WH Pool Report: Dress to Be Killed
In this White House pool report:
“He wears this outfit.... It wasn't all that long ago... He would have been killed for wearing it.” ... Bush called Barzani “a man of courage.”
So that's what we're fighting for.
Speaking of courage: Bill Plante pulled a classic Donaldson at the end of the availability, yelling, "What did the vice president know, and when did he know it?" There was no response.
Full report after the jump.
From: Press.Releases@WhiteHouse.Gov
Subject: POOL REPORT #2, 10/25/05
Date: October 25, 2005 3:07:39 PM EDT
Pool Report #2, 10/25/05
No news in this report on the president's meeting today with Nechervan Idris Barzani, president of Kurdistan Regional Government, in the Oval Office. Transcript tc.
They never promised us a Rose Garden appearance, and rain kept them indoors - though the rain had stopped at this point. The pool was ushered in at the bottom of the meeting between the POTUS and POTKRG. We arrived at 2: 45.
Bush, standing several steps in front of the fireplace with Barzani to his right and the portrait of George Washington over his shoulder, commented on the visiting president's clothing.
“He wears this outfit.... It wasn't all that long ago... He would have been killed for wearing it.”
That seems somewhat extreme for this jumpsuit-like, olive drab-khaki outfit, neatly pressed, with a wide series of sashes for a belt. The double breast-pocketed garb, open to the chest, revealed a gold shirt inside buttoned to the neck. Barazani finished it all off with a pair of brown dress shoes.
Bush wore the same gray suit, blue shirt and white tie he wore to the officers club earlier today.
Bush called Barzani “a man of courage.” Barzani, with the help of an interpreter, said he values “the courage and bravery” of Bush's leadership. “ You have liberated the people from a dictatorial regime,” Barzani told Bush.
There was scant sign of any high-level officials in the Oval Office. Did see JD Crouch and Scott McClellan, though. And the pool was whisked out, discouraged from asking any questions. That did not stop the intrepid Bill Plante from asking Bush: What did the vice president know, and when did he know it? No answer was offered.
We were led out at 2: 51 pm.
Mark Silva
White House Correspondent
Chicago Tribune