me, who has been a very good friend to him. And of course, I wish him well. We all wish him well. Nobody has any ill feelings. We just think it's a sad situation. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, I couldn't quantify it for you. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I know on a social basis that I had a lot of contact with he and his wife, sure. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q I'm just kind of curious, in terms of the general -- you've kind of portrayed this as a sad situation

MS. PERINO: I think that horse has been beaten enough. And -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I don't see any reason for it to do so. As I said, the questions about the intelligence being wrong has been -- have been asked an answered multiple times. And I think that I have had a good experience working both for Scott, for Tony Snow, and now heading up the press office, that I have good relationships with you all in the press corps, ones that are based on honesty and integrity. And I don't think that it ever -- I think that's always been the case since I've been there. So I don't see any reason for us to have to rethink anything at this point. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Never. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: His question was, had I ever heard such concerns? And I said, "Never." Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q The President often talks about, you know, history being the judge. And this is somebody who had

MS. PERINO: I think this is a unique situation. I don't think that this is so much as writing history as rewriting history. And when the President talks about "it will take a while," I think that that is just based on historical fact. I mean, it takes a while for any type of administration to be understood, and I think this is an anomaly. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Even though you don't -- you don't think there are others out there who maybe also were once supporters

MS. PERINO: I'm not saying that's not the case, and I don't know. I don't go around and take a survey. But your question was, do I think that other people are going to turn around 180 degrees and become this -- have these expressions of concerns that they did not voice when they were at the White House. And so the question is, what did you really believe? Did you believe what you said at the time, or do you believe what you believe -- say you believe now? And I'm not going to be a judge of that. You all have to figure that out, or he'll have to answer for it for himself. I mean, I'm not going to -- as Jeremy suggested, the question being, would we go line-by-line through the book -- absolutely not. We have a lot more important things to do than that. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I found that to be strange. People in the White House have to talk to one another on a variety of different subjects. Who knows what the -- if that conversation -- if a conversation took place. Would it be surprising to me if Karl Rove and Scooter Libby, as the Director of Political Affairs Operation and the Chief of Staff to the Vice President, of whom was very important in our reelection efforts and our political efforts, would it be a surprise that they would have a conversation? Absolutely not. What would be a surprise is if they didn't have conversations. So I don't put much stock in that, but I don't know the facts. And I think he admits in the book that he doesn't either.

Anything else? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: The what? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Where was -- no, I'm sorry. Clearly, you can tell from my face I don't know. I haven't been informed about that. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Where was the vote? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Where was the vote? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Sorry, I don't. I'll have to refer you to DOD or State at the moment.

Yes. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I think that this is Israeli politics, and they'll have to sort it out themselves.

Okay? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Okay, we are on our way to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The President had his normal briefings this morning. The first stop of the day is the President will attend a White for Congress and New Mexico Victory Luncheon in Albuquerque. Then we will go to Mesa, Arizona, where he will visit the Silverado Cable Company. And then we will do there a McCain for President and RNC Victory Reception in Phoenix. We will remain overnight in Colorado Springs, and then he has the commencement address in the morning -- of which I have a preview for you in just a moment.

If you can bear with me, I have one other announcement to point out of you -- it might have been lost in the weekend coverage. On Friday the Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives, Jay Hein, he announced that the office will host a Gulf Coast Conference on Disaster Relief and Preparedness in New Orleans on May 29th and 30th. It will feature Mrs. Bush; General Doug -- Major General Doug O'Dell, who is the new federal coordinator for Gulf Coast rebuilding; Danny Wuerffel, member of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation; and other private and public sector leaders.

This will be held during National Hurricane Preparedness Week and will highlight the strengthening of the role between faith-based organizations and community groups through disaster preparedness, response and recovery. And this will have a special focus on the Gulf Coast region.

Because we have quite a full day and I'm not going to be able -- I think the next time I would be able to talk to you would be too late, let me just do a preview of the President's commencement speech that's going to be at the Air Force Academy tomorrow.

The commencement will compare and contrast the careers that the Class of 2008 will have compared with that of the World War II generation. More specifically, it will take a look at the differences and similarities in air power and warfare, today versus World War II, both in terms of enemies we face and technology available to fight. It will draw parallels of post-war conditions between Germany and Japan and then today's conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He will talk about how there is one constant, that freedom has the power to overcome tyranny and transform societies. And the President will express the great confidence and gratitude he has for the Class of 2008 as they take up their mission -- will express his great confidence and gratitude he has for them -- make that more grammatically correct.

I have one sentence from the speech as prepared that I'm going to provide for you now. It is the following -- this is, again, as prepared for the President tomorrow: "America has assumed this obligation before. After World War II we helped Germany and Japan build free societies and strong economies. These efforts took time and patience, and as a result Germany and Japan grew in freedom and prosperity and are now allies of the United States. And we have reaped the benefits in generations of security and peace. Today we must do the same in Afghanistan and Iraq, and by helping these young democracies grow in freedom and prosperity we will once again reap the benefits in generations of security and peace."

That's all I got. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: No. I think that's all. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Sorry, I don't, but Carlton will be happy to get them for you.* Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: How's he feeling about being needed? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Again, President Bush isn't on the ticket. So this is a new role for him. The past several cycles, either his dad had been on the ticket or -- and there were the in-between years during the '90s. And then he's been on the ticket the past two times. And so it is just fundamentally different for the President this election cycle. And in many ways it's good to be an observer and a supporter wherever he can. You'll remember that the President and John McCain had a great meeting and event in the Rose Garden back in early March. And as the President said, he will do as much or as little as anyone needs him to do to help elect Republicans.

But at the end of the day, any candidate who's running for office has to stand on their own two feet and they have to chart a course for themselves. Every election is about change -- go back through history and every single one is about how things are going to look in the future. And that's what Senator McCain has set out to do, which is to chart his own course, talk about how he will lead this nation in a time of war and threats from enemies and the challenges we have of keeping competitive in the world as the economy is in a current slowdown -- but looks like hopefully it's come back because of the economic stimulus package, which is another thing the President will talk about today at the Silverado Cable Company.

So when you ask me how he feels, remember, I don't do a lot of psychoanalysis of President Bush. He's glad to be out on the road doing some politicking today. He will do as much as he can across the board for candidates through this cycle, but he also is Commander-in-Chief and has responsibilities -- for example, as you know, we're going to be out of the country for eight days as he goes to Europe to meet with our allies and further strengthen and deepen the relationships we have with his European partners.

I think how he feels about it is a little less important; he's just glad to be out on the road. It's a little bit reminiscent, but it's a very different feeling because you're not on the ticket. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, I mean, I think you look -- talk to candidates. It's an exhilarating and exhausting experience. And twice around is plenty. And also you've heard the President say he believes it's harder to be President -- son of a President than it is to be President. He's been involved in this for a long time and you can't wish for something that's not going to happen -- he doesn't wish for a third term. He thinks it's good that we have a two-term limit in the United States. It's good for the country to have that smooth, peaceful transition of power every four or eight years; one where you get new energy and new ideas across the board -- from the President on down, throughout the administration.

Also, in terms of as an observer, this is a man who understands politics very well; he understands what the candidates are going through. And I can just imagine that when you have a chance to sit back and observe it, it's very different than if you are on the ticket yourself and responsible and accountable for trying to win that election in November. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: No, he is not. As I said before, the President and Senator McCain have had -- have had a long, good relationship over the years. And if you were there for the Rose Garden event, I think one of the things that I tried to remind people of is how hard John McCain campaigned for the President in 2004 to help him win reelection. The President believes it's our turn to try to help him, and we'll do that in whatever way he needs.

But at the end of the day, in November it will be John McCain who wins because he stood on his own two feet and talked about how he would lead the country in the future. It's not about looking back; it's about looking forward. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I think there's going to be just a brief appearance on the way back to the airplane. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: In Phoenix. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I did over the weekend, though you may not have seen the comments, so I'll just repeat them here, which is that as you know, our practice has been for fundraisers that the President does, if they're at a venue like a hotel, that they are open to press. The McCain campaign has a practice that's different, and that is that all of their fundraisers, regardless of location, are closed to the press. And so to accommodate the practices, they decided to move it to a private residence today. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Not that I'm aware of. I'd refer you to the McCain campaign for those. But I would remind you that given that it's a free country, no matter where we go there's always a possibility for protests, so I don't think I'd put a lot of stock into that concern. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, I believe the last time we were in Utah, in Salt Lake City, we did the same. The President has -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Yes, we did; I was there. (Laughter.) Yes, so, I mean, he meets with them regularly, and thinks that they have a good role to play in America, in terms of helping communities and spreading the word of love. And the President often meets with religious leaders, and I don't think he would -- I don't think the President would ever pass up an opportunity to meet with the President of the Mormon Church. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, certainly we're currently reviewing the report, as you know. I don't believe it's final yet, in terms of final dissemination from them. We remain concerned that Iran continues to defy the international community when it comes to their nuclear program. If you look at what the IAEA said, they are -- that organization remains concerned. And I think that this should further open the eyes of the world to the problems of Iran.

And by failing to cooperate fully and transparently with the IAEA on these matters, we can only conclude it wants to preserve the ability to weaponize; Iran's continued nuclear fuel cycle development reinforces this conclusion. And despite Iranian protests that they have never violated their NPT or their IAEA safeguards obligations in which they cooperate fully with the IAEA, this report apparently demonstrates that Iran has not met its international obligations, and continues to violate the commitments that it committed to. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, as you know, Secretary Rice is leading up a conversation and negotiations with our allies, the P5-plus-1, for possible further sanctions, but I'd refer you to State Department for where they are on that process. I haven't heard -- although she and David Miliband answered questions from the press either last Thursday or Friday, and they talked about the status of it. I'd refer you to that. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: No. No, you didn't hear me say the President was going to say that. I said that the -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I said we believe that that stimulus is going to have the desired effect to bounce us out of the slowdown that we were in, and that as the stimulus checks went out, starting the first of May -- late April, first of May -- there was also another component of the economic stimulus package, and that was for businesses to be able to take advantage of some tax breaks so that they could buy equipment and to accelerate the depreciation, as it makes a big difference for a company like the one we're going to visit today, because that means that they can invest, expand, and usually when they're investing and expanding, they're creating more jobs.

So the President will highlight that portion of it today for a couple of reasons: one, to make sure that businesses across the country know that this opportunity is available to them; and two, to highlight how many businesses have taken advantage of it already. That's in addition to the individuals who have gotten stimulus rebate checks. I'll have you check with the Treasury Department -- or the President might have them later -- in terms of how many individuals have now received their checks. As you know, that was going to be a multi-month rollout. But I believe it's pretty high, the number of people who have already gotten it. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I think so, but I don't think that these are numbers that are necessarily -- they're not a secret. But I think -- we're trying to get -- I'm trying to get an update, so we make sure that we have something. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Yes, from Sterling, Virginia, and it's a similar message from there. So you'll hear from the President -- talk about that portion of it today.

Okay? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: There's some -- there is a formula that exists. I don't have it off the top of my head, but it's followed whenever we go on trips like this. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: We'll see -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Maybe you should look at your reporting from last year, because -- or in 2006 cycle. We had the exact same conversations over and over again. So I'll try to get it for you right now, but -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I have no idea, Roger. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I don't know how specific we get in breaking that down, but I'll see what I can get you. Okay? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Hello. Happy Friday before a three-day weekend.

Just quickly, I wanted to let you know a little bit of something about a product that we weren't able really to showcase as much as we were the other ones that you saw on the South Lawn today regarding free trade. The President this morning discussed on the South Lawn the importance of opening markets for the products made by American workers and farmers. And I thought I would highlight this here: Golf -- I've got a golf ball with me -- still remains enormously popular here in the United States, but the biggest growth market for golf is actually overseas. And approximately 35 percent of the sales of American-made golf balls go to international markets, and that is where their biggest growth is. It accounts for 75 percent of their revenue growth.

Korea is a huge market for these products, even with the significant tariffs that exist. Colombia is a smaller market, but golf products face significant tariffs there. And it would be a growth market in the long term. These golf balls are made by an American company and American workers in Massachusetts. The number one impediment to growth companies that produce golf products here in America are the taxes imposed by other countries, Korea and Colombia included. In Korea, U.S.-made golf balls face an 8 percent duty; in Colombia there's a staggering double-hit of a 20 percent tariff and a 16 percent tax on any U.S.-made golf ball.

Congress, as you heard the President say today, needs to recognize that our workers in America deserve a level playing field, just as people around the world are getting -- being allowed to send their products into these countries without any tariffs. We just deserve a level playing field here in America, and the President will call on them -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Golf and all the other issues. I'm not a big -- I'm not -- putt-putt golf? Putt-putt golf is a growth industry, possibly. (Laughter.) Carnivals.

But it's just another example of the many -- there's many different products, from the largest tractors to the smallest things, from fruit and vegetables to things like golf balls. And I think that American consumers -- I'm sorry, American consumers at the back end -- workers here in America deserve a level playing field. And when Congress gets back, President Bush expects them to get to work and follow through on the deal that they agreed to over 18 months ago. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I think we'll see -- I think we'll see, in terms of a pace. President Bush is fully committed, 100 percent committed, to making sure that John McCain is elected to be the next President of the United States of America. So he'll do what he can, when he can, in addition to being -- fulfilling all of his duties as Commander-in-Chief and President of the country.

The reason that they're closed is that the McCain campaign has a practice of having their fundraisers as closed press; and these are in private residences, which is where we have had closed press fundraisers, as well. But I expect that you'll see campaign activity pick up over the course of the next several months. But remember this election is -- the President is not on the ticket. John McCain is on the ticket and we'll see who is going to be on the ticket for the Democrats. And McCain is going to have to tell his story and get out and tell the world why he should be President of the United States. He'll have to contrast his positions with that of whoever the candidate is going to be on the other side of things, and the President will be there helping to do that. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I'm saying that the locations are at private residences and that -- their practice has been closed press fundraisers for -- across the board, both at private residences and other places. As you know, our practice has been somewhat different -- when they're at a larger locations like hotels, ours have been open. But that's their practice and we'll respect it. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Next week? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Sure -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: They'll be together in Arizona, but then we break off and we go on to Utah and -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Stay tuned for the details, but I think that you'll see a -- when we arrive or when we depart, I think there will be a chance. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I think you need to look back and look at the President's schedule, and also look at President John -- President McCain has a nice ring to it, but it was a little bit premature. President Bush has done several fundraisers here in town, but he's not raising money just for a McCain campaign, but for Republican candidates everywhere. President Bush is a formidable campaign fundraiser, as has been reported over the years, and I expect that he'll continue to be.

But remember, he's not on the ticket. And also, President Bush, since that time, in, it was early March -- late February/early March -- President Bush has had an international trip to NATO; he has traveled the country to host a international summit in New Orleans, where we hosted Prime Minister Harper and President Calderón; and then we just recently got back from a trip to the Middle East where the President is trying to help bring that region along to a Middle East peace conference. And we'll do what we can when we can. But the President has Commander-in-Chief responsibilities. And next week we have a chance to go out -- we'll also be doing a commencement address at the Air Force Academy, and then we head off to another international trip in early June.

So we'll do what we can when we can. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I won't say. But again, President Bush isn't on the ticket. John McCain is on the ticket, and he's the one who's out there making the case for why he should be President of the United States. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: There's not -- I don't have details yet, but that's possible. And we'll try to get you more information as we get closer.

Les. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Thank you, Dana, two questions. After six years of legal effort, the American Council for the

MS. PERINO: That is something that the Treasury Department has been handling. They are named in the lawsuit, and they are taking it very seriously. And they'll be talking with the Justice Department, I'm sure, to determine their next steps, because I don't think -- the litigation is not completed yet. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Okay. Senate Minority Leader McConnell and 28 other Republican senators introduced the Domestic

MS. PERINO: No; it's very interesting, though. Thanks for pointing it out. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I don't know if he did a whip count. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Go ahead, Victoria. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Victoria, I'm stating a fact. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, okay, then, no, I'm not -- I'm seeking nothing but to tell you that the President is not on the ticket, he's not running, and you can't -- you don't expect for him to be out running for President. He's done that twice and been successful.

Ken. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I don't know if they've gotten that detailed yet, in terms of ramping up as we go over the next several months. So at this point, I couldn't tell you. And I'm not really involved in those scheduling discussions.

Roger. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Just basically -- based on my limited awareness of how it is, there's a few people who are -- have the appropriate -- clear ability to have regular conversations with the McCain campaign. For example, I was asked earlier this week if we coordinated our Cuba speeches -- two things on that. One, it was Cuban Independence Day, which is why we were all talking about Cuba. And as Dan Fisk told you the other day, this week is one that the Cuban people think is symbolic of their fight for freedom. So that's why those campaign -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, we let them know that we would be giving the speech. The President's schedule is pretty open. I mean, you guys know what he's going to be talking about weeks in advance. But there are some things that we can let them know in terms of -- we just don't want to make sure -- we want to make sure that we're not stepping on each other's toes or getting in the way of something that they want to accomplish, and we're cognizant of that.

But also he's the President of the United States, and so he will give speeches and talk about issues depending on where and when he is. For example on the Cuba speech, we let them know that the President would be making some -- a new policy announcement on the gift parcels, as we talked about the other day, when it comes to the cell phones. We offered to provide details, but they apparently didn't need any and they didn't call back on that.

So I would say it's in some ways casual in that a lot of the people that are working for the McCain campaign are friends of ours and the -- Barry Jackson's office does a lot of the conversations with them, as does Ed Gillespie -- but all appropriate conversations and ones to give them as much of a heads up as we can on -- and also to find out topics that they're going to be talking about. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, I think that in any campaign, in the last six months it intensifies in terms of the schedule and so we'll take a look there. But remember the President also is committed to not just helping John McCain, but to helping Republican candidates across the board and up and down the slate.

Ann. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I've been asked this question for about a year, and so I don't -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: And I know you're asking it now. I think on the farm bill, though, I think that it says a lot more about Congress than it does about the President. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, I think that they've made a decision in an election year that they can throw caution to the wind and throw fiscal discipline out the window and pass a bill that will cost taxpayers an enormous sum of money. And the President had very clear principles all along the way on the farm bill, and they decided that Congress was going to overrun that. That's their right. They didn't quite do it exactly the way that they thought they would, but I'm sure that that will work itself out when they get back and they'll be able to fix the mistake. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: But on the war supplemental, we have a long way to go when it comes to the war supplemental. It takes two Houses of Congress, and what I saw the other -- yesterday in the votes was that, if you look at the Senate vote in particular, they stripped out any conditions on tying the hands of our commanders, which was one of our principle -- one of the President's principles that he requires for these war supplementals. And so I think that we have won that debate so many times in the past that they decided not to even go down that path.

We'll have a discussion about the money and adding the bridge funding to the supplemental, and we know that -- it must be that many members of Congress think that this might be the only bill that moves, which is quite a sad commentary on what Congress should be able to do for the American people. And that is probably why they want to ladle on lots of different special projects. The President thinks that some of those projects may be meritorious, but they should have that debate outside of funding for the troops. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I think that it -- I don't think that it applies, and especially in these two cases. I think that any time you have a Congress that's nearing the last several months of their legislative session, they try to get more done as they get closer to these recesses, like Memorial Day recess. I am sure you'll see a lot of activity leading up to that last week of July before they go on the Fourth of July recess, but time is running out to get a lot of things done.

And if you go back to one of the reasons that the President sent up the Colombia legislation, it was precisely because we are mindful of the calendar and we know that there's not going to be a lot of activity in Congress probably after July. I'm not exactly sure when their target date is for adjournment. I think it is sometime in August, because they're all going to want to go out and get on the campaign trail. So there's only so much we can do with the calendar. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Dana, General Petraeus yesterday indicated that he believes there could be additional troop reductions

MS. PERINO: Well, they talk regularly -- at least once a week, if not twice a week -- and they were able to see each other this week. On Monday the President had a secure video teleconference with Prime Minister Maliki -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: No, no, and I think it might be just a little bit too early to tell. Now, I don't know what they talk about in their private meetings, and I'm sure General Petraeus continues to give him an update. On the good news side of things, Iraq has continued to improve from the Iraqi security forces. Their economy is improving, and the political reconciliation that we are looking for, once the security situation has improved, is all starting to come to fruition.

And the President has said to General Petraeus, you've done the job we've asked you to do, you've done it well, and let me know what you need and how much you are going to need as you try to finish this out in order to complete the mission. And one of the things he said to the families yesterday, the families of the fallen when we were at Fort Bragg, is that he can -- he didn't know how else -- how to provide them a lot of comfort, because he knows the pain that they are in. But he did promise them that their loved one's loss would not be in vain.

Then he will look to General Petraeus and General Odierno to identify for them -- identify for him what they think can happen in the fall. And I think that even General Petraeus said that while he would like to be able to and he thinks he'll be able to, it's too early to tell right now.

Olivier. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Dana, Chris Hill is going back to the region next week, as I understand. The State Department

MS. PERINO: I think we're going to have to wait and see. I think the trip is an important one that Chris Hill will undertake. I think State Department released the dates earlier today. And we'll have to wait and see. While we are hopeful that we are nearing a period where we can get a full and accurate declaration from the North Koreans, we have reason to be skeptical that it could happen on a certain time frame. So I think instead of saying yes or no, I just think we need to wait and see what will happen. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Chris? Ambassador Hill? I don't know, but we can check.

Wendell. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, I know that we have had contact with them in the past, because President Bush has said that as part of the deal in order to get the Colombia free trade agreement and the other agreements passed, we are willing to talk about Trade Adjustment Assistance and how to improve upon it, make sure it's effective, and that he was willing to increase the amount. But I'll have to refer you to USTR for specifics as to the conversations that are going on between their staff and her staff. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Well, I think that earlier in the week, President Medvedev said that this is something he wants to continue to have discussions about. We recognize that they've said that they would have -- that they have concerns about it, and that's exactly what President Bush was there and talked about when we were there in late April -- I think it was April; if not, a little bit earlier -- in which President Putin and President Bush agreed that we would continue to have conversations and discussions in order to address their concerns, to make sure they know that a missile defense system would not be aimed at Russia. In fact, any suggestion that it would be aimed at Russia is -- does not have a lot of weight because of the way that the Russians and their military could crush such a system.

So we are continuing to work with them, both on the reasons why we think we need a missile defense system and the technical components of, which we've been having conversations between our military and theirs over the past little while. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: I would say the -- I would not say we are "troubled." I would say that we are aware of their concerns and that we are working to address them.

Matt. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Just to follow on that. Is there any concern that President Medvedev, so early in his administration

MS. PERINO: No, and I would encourage you to look back to what President Medvedev said earlier in the week as well. We know that this is an important issue that they take very seriously. We do too, and we understand that they have concerns, and it's concerns that we want to address, and that's why we have an open conversation with them. And one of the reasons that the President wanted to make sure it was very clear last April when we were there that Russia and the United States have a strong relationship, a complex one, but a good relationship on a range of issues. And because of the relationship he has established with President Putin, we can have a frank exchange of views, but also work on issues where we can try to solve a problem. And on this one, we are trying to address their concerns. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Good morning, everybody. We're en route to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where the President will make remarks at a division review ceremony at 10:00 a.m. You got some background on that last night on what the President will discuss, how our troops are returning home from Iraq because of the good work that they did there. He will detail what success will look like in Iraq and Afghanistan. He will talk mostly about Iraq, but there are some who are in Afghanistan as well, so he'll talk about that. He will stress the importance of Congress giving our troops all the resources they need, and the progress in Afghanistan and Iraq on our moving forward.

And then he's going to visit the barracks at 1:00 p.m. and then participate in an All-American Memorial Ceremony at 2:05 p.m. This is for -- to honor troops who have lost their lives in battle since World War I. At the ceremony a new Global War on Terror Memorial will be unveiled. The first event is open to the press, second one is pool coverage, and that third one, the memorial ceremony, is closed. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Yes, in part. I mean, I don't know -- had that not arisen as an issue, I don't know what else the President might have done on the tour. He might have gone to visit the barracks anyway, or visit something else. But certainly he's been kept apprised of the efforts by the Army to improve the situation -- dramatically improve the situation. The President has been kept informed by Pete Geren, who will be with the President on the trip today. So the President is looking forward to making sure that those changes have been implemented and that the troops have a good and decent place to be when they return from all the hard work that they did overseas. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: You tell me -- or the Democrats tell me. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: He vetoed -- the President vetoed the bill that the Democrats sent us. And, look, I understand there's a technical error and we'll have to see what the Congress decides to do, but maybe it gives them one more chance to take a look and think about how much they're asking the taxpayers to spend at a time of record farm income. The Congress had an opportunity to put forward -- I'm sorry -- to implement reforms, much needed reforms, and they decided not to. And I think with this move it shows that they can even up screw up spending the taxpayers' money unwisely. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Said they can -- they've proved that they can even screw up spending the taxpayers' money unwisely. (Laughter.) Laughter by reporters. (Laughter.) Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: No. I'll have to refer you to DOD or to Fort Bragg to -- we'll see if we can confirm it for you on the ground. I wouldn't be able to tell you either way.

Anything else? Okay, I know it's a short flight. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Sure. I mean, obviously the country and the President has asked a lot of our military, and the 82nd Airborne is revered for all of the work that it does, the commitment that they have to protecting Americans from -- in this conflict and the conflicts that have come before it. The President will talk about how grateful he is, on behalf of the nation. He will say that they have performed with skill and valor.

He will say that he can see why the 82nd Airborne is known as "America's guard of honor;" that he sees the strength of the greatest military the world has ever known. And in Fort -- and in the families of Fort Bragg, many of whom will be there today, he will thank them for the service he -- as he has said before, the President believes that the military families serve right alongside with their loved ones, and in some cases it's even harder because they sit and worry while the soldiers are out doing the good work on behalf of the American people. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: They've just returned from Iraq, so this ceremony, the division review is when they come home, so this is the timing. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: No, he will talk about Afghanistan a little bit, as well, and -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Can we find out? I believe so, but we'll find out. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Hi, everyone. I'm going to do the schedule quickly and I'm going to introduce, then, Dan Fisk to you.

The President had his normal briefings at 8:00 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., he will meet the National Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, George Lisicki. He was elected National Commander-in-Chief on August 23, 2007, at the VFW 108th National Convention that was held in Kansas City, Missouri. The President has met with the National Commander-in-Chief of the VFW each year of his presidency.

At 10:25 a.m. he will then make remarks on Cuba, as you will find out a little bit more about from Dan Fisk in just a moment. At 12:30 p.m. I'm going to be joined by OMB Director Jim Nussle, to talk about the war supplemental. At 1:25 p.m. the President will meet with the Maronite Patriarch of Lebanon. And then at 2:10 p.m. he will sign H.R. 493 -- this is the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008. And I think some of you have asked about that bill in the past, so that signing will happen today.

Let me turn it over to Dan Fisk of the NSC to talk about the President's policy in Cuba, a little bit of news in the speech, and then I'll come back up and take questions on other issues. MR. FISK: Good morning. The President will host an event today to commemorate a Day of Solidarity with the Cuban people. Through the event at the White House the United States will join other governments, non-governmental organizations and global democracy activists in expressing support for and solidarity with the Cuban people. The purpose of the White House event today, and other events around the United States and internationally, is to draw specific attention to the plight of Cuba's political prisoners and to call for their immediate release.

This is the first Day of Solidarity with the Cuban people. It is our hope that this becomes an annual event until there is a free Cuba. Other international events and activities today will include statements of solidarity by other governments and parliamentarians, and non-governmental organization and other civil society activities including vigils, rallies and religious ceremonies.

In the context of Cuban history, this day comes during a period when Cubans commemorate the death of Jose Marti, Cuba's independence leader who died on May 19th, 1895. It also comes during a period on May 20th that marks the anniversary of Cuba's independence; this is the 106th anniversary of that independence. And it also comes in a period to mark the death of a prominent Cuban student activist, Pedro Luis Boitel, who died in a Cuban prison while on a hunger strike in May of 1972. He died on May 25th. So this period, May 19th to May 25th, is significant for Cubans for a number of historical reasons.

In his remarks today the President will challenge the regime to make its so-called reforms meaningful for the average Cuban. For example, if Cubans can own cell-phones or mobile phones, then they should be allowed to freely and publicly express themselves. If Cubans can own computers, then it would seem that they should be allowed to have unfettered access to the Internet.

The President will also note that many of the products, whether they're mobile phones, DVD players, or computers, are beyond the means of average Cubans. Not only do Cubans suffer from political repression, but also economic repression. They're denied an economy that makes prosperity possible, where it gives them the opportunity to benefit from their talents.

The President will reaffirm his view that real change requires political freedom, and he will challenge the Castro regime to respect and fulfill the obligations it undertook when it signed the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, one of the other so-called actions by Raul Castro that is supposed to signal a new change in Cuba.

The President will also make reference to a number of political prisoners, this being a day to call attention to them and to honor them, including, for example, Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, who previously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and who follows the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr., and who is serving a 25-year sentence for actually advocating peaceful change in Cuba.

As for the efforts of the United States to support political change, the President will note our increased efforts to support the Cuban people and to get uncensored information to the island, especially through Radio and TV Marti. Just as a note, since 2001 this administration has provided nearly $370 million in assistance for democracy assistance programs and broadcasting initiatives.

The President will reiterate his offer from last October to license U.S. NGOs and faith-based groups to provide computers and Internet directly to the Cuban people if the Cuban regime ends its restrictions on Internet access.

And then the President will make an announcement about a policy change. We are modifying our regulations to allow Americans to send mobile phones to family members in Cuba.

I will stop there and be happy to take any questions. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Is he going to wade into the whole discussion about engaging U.S. enemies and -- I know that you

MR. FISK: The President will be talking about his view on Cuba and our policy towards Cuba. This is not about the campaign. This is about this period in Cuban history, not only in terms of historical context, as I mentioned earlier, but in terms of what we are trying to do to support the Cuban people. Our view remains that the issue is not one of Washington versus Havana. It's a matter of the Cuban regime needing to talk to the Cuban people so the Cuban people actually have a say in how their country is governed and who governs them. So in that sense -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: It's not -- today's event is not about -- it's about Cuba and how we see events there.

Yes, sir. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: First of all, since Raul Castro has made these announcements, one is to challenge and say, okay, you're saying Cubans can have access to this, okay, we're going to -- one, we're going to test you, but we think it's the right thing to do. It's consistent with our policy to help empower the Cuba people, to help them communicate amongst themselves, but also with the outside world.

And let me just go back to one data point for you all to keep in mind on the issue of mobile phones in Cuba. From what I understand, the average cost for a mobile phone -- if a Cuban wants to buy one on the island, the average cost is around $120 for a phone, when you and I can go buy for $20 here. They then have to pay another $120 for an activation fee. And again, they have to do all this with hard currency. The average salary for a Cuban is somewhere in the range of $12 to $20 a month. So what we're trying to do is say, okay, you've allowed -- you're allowing Cubans to have access and to own cell phones, fine; we're going to allow Americans with family to send phones there, and again, let them be able to speak amongst themselves.

As the President will note, we also think that if they can speak privately, such a concept as private speech, then they should be allowed to speak publicly. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: It's our understanding that they work -- cell phones from the United States work there, as actually there are other services as well. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: Right now it's consistent with our existing regulations on gift parcels, which is it's from those with family in the United States. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: Americans will be allowed to send a phone and supporting account. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: The NSC is not involved in the campaigns. No coordination was done from my office, or I'm aware anyone else. This was a White House event; these are the President's remarks, it's the President's policy, it's about where we are. It's not a matter of -- MS. PERINO: I'll find out. I don't know specifically if -- on a specific policy change, if that was alerted to the campaign or not, but I'll check. MR. FISK: I guess from the NSC perspective, no.

Yes, sir. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: Coordination in what way? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: They have been invited. I understand that they will be here. We've invited a number of members of Congress. We've invited some representatives -- selected representatives from the diplomatic corps will be there. It's my understanding that the Cuban American members from South Florida, and Congressman Sires, who's a Cuban American House member from New Jersey, have RSVP'd, have accepted to attend the event. MS. PERINO: But there is plane trouble or air trouble with at least I think two of them -- MR. FISK: Well, for two of the family members, not for the members of the Congress. But to the extent that they will be there, yes, the invitations have been extended. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q You said that this is about Cuba, but can you clarify the policy in terms of what the difference

MR. FISK: Well, first, keep in mind that when we deal with China we also -- the President has been very clear, and the Secretary of State and others, about raising human rights concerns. I think one of the key differences at this point is the extent to which the two countries themselves want to engage with the world, to what extent that they are providing some areas of opportunity for their citizens, separating out kind of the historical context of how China policy evolved versus our policy towards Cuba. But fundamentally, I see that there is a difference between how Beijing wants to interact with the world and how Havana wants to act with the world. And that I think becomes a very important criteria for us.

Again, I go back to the point that the Western Hemisphere, through the Inter-American Democratic Charter, has made a decision as a hemisphere that countries have democratic obligations. There is no inter-Asian or Asian democratic charter for others. And we also think that that is something that needs to be taken into account in terms of our approach towards Cuba, that the issue of human rights, democratization, the treatment of one's people is very fundamental to how the United States for more than 30 years has approached our relationships in the Western Hemisphere. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: Not a function of size. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: Well, that will be interesting to see how the Castro regime responds to that. I mean, it seems to me that that's a very fair question and one to be asked of the people in Havana. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MS. PERINO: Hello. I have one announcement. First of all, we wish Deb Riechmann a happy birthday. (Applause.) So I guess I have two announcements.

Today the President will sign the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, a bill that will prohibit health insurers and employers from discriminating on the basis of genetic information. And I have one update -- this will now be open to pool coverage in the Oval Office. The legislation will ensure that health plans and health insurance insurers would not be able to deny coverage to individuals or charge higher premiums based solely on a genetic predisposition to developing a disease in the future.

The President will take time to especially thank and recognize the leadership of Senator Kennedy, who worked tirelessly on this issue for more than a decade. And we appreciate Senator Kennedy's efforts to get this legislation passed and delivered to the President for his signature today.

Next, I'd like to introduce the President's Director of the Office of Management and Budget for an update on the farm bill, and also on the war supplemental. He'll take some questions, and then I'll finish up. DIRECTOR NUSSLE: Thank you, Dana. Let me begin with the farm bill. We sent the Congress our farm bill proposals over 16 months ago, because the President recognized that during a time of record farm income, that Americans deserved a reform-minded farm bill. We included our farm bill in the budget. Instead Congress sent us a bloated bill with too much spending, not enough reform, budget gimmicks and even more earmarks. And so today the President has vetoed the farm bill, as he has promised.

We proposed the President's farm bill based on comments that were gleaned from people in the public and farmers all across the country. The bill that he has vetoed increases spending by more than $20 billion, yet fails to reform farm programs at a time when farm income and crop prices are setting records. Americans are frustrated with wasteful government spending and the funneling of taxpayer funds to pet projects. This bill only worsens the frustration that they will feel.

For example, $175 million is in this bill to address water issues in desert lakes; $250 million for a 400,000-acre land purchase from one single owner; funding for a non-competitive scale of national forest land to a ski resort in Vermont -- some have referred to this as the "trail to nowhere;" $382 million that was earmarked for one specific watershed; $170 million for salmon fishermen in the West Coast. In this bill, it requires taxpayers to fund peanut storage, and it makes loans and grants more costly for potential energy producers by expanding Davis-Bacon.

Some American businesses would be forced to pay their taxes early to help cover the $20 billion of increased spending. Yet there's no meaningful reform in this proposal. For example, farm income after expenses or adjusted gross income can be as high as $1.5 million before direct farm payments are cut off. And the bill completely eliminates the limit on other payments or the marketing loan.

So at a time of great need for global food aid, this bill restricts our ability to provide emergency food by blocking and locking in aid dollars for non-emergency use. It fails to allow us to use a quarter of the food aid as we proposed to buy food in developing countries, or across the world. The need I believe is important, and it takes months to ship this food overseas. We want to be able to purchase locally. This bill prevents that.

Congress should extend the current farm bill rather than jeopardizing America's support for a farm economy and wasteful spending that fails to target payments to farmers who really need the support.

Let me also address quickly the supplemental that is on the floor in the Senate today, and was on the floor of the House earlier. Memorial Day is obviously a time to observe and commemorate the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make to protect national security. As we honor their service this coming Monday, it's both disappointing and, for that matter, I believe irresponsible, that Congress has failed to provide our troops with the resources they need by this fast-approaching deadline.

Instead, Democratic leaders have cynically used the supplemental bill that should have been focused on our troops and national security to advance their political agenda of higher government spending and tying the hands of our military commanders.

As General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker testified, the surge is working to bring greater security to the people of Iraq and allowing for significant political and economic progress. Defeating the enemy in Iraq will make it less likely that we will face that enemy here at home. We must support our troops and diplomats, and not undercut their mission or reverse their successes.

Congress has had most of the troop funding request since February 5th of last year, 2007, more than 15 months. I believe it's inexcusable that they have missed their deadlines that they have self-imposed. As stated by Secretary Gates, this delay will result in the Department of Defense needing to employ budget shell games to pay for the troops and to provide them the equipment and the training and the pay and the safety to do the job that they have been asked to do.

Secretary Gates also stated, "After June 15th we will run out of funds in the account to pay soldiers, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan." First American military personnel. After June 15th, we will run out of the funds to pay -- in this account, to pay soldiers, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Let me turn to a chart -- there we go. The President took a clear and principled position regarding this funding from the very outset. He made it clear he would veto a supplemental that does not meet the needs of our troops, ties the hands of our military commanders, or exceeds the requested level of $108.1 billion. However, the House and Senate includes billions more in spending that the President has not requested.

The Senate bill has $10 billion more in discretionary spending alone, under-funding priorities from this year's omnibus bill alone, even though they conveniently found room for $16.9 billion in earmarks. In addition, with the national unemployment rate as low as 5 percent, the Democrats' plan extends unemployment benefits beyond the existing benefit of 26 weeks. It's a one-size-fits-all plan that really doesn't make any sense. Only five states have an unemployment rate of 6 percent or higher, and more than two-thirds have an unemployment rate below 5 percent.

The bill proposes increases in veterans' benefits. Throughout the year the President has led efforts to expand benefits for our veterans. This idea has bipartisan support. But Democratic leaders have rejected the bipartisan bill that was approved by the Veterans Affairs Committee, and instead has air-dropped him a bill that has not even had consideration. They don't want transferability of the education benefits, which doesn't -- isn't provided in this bill. And it doesn't provide greater rewards for continued military service in our all-volunteer force.

The House includes a huge tax increase on small businesses at a time when job creation is necessary, not increased taxes. And the House bill didn't even fund the troops.

Republicans decided they weren't going to be a pawn in this cynical game, so 132 of them voted "present" to express their concern. The Democrats could only muster 85 votes to support troop funding.

Finally, both House and Senate supplemental bills tie the hands of our military commanders. Because the House and Senate bills fail to meet the President's principles, if either one of these bills were presented to the President, he would veto it.

And I'm pleased to take your questions. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Two questions, one on the mobile phone issue. How many mobile phones do you expect to be sent

MR. FISK: Well, let me put this in context. Roughly one in 10 Cubans lives in the United States. There's at least a million and a half of what we would call Cuban Americans on an island of 11 million people. So I mean, I'm not going to tell you it's going to be x number, but if you start from that base, that's a pretty good base to start from. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: I think what's surprising here is that there has been 15 months of lead time. It's not unusual that there's politics in Washington or politics on the Hill, particularly in an election year, but you would think you could set aside that momentarily in order to do a job that they've known is necessary to do for over 15 months, and that's pay for the troops.

There are many, obviously, who have different opinions about the global war on terror, but once our men and women are in harm's way, you would think that politics could be set aside to ensure that they were paid, that they received the safety equipment that they needed, and to ensure that they could do the basic job that they've been asked to do.

So with 15 months of lead time, there was time for a little bit of politics. But the time has run out now to make sure that the funding is there, and the Defense Department is now going to have to take some drastic measures to ensure that funding is available in the meantime. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: My hesitation is because I'm hard pressed to give you a positive response on that. I mean, at this point, there's rhetoric. At this point, there are some possibilities. But again, until we can actually see that Cubans can really benefit from this, I think, again, we are going to be reluctant to want to rush to embrace. Again, I think the President today, rightly, is going to lay down kind of, if you allow access to cell phones, then, okay, free speech should be part of that.

I'm sorry -- woman in the back there. Yes, ma'am. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: Well, we're certainly doing more than complain. We've submitted legislation; we've submitted reform proposals; we've tried to work with the Congress in order to not only fit the spending within a reasonable budget plan, but also to ensure that there were reform proposals. Congress has decided to go against that. We're doing much more than complain. We're actually making proposals, working with the Congress to try and improve it. When that failed, the President had to make a decision, and he's decided to veto it. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: Well, I'm hesitant to talk about what other countries are doing to support U.S. efforts. I will make a comment that I think that there is a consensus in the hemisphere on the need for democratic change in Cuba. There's no doubt that there's a vigorous debate internationally about U.S. policy. We're very well aware of that. But I also think that there is agreement on the strategic objective of the Cuban people being allowed to enjoy fundamental freedoms and fundamental rights on that.

So, to the extent that other countries are speaking -- whether they're in Latin America or elsewhere -- are speaking up on behalf of democratic change, on behalf of human rights in Cuba, then we applaud that and we encourage more countries to do that and to do it actually more publicly, more vocally, and more consistently.

So again this isn't a matter -- for instance, today is not about U.S. policy kind of for the global event. What we do at the White House has a U.S. policy element to it. But it is about, again, solidarity with the Cuban people. And so we are heartened that there will be a number of events today in Latin America and in Europe primarily that call attention to the situation on the island.

Let me go here. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Following up on that, it appears clear the farm bill will be overridden -- and, in fact, that might

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: Well, first on the SPR, it was, I believe and many in the administration believe, a fairly meaningless proposal with regard to our overall energy security, from the standpoint of reducing prices. We wanted to ensure that our national security was preserved by ensuring that the SPR was available for a disruption in supply. And so it was somewhat of a different situation. The farm bill is a significant piece of legislation which will increase spending not only for the next five years, but sets the predicate for actually the next 10, based on the way that the budget has gone through this process.

Second, it's also important at a time when we're trying to expand trade around the world, and to ensure that we increase the amount of products that are available, to ensure that those who are in -- needing food have that available to them. So this is a much more significant piece of legislation. And we have worked over the last 16 months with the Congress in order to try and improve the farm bill. And Congress has basically decided to thumb their nose at us. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: I'll be happy to. And I will acknowledge that some of these numbers are soft in the sense that we'll know at the end of the day kind of what has happened. There is a website. I did not bring it with me, the link on that. I'll get it to Dana so that you all can see that it actually posts a map of where events are. It will be, again, events across the United States. There will be a number of events throughout the Western Hemisphere/Latin America. Again, we're looking at non-governmental organizations -- again, vigils, rallies, religious services. A number of events in Europe; the last count I have is about events in about 30 countries of one type or another.

U.S. embassies, by the way, will also be doing events, but the 30 countries does not account -- does not include U.S. embassy events. That's a far larger -- a larger number. So, I mean that hopefully gives you a little bit of a snapshot. And again we'll get you the website so you can actually get on and see.*

Yes, sir. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: Well, we don't -- the OMB does not send out furlough notices, nor does the White House. That's a decision that the Defense Department will make. And according to Secretary Gates and the Defense Department, those notices may begin as -- in the next month. And notification to particularly the civilian workforce, similar to what occurred in December, will also need to go out in June if the funding is not available, as well as reprogramming will -- a request for reprogramming will have to be sent to the Hill probably at the end of next week. And changes -- as the Secretary described the budget shell game -- will have to be played with the accounts that are currently available to the Defense Department just to make ends meet during that period of time.

So there's more than just the notices of furlough that will go out. This is a terrible way to run the department, and again, something that both Congress and the Department of Defense have known for quite some time. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: Good question. Because the 19th is already a day that's commemorated, because the 20th is another day that's commemorated. In terms of the individuals putting this together and the NGOs putting this together, they just thought they would pick a different day to kind of fit in that period from May 19th to May 25th. There's no magic to it. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: Well, the interesting part about this, which I find fascinating, is that at a time when -- there are those who are suggesting we do need domestic spending -- instead of accelerating the appropriations process for this coming year, instead it appears that Senate leaders, in particular, and even some in the House, are making the strategic decision to punt all of those appropriation bills until next year.

So if the need is so urgent for spending, domestic spending, why not get your work done? Why not work on the appropriation bills instead of basically punting that until the middle of next year -- which factually or technically they will be doing by waiting for what they believe is a Democrat President to make a better deal with?

That to me suggests that this is not about domestic spending; it's about trying to hold the troops hostage in order to get a few pet projects into this particular bill; and recognizing that they know the President has made a principled position, one that he was able to hold to in December in the omnibus bill process. And I believe it's those reasons why the leadership has made the decision that they've made. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: Pardon? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: All of the -- first of all, no appropriations bills are making it through the process. It appears through all of their announcements that they have made that -- or many of the announcements that they have made that they believe that they might have a better deal with the next President. I assume they mean a President Obama. That being the case, they've decided instead to go for a continuing resolution strategy and wait for a better deal.

And all I'm suggesting, or observing, is that if it is in fact so urgent to have all of this domestic spending considered, you would think, rather than sticking it into the supplemental, or at least in addition to considering that as a strategy, they would also accelerate the appropriations process. Instead, what they have basically done is waited until today to get a budget done, and the appropriations process has not really even kicked off yet. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: Yes. I mean, the idea here is that you have a -- because Cubans on the island see this as a period of activity, kind of book-ended by Jose Marti's death, the date of his death, and the death of Boitel, it kind of fit in there, and it made -- it just made sense to the individuals involved and the organizations involved in this effort.

If there's someone who hasn't -- not to be dismissive -- but someone who hasn't yet asked a question. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: Well, we're in the third inning of a what's going to be a long game. The President has made it very clear that $108 billion in the request in order to ensure that the troops have what they need is the most important and first priority. In addition to that, not tying the hands of commanders, not adding extraneous spending are important veto principles that he has also laid out. So we haven't seen what the final version is. In fact, no spending bill has passed any floor yet, so we don't even know what we're looking at. But the most important thing at this point in time is to stay within those principles and make sure that the troops are funded. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q I just wondered if you could give us maybe a little more background on how this policy came about

MR. FISK: I think it's fair to say that actually since the announcement that Fidel Castro went in the hospital, we've had a ongoing policy process to determine, first of all, what is going on on the island, what it means, and then how we can -- how we should, and if we should, modify our policy.

There's no doubt that this was given some momentum by the events of February, when we had Raul -- I'm sorry, Fidel Castro kind of pass many of his titles on to Raul -- I think there's still a question about who the power in Cuba is at this time. And since then, we have, at the President's direction, continued to put a number of initiatives -- discussed a number of initiatives and go through the whole interagency process and kind of consider what our options are and how we should proceed, being, again, consistent with the President's policy that what we are seeking to do is empower the Cuban people, get directly to them, not further enrich the regime, and again, kind of what realistically and effectively the U.S. can do with the Cuban people. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: Well, you would have thought that the game could have been accelerated and that they could have gotten this done a lot earlier. That's what's so perplexing about this, is that they've had 15 months of lead time. It was the Congress that requested that all of this funding be proposed up front in the budget that was proposed back in February of 2007. And it was the Congress that has already held two hearings with the State Department, with Secretary Rice, three hearings with Secretary Gates, one hearing with me, in order to consider this supplemental spending over the course of the last 15 months. So they've had a lot of lead time to understand this. I wish it was the 9th inning and we were ready to sign a bill and get on with it. But we're, it appears, no closer as a result of the actions that have been taken. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: Because it enhances their ability to communicate. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: Yes. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: And with themselves. One of the things that the regime has done -- and remember, this is a repressive state. I mean, this is a police state. This is a state in which you go to jail for your beliefs. Again, we've seen repression continue since Raul took formal power. That has not changed the harassment of dissidents. Detentions may not be now as long-term, but they're on a consistent basis. So, for civil society, there is still very much the firm hand of the Cuban state in their lives.

So the regime has done a very good job of isolating Cubans and Cuban civil society on the island so that you may have activities in Santiago de Cuba on the eastern end that individuals in other parts of the island are not aware of. If you give them more means of communication, we think that is something that helps them and empowers them. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Sir, as far as your choice between food and oil, millions of people around the globe are now making

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: It's a good question, a fair question. I'm not sure I'm prepared to answer that for you today, so why don't I defer on your very good question. MS. PERINO: Do you want to take one more in the back? DIRECTOR NUSSLE: Yes. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: The same argument that's there is that the regime has set up as many of these structures as possible to where you do business with the regime. The idea with the cell phones is they're going directly from family members to other family on the island. This is not a case in which you're enriching the regime. Lift the embargo, and let's -- Read more Comment (0), Email this.

Q Among the things listed as unnecessary projects, the $170 million for relief for Northwest communities

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: Well, again, there are, I'm sure, worthwhile concerns within all of these particular bills that move through. But when you stick that into a farm bill, when you do it in a way that is bloated, more than five times the original proposal of the farm bill itself, when it doesn't include the other reforms -- what may be in and of itself a good provision -- and there may be other examples of that -- again, I'm not sure I can comment on each specific one.

But when you throw it all together, I think that's when not only the taxpayers get frustrated, but many get frustrated about the fact that these bills come through, they don't have reform, they're too expensive. And I think that's part of the reason why that, in this instance, we're seeing such an outcry from the public about this kind of a bill.

So one more -- I've been passing over you and I didn't mean to. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: Pardon? Read more Comment (0), Email this.

DIRECTOR NUSSLE: You know, as soon as that word came out of my mouth I thought, I should have made sure I attributed that to Senator Reid. I believe Senator Reid was suggesting that. I have no prediction on the Democratic primary.

Thank you very much. MS. PERINO: Thanks, Jim. Okay, any others? April. Read more Comment (0), Email this.

MR. FISK: Well, the question -- I mean, right now you can pay for service in south Florida. They may end up having to get service on the island. We have factored that in, but we think that there's -- the cost/benefit on this works to the benefit or works in favor of Cuban civil society and empowering the Cuban people, as opposed to lifting the embargo, which just says, okay, now you go in and be in business with the regime. We see this as a different -- very much a different issue. Read more Comment (0), Email this.