[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 4 (Monday, January 26, 2004)]
[Page 122]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters in Roswell, New Mexico

January 22, 2004

President's Visit to Roswell

    The President. I need some ribs.
    Q. Mr. President, how are you?
    The President. I'm hungry, and I'm going to order some ribs.
    Q. What would you like?
    The President. Whatever you think I'd like.

Homeland Security

    Q. Sir, on homeland security, critics would say you simply haven't 
spent enough to keep the country secure.
    The President. My job is to secure the homeland, and that's exactly 
what we're going to do. But I'm here to take somebody's order. That 
would be you, Stretch [Richard Keil, Bloomberg News]--what would you 
like? Put some of your high-priced money right here to try to help the 
local economy. You get paid a lot of money, you ought to be buying some 
food here. It's part of how the economy grows. You've got plenty of 
money in your pocket, and when you spend it, it drives the economy 
forward. So what would you like to eat?
    Q. Right behind you, whatever you order.

Nuthin' Fancy Cafe

    The President. I'm ordering ribs. David [David Gregory, NBC News], 
do you need a rib?
    Q. But Mr. President----
    The President. Stretch, thank you, this is not a press conference. 
This is my chance to help this lady put some money in her pocket. Let me 
explain how the economy works. When you spend money to buy food, it 
helps this lady's business. It makes it more likely somebody is going to 
find work. So instead of asking questions, answer mine: Are you going to 
buy some food?
    Q. Yes.
    The President. Okay, good. What would you like?
    Q. Ribs.
    The President. Ribs? Good. Let's order up some ribs.
    Q. What do you think of the Democratic field, sir?
    The President. See, his job is to ask questions; he thinks my job is 
to answer every question he asks. I'm here to help this restaurant by 
buying some food. Terry [Terry Moran, ABC News], would you like 
something?
    Q. An answer.
    Q. Can we buy some questions?
    The President. Obviously these people--they make a lot of money, and 
they're not going to spend much. I'm not saying they're overpaid; 
they're just not spending any money.
    Q. Do you think it's all going to come down to national security, 
sir, this election?
    The President. One of the things David does, he asks a lot of 
questions, and they're good, generally.

Note: The exchange began at 11:25 a.m. at the Nuthin' Fancy Cafe. A tape 
was not available for verification of the content of this exchange.