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Interview With Dan Bartlett

Aired May 22, 2003 - 15:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush, in some ways, redefined victory today during a visit to Capitol Hill by declaring himself pleased with the $350 billion tax cut package that is half the size of the cut that he once requested. Now many of the cuts in the deal are also set to expire in just a few years, but Mr. Bush still praised the agreement as a good deal for the economy and for American families. He also praised the Congress for a job well done.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a Congress which is able to identify problems facing the American people and get things done. These are can-do people. And I'm real proud of the work they've done. I look forward to signing the economic recovery bill soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: With me now to talk more about the tax cut deal and more than that is the White House Communications Director, Dan Bartlett. Good to see you.

DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Hi, Judy.

WOODRUFF: All right. Just a few days ago, the president called this an itty-bitty tax cut. Today, he said he's looking forward to signing it, even though it does not even contain the centerpiece of his proposal, which was eliminating the double tax on dividends.

Which one is it? Is it disappointingly small or is it something he's happy about?

BARTLETT: Well, I think what the president said today is exactly right. This is a big win for American families, American workers and American investors.

Six months ago, President Bush put forward a plan that addressed the specific ailments of this economy, the fact that we weren't creating enough jobs. This plan will provide rate relief to the American taxpayer, it will provide families with children tax relief, it will provide relief in the fact of small business, who are the real job creators in America, and it also provides almost a 60 percent cut in the dividend rate, which is something that President Bush pushed for the overall elimination for.

This is a step in the right direction. This is what the economy needs now, and the president is pleased with the progress today. WOODRUFF: Does he still believe it's an itty-bitty tax cut?

BARTLETT: The president believes this is not exactly what he called for, but it is a very robust package. It's a package that will create jobs, and he thinks the Congress ought to pass it tomorrow, and he's pleased with the progress being made.

WOODRUFF: Republicans are in the majority in the House and in the Senate, but it was Republicans who couldn't agree among themselves on exactly what the president was asking for. Is he disappointed with his Republican friends in the Congress?

BARTLETT: Well, I think what President Bush and Republicans in Congress have proven is that the Congress can come together to provide tax relief that will create jobs in America. President Bush put forward a plan. He worked with the House. He worked with the Senate.

This is a plan that will create a lot of jobs in America right away. A president doesn't always get everything he wants. It's an evenly divided Senate. But this is a good package and it's going to be good for American workers.

WOODRUFF: How many jobs? Are you prepared to predict? A million jobs, two million jobs? Now that you know the size of the package, can you predict how many jobs it will create?

BARTLETT: Well I think some of the economic advisers will look at the specific impacts, but it does contain all the elements in some form or fashion of the president's proposal. The president's proposal would have created more than a million jobs over the next two years.

We think this will create a lot of jobs, but I think the economists will have to give the specific numbers. But it's a step in the right direction. He's pleased with the progress being made, and he's encouraging them to vote for final passage tomorrow.

WOODRUFF: I want to ask you about a different subject, and that is the Middle East. There's speculation now that the president may travel to the region, perhaps go to Qatar next month when he's over there for a meeting in Europe. Is the president planning to get more personally involved in the Middle East peace process?

BARTLETT: Well the president has been personally involved. He has worked very closely with putting forth a road map for peace in the Middle East. He's urging both parties, both the Palestinians and the Israeli government, as well as the Arab partners in the region, to come together, take the steps necessary to achieve piece in the Middle East.

He's worked on this on a daily basis. Our administration, Secretary Powell just came from the region. It's important that everybody understand their responsibilities. We understand our responsibilities.

The president is traveling next week to Europe. He looks forward to meeting with the G8 partners on a very robust agenda. As we go forward, he is also looking at maybe addressing the troops while he's over there. But I think it's premature to talk about any meetings at this point.

WOODRUFF: So no decision yet on a meeting with Mr. Sharon and Mr. Abbas?

BARTLETT: That's correct at this point.

WOODRUFF: All right. I finally want to ask you about the 2004 presidential campaign. We've seen some interesting political moves in the White House in the last few weeks. Vice President Cheney saying he is going to be on the ticket. You head the formation of a committee.

You've also had some departures. The budget director, you had Christie Whitman, you had the press secretary, Ari Fleischer, leaving. Is this all part of a set of steps to get everything in place as you move closer to the election year?

BARTLETT: Well, I think we are at the time where an incumbent president typically takes the early steps in order to create the foundation for a reelection campaign. It's also a time where many members of the administration, and some of those who have been here through the campaign and through a very busy two years, to make an assessment in their personal lives to determine whether they want to stay through the campaign in the first four years or whether it's time to pursue other possibilities.

So we are at that natural time in a presidency where these decisions are made. The president's going to remain focused on the nation's business of creating jobs and protecting the homeland, and those things will take place as we go forward. But the president is more focused on the nation's business than he is on the campaigning...

WOODRUFF: It sound like you're saying we might expect a few more departures?

BARTLETT: Oh, I'm not here to predict any other departures. We have the incredible service of those who are leaving and the incredible addition of someone like Josh Bolton (ph) today for the OMB position. It is an incredible, positive step for the American people, but I'm not here to predict any more departures.

WOODRUFF: You'll let us know when you are.

BARTLETT: I will.

WOODRUFF: OK. Dan Bartlett, who is the communications director at the White House. Thank you very much.

BARTLETT: Thanks, Judy.

WOODRUFF: It's good to see you, Dan. Thanks a lot for coming by.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired May 22, 2003 - 15:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush, in some ways, redefined victory today during a visit to Capitol Hill by declaring himself pleased with the $350 billion tax cut package that is half the size of the cut that he once requested. Now many of the cuts in the deal are also set to expire in just a few years, but Mr. Bush still praised the agreement as a good deal for the economy and for American families. He also praised the Congress for a job well done.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a Congress which is able to identify problems facing the American people and get things done. These are can-do people. And I'm real proud of the work they've done. I look forward to signing the economic recovery bill soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: With me now to talk more about the tax cut deal and more than that is the White House Communications Director, Dan Bartlett. Good to see you.

DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Hi, Judy.

WOODRUFF: All right. Just a few days ago, the president called this an itty-bitty tax cut. Today, he said he's looking forward to signing it, even though it does not even contain the centerpiece of his proposal, which was eliminating the double tax on dividends.

Which one is it? Is it disappointingly small or is it something he's happy about?

BARTLETT: Well, I think what the president said today is exactly right. This is a big win for American families, American workers and American investors.

Six months ago, President Bush put forward a plan that addressed the specific ailments of this economy, the fact that we weren't creating enough jobs. This plan will provide rate relief to the American taxpayer, it will provide families with children tax relief, it will provide relief in the fact of small business, who are the real job creators in America, and it also provides almost a 60 percent cut in the dividend rate, which is something that President Bush pushed for the overall elimination for.

This is a step in the right direction. This is what the economy needs now, and the president is pleased with the progress today. WOODRUFF: Does he still believe it's an itty-bitty tax cut?

BARTLETT: The president believes this is not exactly what he called for, but it is a very robust package. It's a package that will create jobs, and he thinks the Congress ought to pass it tomorrow, and he's pleased with the progress being made.

WOODRUFF: Republicans are in the majority in the House and in the Senate, but it was Republicans who couldn't agree among themselves on exactly what the president was asking for. Is he disappointed with his Republican friends in the Congress?

BARTLETT: Well, I think what President Bush and Republicans in Congress have proven is that the Congress can come together to provide tax relief that will create jobs in America. President Bush put forward a plan. He worked with the House. He worked with the Senate.

This is a plan that will create a lot of jobs in America right away. A president doesn't always get everything he wants. It's an evenly divided Senate. But this is a good package and it's going to be good for American workers.

WOODRUFF: How many jobs? Are you prepared to predict? A million jobs, two million jobs? Now that you know the size of the package, can you predict how many jobs it will create?

BARTLETT: Well I think some of the economic advisers will look at the specific impacts, but it does contain all the elements in some form or fashion of the president's proposal. The president's proposal would have created more than a million jobs over the next two years.

We think this will create a lot of jobs, but I think the economists will have to give the specific numbers. But it's a step in the right direction. He's pleased with the progress being made, and he's encouraging them to vote for final passage tomorrow.

WOODRUFF: I want to ask you about a different subject, and that is the Middle East. There's speculation now that the president may travel to the region, perhaps go to Qatar next month when he's over there for a meeting in Europe. Is the president planning to get more personally involved in the Middle East peace process?

BARTLETT: Well the president has been personally involved. He has worked very closely with putting forth a road map for peace in the Middle East. He's urging both parties, both the Palestinians and the Israeli government, as well as the Arab partners in the region, to come together, take the steps necessary to achieve piece in the Middle East.

He's worked on this on a daily basis. Our administration, Secretary Powell just came from the region. It's important that everybody understand their responsibilities. We understand our responsibilities.

The president is traveling next week to Europe. He looks forward to meeting with the G8 partners on a very robust agenda. As we go forward, he is also looking at maybe addressing the troops while he's over there. But I think it's premature to talk about any meetings at this point.

WOODRUFF: So no decision yet on a meeting with Mr. Sharon and Mr. Abbas?

BARTLETT: That's correct at this point.

WOODRUFF: All right. I finally want to ask you about the 2004 presidential campaign. We've seen some interesting political moves in the White House in the last few weeks. Vice President Cheney saying he is going to be on the ticket. You head the formation of a committee.

You've also had some departures. The budget director, you had Christie Whitman, you had the press secretary, Ari Fleischer, leaving. Is this all part of a set of steps to get everything in place as you move closer to the election year?

BARTLETT: Well, I think we are at the time where an incumbent president typically takes the early steps in order to create the foundation for a reelection campaign. It's also a time where many members of the administration, and some of those who have been here through the campaign and through a very busy two years, to make an assessment in their personal lives to determine whether they want to stay through the campaign in the first four years or whether it's time to pursue other possibilities.

So we are at that natural time in a presidency where these decisions are made. The president's going to remain focused on the nation's business of creating jobs and protecting the homeland, and those things will take place as we go forward. But the president is more focused on the nation's business than he is on the campaigning...

WOODRUFF: It sound like you're saying we might expect a few more departures?

BARTLETT: Oh, I'm not here to predict any other departures. We have the incredible service of those who are leaving and the incredible addition of someone like Josh Bolton (ph) today for the OMB position. It is an incredible, positive step for the American people, but I'm not here to predict any more departures.

WOODRUFF: You'll let us know when you are.

BARTLETT: I will.

WOODRUFF: OK. Dan Bartlett, who is the communications director at the White House. Thank you very much.

BARTLETT: Thanks, Judy.

WOODRUFF: It's good to see you, Dan. Thanks a lot for coming by.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com