today. I commented a bit in the middle, but basically I'm posting this because it's nice to know what the spinmasters are spinning (and it's always shocking how far they twist it).
MR. McCLELLAN: ...We were able to keep the growth of discretionary spending below the rate of inflation. We actually cut non-security discretionary spending. [programs that help the poor, sick, disabled, young, elderly, and otherwise disadvantaged] Congress is on the verge of passing $40 billion in savings in mandatory programs. That's something that needs to be addressed. And the President will continue to talk about the importance of addressing that. Congress also acted by cutting or eliminating nearly 90 programs. The President had called for more.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, tax cuts are part of the solution. It's out of control spending that has been part of the problem that you bring up, [social security and medicare are out of control spending, but the war isn't?] and that's why the President has continued to lead and advocate spending restraint within the budget.[good point. He could be spending more] And Congress has changed the path that our budget is heading on by moving forward on initiatives that he outlined to --
Q Taking it out on food stamps --
MR. McCLELLAN: -- address mandatory spending and reduce the growth of discretionary spending,[like food stamps] and it's important that we continue moving in that direction. But we are a nation that has been at war. We are a nation that has had to address unanticipated challenges, like the recovery and rebuilding along the Gulf Coast. And, you bet, we're going to continue to meet the needs when it comes to winning the war and --
Q But why give permanent tax cuts to the richest people?
MR. McCLELLAN: -- we're going to meet the needs when it comes to the people of the Gulf Coast as they work to rebuild their lives and their communities. That is something the President is strongly committed to.
Now, in terms of keeping our economy growing, and keeping our budget on path to cut the deficit in half [wouldn't it be better if we didn't have a deficit?], we need to continue to keep that economy growing, we need to continue to exercise spending restraint [we could be gilding our toilets with gold]. And tax relief has helped us lay the foundation of a strong economy. We're creating jobs -- 4.6 million new jobs created since May of 2003; [but how many net jobs. how many did we lose?] 400,000 in just the last two months. It's because of the policies that we have pursued that our economy is growing.
And if you look back over the last few years -- and, Helen, I would encourage you to do this -- the revenues have come in much higher than anticipated [but still lower than we need. Cutting taxes lowers revenue, duh. But lowering it less than expected isn't an achievement]. Many people said that we'd pass tax cuts and that it would have the opposite effect.[oh, so tax revenue is up?] Well, it didn't turn out that way. Tax cuts are good to keep our economy growing. It's important that we make the tax cuts [for the rich so that the burden is on the poor] permanent. You bet, the President is going to continue advocating for that. The worst thing we can do to our economy right now is raise taxes on working families and the American people[Heh, see if you notice that I imply it's okay to raise taxes on the rich, heh heh]. As I pointed out last week, it would be a $1.3 trillion tax hike on the American people and working families if we let those tax cuts expire [But "working families" don't get the tax cuts, (pulling out hair)].
Q You're contemplating $40 billion to $50 billion in cuts for food stamps, scholarship grants, everything that affects the poor.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I disagree with that. We're making sure that -- the President has talked about this on a number of occasions. The government has a responsibility to make sure that we are meeting the needs of our neediest Americans, and we're meeting the needs of people with disabilities, and we're meeting the needs of the elderly. [it's called voodoo healthcare] That's why this President worked to pass Medicare reform. And now seniors are starting to realize significant savings on their prescription drug cost. [And the insurance companies are doing quite well, too] And we will continue working to make sure that those priorities of the neediest Americans and our elderly are met.
...Q And insofar as the President has made it clear that those who don't stand with the U.S. against terrorism stand -- if you're with the terrorists -- you're either with us or against us. In a nuclear stand-up with Iran, are we beginning to see ourselves -- is the U.S. beginning to see itself in a situation where you're either with us or against us against Iran?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I wouldn't describe it that way at all, Carl. I would describe it as the international community continuing to come together to send a unified message to the regime in Iran.
....
Q Is the peace process then, is it stalemated, is it set back, is it broken? Where is the peace process now, given this whole election?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, as we indicated the other day, we believe very strongly that the Palestinian people want a peaceful life, that they want to live in peace. The way to get to peace is the two-state vision that the President outlined....
The election, as we talked about the other day, had much more to do with fighting corruption and responding to the needs of the people....
Q Do you consider this, then, a setback for peace at this point?
MR. McCLELLAN: Freedom is advancing. [But peace?] Again, elections are the beginning of the process. We congratulate the Palestinian people for conducting a successful election that was peaceful. And we are going to continue to work with our partners and others and support people in the region as they move forward to achieve peace. [See Iraq has voted twice and they're doing much better. The key to peace and freedom is lots of elections]
Q According to data currently available at the Department of Homeland Security Funded Terrorism Knowledge Base, the incidents of terrorism increased markedly in 2005: worldwide attacks were up 51 percent from the year before, and the number of people killed in those attacks is up 36 percent; since the year 2000, attacks are up 250 percent, and deaths are up 550 percent. How do you reconcile those numbers with your claim that you're winning the war on terrorism and putting terrorists out of business?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, just look at the facts.[Yes, and they are?] If you look at the facts, many of al Qaeda's known leadership have been put out of business. [So, they've become more efficient? Wha?]
...
Q ...A couple of Republicans over the weekend, including Senator John Thune, suggested that the White House do a public data dump on everything you've got related to Jack Abramoff, just to clear the air. Your response on that?
MR. McCLELLAN: My response is that it's important for anyone that was engaged in this wrongdoing to be held to account.[except for us] ...And nothing has changed.
