Laz
01-27-2006, 11:49 AM
Posted on Fri, Jan. 27, 2006
‘I don’t know him’ Bush dismisses photos with Abramoff
i did not have sexual relations with that woman ~Clinton
WASHINGTON — President Bush tried to distance himself Thursday from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff while refusing to release White House pictures taken of him with Abramoff.
“I, frankly, don’t even remember having my picture taken with the guy. I don’t know him,” Bush said. “But I can’t say I didn’t ever meet him.”
I cannot recall anything whatsoever about whether I approved an Israeli sale ~Reagan
The president’s remarks came in a wide-ranging impromptu White House news conference in which he continued to defend his domestic eavesdropping program, embraced a Russian proposal to end the stalemate over Iran’s nuclear activities and carefully interpreted the stunning victory Wednesday by the militant Islamic group Hamas in Palestinian parliamentary elections.
Since Abramoff’s plea, administration officials have acknowledged that he met with some White House staffers but won’t say whom or about what. White House press secretary Scott McClellan has said Abramoff was in the White House at least twice for Hanukkah parties.
“Having my picture taken with someone doesn’t mean that I’m a friend with them or know them very well. I’ve had my picture taken with you at holiday parties,” Bush reminded reporters.
“I’m also mindful that we live in a world in which those pictures will be used for pure political purposes, and they’re not relevant to the investigation,” Bush said.
Bush reiterated his contention that he was within his constitutional rights to authorize electronic eavesdropping without getting a warrant from a court or specific approval from Congress.
Bush’s critics charge that he violated the 1978 Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act, which requires warrants from a secret U.S. court for such eavesdropping.
“We’re having this discussion in 2006. It’s a different world,” the president said.
Turning his attention to the Middle East, Bush called Hamas’ surprising victory in Palestinian elections a “wake-up call” to Palestinian leaders who followed the late Yasser Arafat.
On Iran, the president called a proposal by Russia to enrich Iran’s uranium and return it to the Islamic nation for use in fueling nuclear reactors for electricity “a good plan.”
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— William Douglas Knight Ridder Newspapers
‘I don’t know him’ Bush dismisses photos with Abramoff
i did not have sexual relations with that woman ~Clinton
WASHINGTON — President Bush tried to distance himself Thursday from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff while refusing to release White House pictures taken of him with Abramoff.
“I, frankly, don’t even remember having my picture taken with the guy. I don’t know him,” Bush said. “But I can’t say I didn’t ever meet him.”
I cannot recall anything whatsoever about whether I approved an Israeli sale ~Reagan
The president’s remarks came in a wide-ranging impromptu White House news conference in which he continued to defend his domestic eavesdropping program, embraced a Russian proposal to end the stalemate over Iran’s nuclear activities and carefully interpreted the stunning victory Wednesday by the militant Islamic group Hamas in Palestinian parliamentary elections.
Since Abramoff’s plea, administration officials have acknowledged that he met with some White House staffers but won’t say whom or about what. White House press secretary Scott McClellan has said Abramoff was in the White House at least twice for Hanukkah parties.
“Having my picture taken with someone doesn’t mean that I’m a friend with them or know them very well. I’ve had my picture taken with you at holiday parties,” Bush reminded reporters.
“I’m also mindful that we live in a world in which those pictures will be used for pure political purposes, and they’re not relevant to the investigation,” Bush said.
Bush reiterated his contention that he was within his constitutional rights to authorize electronic eavesdropping without getting a warrant from a court or specific approval from Congress.
Bush’s critics charge that he violated the 1978 Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act, which requires warrants from a secret U.S. court for such eavesdropping.
“We’re having this discussion in 2006. It’s a different world,” the president said.
Turning his attention to the Middle East, Bush called Hamas’ surprising victory in Palestinian elections a “wake-up call” to Palestinian leaders who followed the late Yasser Arafat.
On Iran, the president called a proposal by Russia to enrich Iran’s uranium and return it to the Islamic nation for use in fueling nuclear reactors for electricity “a good plan.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
— William Douglas Knight Ridder Newspapers