[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 41 (Monday, October 13, 2003)]
[Pages 1338-1340]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Cabinet Meeting and an Exchange With Reporters

October 7, 2003

    The President. Thank you all for coming. I met with my Cabinet. We 
talked about national security matters and economic security matters. 
We're making good progress on the economy. Looks like we're growing, and 
that's important. Last month we--people are finding work, but we're not 
satisfied with the progress that is being made. We talked about ways to 
continue the economic vitality of our country. The tax cuts need to be 
made permanent so there's certainty in the Tax Code. We need an energy 
plan so that our businesses and employers, both large and small, know 
there's a reliable source of energy available.
    We talked about trade and this administration's commitment to free 
and fair trade, that administrative officials will continue to press 
certain countries to open up their markets to U.S. product. We talked 
about the need to have associated health care plans so that our small 
businesses have affordable health care. And finally, we talked about the 
need for legal reform. There's just too many lawsuits, junk lawsuits 
which drive up the cost of health care.
    And in a lot of these matters, the Congress needs to join with this 
administration to pass good law so that the American people can find 
work. We're an optimistic administration because good things are 
beginning to happen in our country. We will not rest until everybody who 
is looking for work can find a job.
    I want to thank the members of the Cabinet for serving our Nation 
with such class and distinction. And I'll be glad to answer some 
questions, starting with the AP man [Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press].

California Gubernatorial Election

    Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Back in August, you said you thought 
Arnold Schwarzenegger would make a good Governor. We've learned some new 
things about him. There's an election today. Do you still feel that way?
    The President. I feel like the California people are going to make a 
wise decision, that they--they are now in charge of the process. And it 
looks like there's a pretty active turnout in absentee ballots, and 
people are taking it seriously, and I have no idea how the election is 
going to turn out.
    Q. Is he the kind of guy you could work with?
    The President. If he's the Governor, I'll work with him, absolutely. 
He's obviously waged a spirited campaign. He's captured a lot of 
people's imagination. I haven't been

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paying that close attention to it, because I've got a job to do here in 
Washington. But the process is about over. The people of California are 
going to speak, and I look forward to seeing what the results are. I may 
not stay up for it--[laughter]--all night long. I'll be reading your 
stories first thing in the morning.
    Dana [Dana Bash, Cable News Network].

Disclosure of CIA Employee's Identity

    Q. Mr. President, beyond the actual leak of classified information, 
there are reports that someone in the administration was trying to--
after it was already out--actively spread the story, even calling 
Ambassador Wilson's wife ``fair game.'' Are you asking your staff if 
anyone did that? Would it be wrong or even a fireable offense if that 
happened?
    The President. Well, the investigators will ask our staff about what 
people did or did not do. This is a town of--where a lot of people leak. 
And I've constantly expressed my displeasure with leaks, particularly 
leaks of classified information. And I want to know; I want to know the 
truth. I want to see to it that the truth prevail, and I hope we can get 
this investigation done in a thorough way, as quickly as possible.
    But the Justice Department will conduct this investigation. The 
professionals in the Justice Department will be involved in ferreting 
out the truth. These are citizens who will--were here before this 
administration arrived and will be here after this administration 
leaves. And they'll come to the bottom of this, and we'll find out the 
truth. And that will be--that's a good thing for this administration.
    Stretch [Richard Keil, Bloomberg News].

National Economy

    Q. Mr. President, a survey of economists that we published yesterday 
found that--it was between 40 and 50 of them--and they think that the 
growth rate over the next year may only be in the low 3 percent range, 
and that's below the 4 percent range that you and your economic advisers 
have said will be needed to create the kind of jobs that will really 
keep the growth going. Does that concern you? Do you think those 
predictions are accurate?
    The President. Well, one thing is certain, that the growth rate is 
going to be positive, as opposed to the negative growth rate we 
inherited. In other words, we came into office and dealt with a 
recession, then dealt with attacks, then dealt with corporate scandals, 
dealt with the march to war, all of which affected the confidence of the 
people. And we put forth a very aggressive tax plan, because we believe 
that that is the best way to help this country grow out of recession.
    I've just outlined other things that need to happen in order to make 
sure that the people are able to find work. Dick, I am not very good 
about guessing about the economy. There's all kinds of experts; you'll 
probably find all kinds of opinions. But I do know that the actions we 
have taken were necessary actions and that are good--they were good 
actions for economic vitality and growth.
    The Congress needs to work with us for an energy plan. They need to 
work with us for good liability reform. We will continue to press to 
open up foreign markets. I'm a free trader, but I'm also a fair trader. 
And I believe our manufacturing sector, for example, must be treated 
fairly in foreign markets.
    We need an energy plan. We've debated an energy plan for too long. 
This administration has put forth a very good energy plan. And Congress 
needs to quit debating the idea, get the differences reconciled, and get 
a bill to my desk. I'm confident Senator Domenici and Representative 
Tauzin want to do just that. So there are other things to do to get this 
economy moving, and we'll see what--see what happens.
    I will tell you I'm optimistic, and I'm optimistic because things 
are improving. But there's a lot more to do.
    Randy [Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters].

Disclosure of CIA Employee's Identity/Israeli Foreign Policy

    Q. Mr. President, how confident are you the investigation will find 
the leaker in the CIA case? And what do you make of Sharon's comment 
that Israel will strike its enemies at any place, any time?
    The President. This is the dual question. [Laughter] I'm trying to 
figure out if I want

[[Page 1340]]

to answer either of them, since you violated a major rule. [Laughter] At 
least it's not a cell phone. [Laughter]
    Randy, you tell me, how many sources have you had that's leaked 
information that you've exposed or have been exposed? Probably none. I 
mean this town is a--is a town full of people who like to leak 
information. And I don't know if we're going to find out the senior 
administration official. Now, this is a large administration, and 
there's a lot of senior officials. I don't have any idea. I'd like to. I 
want to know the truth. That's why I've instructed this staff of mine to 
cooperate fully with the investigators--full disclosure. Everything we 
know, the investigators will find out. I have no idea whether we'll find 
out who the leaker is, partially because, in all due respect to your 
profession, you do a very good job of protecting the leakers. But we'll 
find out.
    In terms of Prime Minister Sharon, I have constantly said Israel 
should defend herself. But I've also told--as I mentioned to you at the 
press availability yesterday--that it's important for the Prime Minister 
to avoid escalation, that the decisions he makes to defend her people 
are valid decisions. We would be doing the same thing. This country will 
defend our people.
    But we are also mindful when we make decisions, as the Prime 
Minister should be, that the--that he fully understand the consequences 
of any decision and that while he defends his people that there is not--
that he doesn't create the conditions necessary for--that would cause 
the escalation--the violence to escalate.
    Q. Did the strike on Syria--did the strike on Syria cause an 
escalation?
    The President. The Prime Minister must defend his country. It's 
essential. This is a country which recently was attacked by a suicider 
that killed innocent children and women, people that were celebrating in 
a restaurant. And he must do what is necessary to protect himself. At 
the same time, as I said yesterday and will continue to say to Ariel 
Sharon, ``Avoid escalating violence.''
    Listen, thank you all. Anybody else did not get a question in this 
vaunted press corps?

American League Championship Series

    Q. Red Sox--Red Sox or Yankees?
    The President. Listen, I'm excited about the playoffs. I tuned in 
after the state dinner that was somewhat covered in the press yesterday. 
[Laughter] But it was--you know, it's good for baseball. My team, of 
course, was eliminated in June. [Laughter]
    Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 11:42 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of 
Israel. A reporter referred to former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, 
who served as CIA envoy to Niger in February 2002.