San Diego Union Tribune

April 29, 2005

Down in the polls, he defends policies at news conference

By George E. Condon Jr.
and Finlay Lewis
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON – With his approval ratings down and his domestic program losing ground, President Bush sought last night to regain the initiative in an hour-long televised demand that Congress take action to restrain gas prices and overhaul a Social Security program that he warned is heading toward bankruptcy.

In the first prime-time news conference of his second term, Bush attempted to go on the political offensive by dismissing polls that show him with the lowest approval ratings of his presidency and insisting that he has just begun to fight for his Social Security and energy proposals.

But with so many challenges at home and overseas, he couldn't keep the spotlight on those two programs. Of the 16 questions from reporters gathered in the East Room of the White House, only two dealt with Social Security and one with energy policy.

For most of the hour – after which he acknowledged that the networks would be switching to their regular programming schedules – Bush addressed tensions on the Korean peninsula, the war in Iraq, threats to democracy in Russia and global terrorism.

Domestically, he defended his nomination of John Bolton to be ambassador to the United Nations, decried partisanship in Washington, defended his economic stewardship and urged that the Senate vote on his judicial nominees.

News conference highlights

Gas prices: Bush pledged that there would be no price gouging at the pumps and said he was acting to expand U.S. domestic energy production.

Energy bill: Bush appealed to Congress to send a comprehensive energy bill to his desk by summer.

Judicial nominees: Bush disagreed with the contention that his judicial appointments were being held up in the Senate because of their religious faith. He said he believed people were opposing the nominees "because they don't like the judicial philosophy of the people I've nominated."

U.N. ambassador: Bush said John Bolton, his nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, was "a seasoned diplomat" and the right man to usher in an era of reform at the world body.

Iraq: Bush declined to set a date for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, saying it would occur "as soon as possible." He said military advisers assured him that troop deployments in Iraq had not limited the United States' ability to deal with problems elsewhere.

North Korea: Bush said North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was a dangerous person, and he defended multination talks aimed at developing a Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons.
Bush said he doesn't agree with those who contend opponents of his judicial nominations are acting because they oppose the nominees' religious views. "I don't ascribe a person's opposing my nominations to an issue of faith," he said.

The news conference came at a pivotal moment of his presidency. This weekend will mark the 100th day of his second term and the final day of his "60 stops in 60 days" Social Security campaign.

Neither milepost finds the Bush agenda in robust shape, according to polls. Bush said last night that he doesn't pay attention to them.

"Look, we're asking people to do things they haven't been doing for 20 years," he said, adding, "So I'm not surprised that some are balking at doing hard work."

After months of declining to deliver a detailed Social Security proposal, he used the news conference to get a little more specific. As he had hinted before, he endorsed a plan to reduce the future benefits of wealthier Americans to give larger benefits to the poor.

Known as the "Pozen plan" after Social Security Commission member Robert Pozen, the proposal would keep the method of computing benefits for those earning $25,000 or less, about 30 percent of workers. But for everybody else, he would shift to a formula indexed on prices.

Pozen also would reduce the amount of money workers could put in the personal investment accounts favored by the president.

At the news conference, the president said those personal accounts must be a part of any package, saying, "I feel strongly" about that.

He acknowledged that it would change Social Security into a means-based program. "Obviously," he said, "it is means-based when you're talking about lower income versus wealthier income."

He contended partisanship is partly behind his difficulties selling his Social Security plan. Asked if he had contributed to partisan tensions, he replied he didn't know. "I'm sure there are some people that don't like me," he said.

On economic matters, he blamed higher gasoline prices for a slowing economy. He said his administration "is doing everything we can to make gasoline more affordable" and pledged "there will be no price gouging at gas pumps in America."

But he held out no hope of immediate relief. "The energy bill is certainly no quick fix," he acknowledged.

He appealed to the Senate to confirm Bolton for the U.N. post and brushed aside criticism of his nominee's personal style. "John Bolton is a blunt guy. Sometimes people say I'm a little too blunt," he said. "John Bolton can get the job done at the United Nations."

Many of the questions dealt with foreign policy issues.

The most sustained line of questioning dealt with North Korea, with Bush declaring U.S. policy rests on the assumption that North Korean ruler Kim Jong Il either possesses, or will soon, the ability to launch nuclear weapons.

Bush said he wants to contain the North Korean threat by pursuing diplomacy through China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.

Scheduled to leave next week for celebrations in Russia marking the end of World War II, Bush was asked whether his relationship with President Vladimir Putin would be damaged by Putin's interest in providing weapons to Syria and nuclear power components to Iran.

The president suggested the Syria weapons issue has proven to be a touchy one.

But he endorsed the Putin government's pledge that it would provide Iranians with the technical help to develop a nuclear power industry, including the uranium, but then would collect the threatening byproducts.

"I think Vladimir was trying to help there. I know Vladimir Putin understands the dangers of a Iran with a nuclear weapon," Bush said.

He also reiterated his refusal to set a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, but cited the incoming government as a sign of progress.

Asked about the government's report on terrorism that showed a sharp upsurge in attacks worldwide, Bush suggested it was a result of the administration's war on terror.

"When you engage the terrorists abroad, it causes activity and action," Bush said. "And we're relentless."

»Next Story»