http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040220-7.html The transcripts and video are up for todays White House briefing and the important questions about whether shrub will send in the National Guard to protect America from the gay law-breakers in California.....
Today's 'Mayberry Machevalian' White House press briefing (it's so embarrassing for the United States of America to have EVERYONE see the insanity going on in the White House)...
the briefing was shorter than usual...only lasted 30 minutes...
video is on the web link below....
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here's some highlights from the transcript
Q On another topic, the Mayor of Chicago has now said that he would have no objection to that city issuing marriage licences for same-sex couples. Judges in the state of California have evinced no interest in stopping what's happening in San Francisco. And there are a lot of Americans who are not just troubled, as the President has said he was by these events, but outraged by them, and
they are looking for leadership, and they don't see it in the White House. There is some suspicion that the President's political advisors are telling him that this is too hot to handle. What would you say to them?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I would think that those are some wrong impressions, number one. This President has always believed that marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman.
And this President is strongly committed to protecting the sanctity of marriage. He has made it very clear that he will do what is legally necessary to protect the sanctity of marriage. And he has said, if necessary, he is prepared to look to the constitutional process. You mentioned some of the events that are unfolding. We have seen events going on in Massachusetts.
We have activist judges trying to redefine marriage. We have seen events in San Francisco, and some other areas, I've noticed, have been talking about it, as well, where some are seeking to redefine marriage, as well. And the President talked just -- I guess it's two days ago, about this very issue when he was asked about it. And he talked about how those events are influencing the way he is looking at this. We've been looking at it very closely, and
this President has committed to doing what is necessary to protect and defend the sanctity of marriage. It's a principled stand. The President has always felt this way and believe very strongly what is legally necessary to protect the sanctity of marriage. That's why he supported efforts like the Defense of Marriage Act. Q If I could just follow up, many people who saw him speak out on this were dismayed by the mildness of his comments. They felt that he was not, for someone who, as you say, feel so strongly on the issue, sufficiently outraged by what they see as a spectacle and a travesty. Do you sense in him a real commitment, an outrage?
MR. McCLELLAN:
It's a principled position that the President has taken. He has made it very clear that it's important to treat everybody with dignity and respect, no matter where you stand on the issue. But this is an enduring institution in America. And the President is committed to doing what is legally necessary to protect and defend the sanctity of marriage. He has called these recent events that you bring up, "troubling," and he has said that they are influencing the way he is looking at this. We've been looking at this issue very closely and taking a very deliberate look at it because
he is strongly committed to protecting this sacred institution. Q Just one more, briefly. Do you know if he wants to see the movie The Passion of the Christ?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think -- I think he does, and I think at some point, he probably will.
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Q
Since the President is, under Article II, Section III of the Constitution, required to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed," what specifically has he done with regard to more than 2,000 violations of California's marriage law by the Mayor of San Francisco? And I have a follow-up.
MR. McCLELLAN: I think we just went through this subject at length when Terry brought this question up, and I told you what we're doing.
Q -- he hasn't done it --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we're closely looking at these events.
Q Is he in touch with Governor Schwarzenegger on this issue, do you know?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know if they've had a conversation. Certainly, we're aware of what the Governor has been doing, as well.
Q
When there was massive law-breaking on the campus of the University of California in Berkeley, Governor Reagan sent in the National Guard, just as the 101st Airborne was sent into Little Rock, whose schools were breaking the law. And my question: Does the President believe those actions are wrong? And if not, why hasn't he asked Governor Schwarzenegger to take action against this massive law-breaking? MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think that's the way we're looking at this issue.
Rick, did you have something?
Q Actually, it was a bit more on the marriage --
MR. McCLELLAN: So you're good.
Okay, Bob. (Laughter.) No, no, no.
Q People are trying to find out -- we've seen the violation of the law in California. We've seen the problem with the Massachusetts court. We've seen people getting quite upset about what's going on. We've seen the President saying that this is troubling. I think what the people are wondering is, when are we going to see the President step up to the plate.
There are a lot of conservatives in the country, and others who are rather upset by this, and are saying, where is the leadership, where's the action, when are we going to see -- MR. McCLELLAN: No, I think the American people share the President's commitment to protecting and defending the sanctity of marriage. I think the American people recognize that marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman. Obviously, there are some with different views, and as I said, everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. The President has always believed that.
But this is an important principle on which the President is very firm. He has said that he is deeply troubled by the events that you are bringing up. We continue to look at this issue very closely. Obviously, if there's more to say, we will let you know at that point.
Q What more has to happen before the President --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, he said -- I think you heard from him the other day. He talked about how these events are influencing him. You mentioned how some are ignoring the law and we talked earlier about how some activist judges are seeking to redefine marriage, as well.
Q When will he take action, Scott? Any action?
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