[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 8 (Monday, February 23, 2004)]
[Pages 253-254]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of 
Tunisia and an Exchange With Reporters

February 18, 2004

    President Bush. A couple statements, and I'm going to answer a 
couple of questions afterwards.
    Mr. President, welcome. I'm glad you're here in the Oval Office. 
Thank you for your friendship. I'm looking forward to a good discussion.
    I want to thank you for working with the United States in the war on 
terror. I want to thank you for your understanding for the need for Iraq 
to be democratic and free. I appreciate the fact that you've got an 
education system that is modern and viable, that women in your country 
are given equal rights. I look forward to talking to you about the need 
to have a press corps that is vibrant and free as well as an open 
political process. There's a lot we can talk about. Tunisia can help 
lead the greater Middle East to reform and freedom, something that I 
know is necessary for peace for the long term.
    So welcome.
    President Ben Ali. Mr. President, thank you for very much for this 
opportunity. I am delighted to be here in the United States, and thank 
you very much for your generous invitation.
    As you know, the Tunisian-U.S. relationships have been always unique 
and ancient. They go back for two centuries. Mr. President, we also look 
forward to increasing and cementing those relationships between the two 
countries in all spheres and every area, in order to continue to support 
the friendship between the two peoples and between the two countries.
    We share principles together, Mr. President, and that is the 
establishment of states on the basis of democracy, human rights, and 
combating terror. We believe that Tunisia is an ally of the United 
States and the relationships between the two countries has strategic 
dimension.
    And I would like to take this opportunity to thank the friendly 
American people who stood by us during our liberation and after our 
independence. Thank you very much.
    President Bush. A couple of questions. Scott [Scott Lindlaw, 
Associated Press].

Same-Sex Marriage

    Q. Thanks, Mr. President. More than 3,000 same-sex couples have 
taken vows since San Francisco started issuing marriage licenses to gays 
and lesbians. This Massachusetts court ruling could result in the first 
legally recognized gay marriages in May. Do

[[Page 254]]

these developments make you any more inclined to endorse a 
constitutional amendment banning gay marriage?
    President Bush. I strongly believe that marriage should be defined 
as between a man and a woman. I am troubled by activist judges who are 
defining marriage. I have watched carefully what's happened in San 
Francisco, where licenses were being issued even though the law states 
otherwise. I have consistently stated that if--I'll support law to 
protect marriage between a man and a woman. And obviously these events 
are influencing my decision.
    Q. Are you close to a decision?
    President Bush. I'm watching very carefully. But I'm troubled by 
what I've seen. People need to be involved with this decision. Marriage 
ought to be defined by the people, not by the courts. And I'm watching 
it carefully.
    Stevie [Steve Holland, Reuters].

National Economy

    Q. Mr. President, do you think the economy is strong enough to 
produce 2.6 million jobs this year, as your economic report projected?
    President Bush. I think the economy is growing, and I think it's 
going to get stronger. I do think there are some things we need to do. 
We need to make sure the tax cuts are permanent. I look forward to 
continuing to talk about this issue. Uncertainty in the Tax Code could 
affect small-business planning. Uncertainty in the Tax Code will make it 
harder for our citizens to make rational decisions about spending money. 
We need to have an energy policy, open up markets for trade. We need 
less regulation. We need tort reform. There are things we can do to make 
sure the economy grows.
    I'm pleased by the fact that since August there's been 366,000 new 
jobs, in one survey. There was another survey called the Household 
Account that's been more optimistic. But I'm mindful there are still 
people looking for work, and we've got to continue building on the 
progress we've made so far.

Note: The President spoke at 11:32 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House.