Another astounding episode in Tales of the Incredible
Shrinking _resident...The Emperor has no uniform...
CNN: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says it's baffling and embarrassing that President Bush is appearing before the September 11 commission with Vice President Dick Cheney at his side instead of by himself.
"I think it speaks to the lack of confidence
that the administration has in the president going
forth alone, period," Pelosi, D-California, said
Friday. "It's embarrassing to the president of the
United States that they won't let him go in without
holding the hand of the vice president of the United
States."
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http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/02/911.pelosi.ap/index.html
Pelosi critical of joint Bush-Cheney appearance before
9/11 panel
Democratic leader: 'It's embarrassing'
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
says it's baffling and embarrassing that President
Bush is appearing before the September 11 commission
with Vice President Dick Cheney at his side instead of
by himself. "I think it speaks to the lack of
confidence that the administration has in the
president going forth alone, period," Pelosi,
D-California, said Friday. "It's embarrassing to the
president of the United States that they won't let him
go in without holding the hand of the vice president
of the United States."
"I think it reinforces the idea that the president
cannot go it alone," she said. "The president should
stand tall, walk in the room himself and answer the
questions."
White House spokesman Ken Lisaius dismissed Pelosi's
comments and said the National Commission on Terrorist
Attacks Upon the United States, had expressed
appreciation for Bush and Cheney's planned appearance.
"This has been a development that the commission
welcomes and said so in their own statement; so it
certainly sets the minority leader apart from the
commission," Lisaius said.
Bush and Cheney agreed this week to a single joint
private session with all 10 commissioners
investigating the September 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks. Previously, the administration was offering
only private interviews of Bush and Cheney with the
commission chairman and vice chairman. The commission
agreed to the new plan.
Pelosi made her comments during a discussion with
several reporters. She also said it was unfortunate
that national security adviser Condoleezza Rice is
giving her commission testimony next Thursday, when
the House won't be in session.
"I think it should've happened much sooner," she said.
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