Monday's Press Gaggle:
From the White House transcript:
Q Why a National Guard event now? Why having the President's picture taken with National Guard troops now?
MR. McCLELLAN: This is an event that's been in the works for several weeks. And the President -- the President recognizes his most important responsibility is to protect the American people and our troops. Both those in the Armed Forces and those in our reserve units and Guard are playing an important role in helping us confront the dangerous threats that we face, and make the world a safer and better place.
So this is an opportunity to not only thank our troops, but thank their families, and also provide them an update in the war on terrorism. They're involved in a very important cause, and the President is forever grateful for their service and sacrifice.
Q By several weeks, you mean before the Democrats raised questions about the President's service?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, yes.
Q It has nothing to do with that whole controversy, his visit here today?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, this has to do with the President thanking our troops for their service and sacrifice in an important cause.
Matt's Chat
Now the President can't see the troops without the press corps thinking that they had something to do with it... Sheesh these guys need to buy a clue.Mark's Remarks
Halliburton!!! Lie after lie after lie...I demand an investigation...But, by the way, I am a Vietnam war hero....WHOOPS, THERE I GO AGAIN READING FROM THE DIM JOHN KERRY PLAYBOOK. It is perfectly OK for Kerry to not give a damn about his Vietnam brothers until he needs their votes, then to pander, but it is not ok for the commander in chief to visit the troops? Oh, like Clinton, who never even had a desire to respect and serve the military, never used the military, right? Oh yeah, it is all part of the Bush conspiracy, the same one that used the Jedi mind trick years before Bush took office to get Clinton and other Libs to say Saddam had weapons...the same mind control by conservatives that kept Clinton from keeping his pants up...oh yeah...it is all a conspiracy....it is a conspiracy by the easily duped media into being willing mouthpieces for the Dimocrapic party.....
