|
Outgoing White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan serves cookies and brownies made by his wife Jill to journalists in the press cabin of Air Force One en route from Orlando to Andrews Air Force base near Washington May 10, 2006. It is McClellan's last week trip on Air Force One as Press Secretary before being replaced by Tony Snow. REUTERS/Jason Reed
Outgoing White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan waves from the steps of Air Force One for the last time in his current capacity upon his arrival with U.S. President George W. Bush at Andrews Air Force Base from Orlando May 10, 2006. It was McClellan's last trip on Air Force One as Press Secretary before being replaced by Tony Snow. REUTERS/Jason Reed
New White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, left, chats with members of the White House press corps, Steve Holland of Reuters, center, and Mike Allen of Time Magazine, after conducting his first press gaggle in his White House office, Friday, May 12, 2006. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President George W. Bush's new spokesman Tony Snow, pictured here 7 May 2006, deflected questions on foreign affairs and currency rates on his first day on the job, saying he did not want to exceed his knowledge as "the new kid on the block".(AFP/File/Jim Watson) A Chaotic White House Debut for Tony Snow
By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer Fri May 12, 7:04 PM ET
"It obviously at this point is just a mess," new White House press secretary Tony Snow said good naturedly, summing up his rocky first question-and-answer session with reporters.
During 23 sometimes-chaotic minutes Friday with the White House press corps in his West Wing office, Snow offered a half-dozen apologies for a less-than-smooth debut, pleaded ignorance on seven questions and ruled out all talk of international or currency issues.
"I do not wish to set off global tempests," he said, "because I frankly just don't know enough on those."
One of his don't-know answers (on President Bush's signing plans for the tax bill) even turned out to be wrong when Snow later recited next week's schedule. The signing ceremony was on the calendar for Wednesday.
"I should have read my own paper," he said.
Snow got in a little trouble when pressed on his statement that Bush "stands behind" Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson, who apologized for fabricating a story about punishing a potential HUD contractor who had criticized the president.
"At this point the president is supporting Alphonso Jackson," Snow asserted.
"At this point?" a reporter asked quickly.
"Look again, you're getting me ahead of my brief," Snow responded. ...http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/tony_snow_debut
|