Transcript: President Bush's News Conference

BUSH: Yes, thank you.

QUESTION: Mr. President, on Social Security, you say the math clearly shows -- as you know, most of us became reporters because of our deep affection for math. 

But if the math clearly shows it, why are you having so much trouble on the Hill getting some to share your urgency? Do you think they're looking at the numbers differently, honestly, or are they running from the third rail?

BUSH: Glad to have you here.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: I am going to continue to speak directly to the American people about this issue and remind them about the math and remind them that, if you're a senior, nothing changes and speak to the younger folks coming up about the forecasts.

I mean, if you're a 20-year-old person and you look at the math, you realize that you will inherit a bankrupt system, which means either there will be significant benefit cuts or significant payroll tax increases in order to fund that which the government has laid out for you as a part of your retirement.

And the Congress tends to listen to the people. And so, I will continue to speak to the people and, at the same time, reach out to members of both parties.

BUSH: We have been through these kinds of questions before. In my early press conferences I can remember -- I can't remember exactly the questions, but I do remember the tone, about people saying, "How can you possibly get tax cuts through the Congress when so and so said that they shouldn't be done, or such and such said this, or this report said that, or the American people didn't want this?" 

And so I am heartened by past experiences to believe that it is possible to do big things in Washington, D.C. And I look forward to working with members of the Congress to achieve big, notable reform. 

QUESTION: I seem to remember a time in Texas on another problem, taxes, where you tried to get out in front and tell people it's not a crisis now, it's going to be a crisis down the line. You went down in flames on that one. 

BUSH: Let me, if I might...

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: I don't think of billion dollar tax relief that permanently reduced property taxes on senior citizens with flames, but since you weren't a senior citizen perhaps that's your definition of flames.

QUESTION: What is there about...

BUSH: Because you're not a senior citizen yet.

QUESTION: What is it about government that makes it hard...

BUSH: Acting like one however. 

Go ahead.

(LAUGHTER)

QUESTION: ... for government to get...

BUSH: Faulty memory.

QUESTION: ... to address things...

(CROSSTALK)

BUSH: Do we have a crisis in Texas now of school property taxes?

QUESTION: Yes, we do.

BUSH: Thank you.

QUESTION: First of all, I had two questions. One on Iraq. 

You say about the troop withdrawal...

BUSH: No, no, I said what?

QUESTION: No, I'm going to your question -- the answer...

BUSH: I thought you said -- you said on troop withdrawal.

QUESTION: Yes, I'm talking about troop withdrawal. Don't mess me up, now.

(LAUGHTER)

You said, in a response just now, that it depends on the initiative of the Iraqis. 

Are you giving the Iraqis a timetable for what you're going to do with troop withdrawal and when?

BUSH: We will complete the mission as quickly as possible. And that mission of a secure and stable Iraq will be achieved when the Iraqis are fighting the former regime elements and people like Zarqawi.

BUSH: Therefore, the -- it is important that we continue to press forward with proper training. 

Now, training means not just signing people up. Training means equipping and preparing them for tough fights, as well as developing a chain of command. A good military requires a chain of command from top to bottom, so that orders and plans and strategies can be effected efficiently.

And we have work to do there, and we will do the work.

The second question?

QUESTION: The second question on race. You brought it up in the inaugural address, and yesterday and today you will have black leaders here at the White House discussing issues of race. 

Yesterday, you didn't discuss civil rights, but where are you in the second term as it relates to race in America?

BUSH: Civil rights is a good education. Civil rights is opportunity. Civil rights is homeownership. Civil rights is owning your own business. Civil rights is making sure all aspects of our society are open for everybody.

BUSH: And we discussed that yesterday. 

And I believe that what I said was important, that we've got to, you know, shed ourselves of bigotry if we expect to lead by example. 

And I'll do the very best I can as the president to make sure the promise -- and I believe in the promise of America -- is available for everybody.

QUESTION: Mr. President, do you think it's a proper use of government funds to pay commentators to promote your policies?

BUSH: No. 

QUESTION: Are you going to order that...

BUSH: Therefore I will not pay you to.

(LAUGHTER) 

QUESTION: Fair enough.

Are you ordering that there be an end...

BUSH: I expect my -- yes, I am. I expect my Cabinet secretaries to make sure that that practice doesn't go forward. There needs to be independence.

And Mr. Armstrong Williams admitted he made a mistake.

BUSH: And we didn't know about this in the White House. And, you know, there needs to be a nice, independent relationship between the White House and the press and the administration and the press. And so, no, we shouldn't be going forward.

QUESTION: Mr. Williams made a mistake. 

BUSH: Who?

QUESTION: Mr. Williams made a mistake. Did the Department of Education make a mistake?

BUSH: Yes, they did.

QUESTION: And what will happen to the people that made this decision?