Mr. Fleischer cracked up the White House press corp. during his briefing on Tuesday .
Asked about accusations that the White House was trying to influence votes in the U.N. by offering incentives, he seems shocked at the suggestion and bristles with indignation at the idea that such things could take place in the world:
Q Ari, in Mexico, the President will continue to call President Fox to pressure him to change his mind against – and to vote in the Security Council? What Mexico can get from the United States if it votes yes for the resolution that was presented by this country?
Q But Mexico can get something from the United States, from the President –
MR. FLEISCHER: This is a time – no, the President is not offering quid pro quos. This is a time for nations to do what they estimate is the right thing to do to promote the peace.
Q Ari, just to follow up on Mexico. Is it true that the administration is willing to give Mexico some sort of immigration agreements like amnesty or guest worker program, to assure the Mexican vote, as the French press is pointing out today and is quoting, actually, two different diplomats from the State Department?
MR. FLEISCHER: No, it’s exactly as I indicated, that we have, on this issue, a matter of diplomacy and a matter of the merits. We ask each nation on the Security Council to weigh the merits and make a decision about war and peace. And if anybody thinks that there are nations like Mexico, whose vote could be bought on the basis of a trade issue or something else like that, I think you’re giving – doing grave injustice to the independence and the judgment of the leaders of other nations.
Q – the French press is quoting actually two different diplomats from the United States State Department that – they’re highlighting that the United States is giving some sort of agreements or benefits to Colombia – and other non-members of the Security Council –
MR. FLEISCHER: I haven’t seen the story. And you already have the answer, about what this will be decided on. But think about the implications of what you’re saying. You’re saying that the leaders of other nations are buyable. And that is not an acceptable proposition. (Laughter.)
Skip forward to about minute 26 of the Realaudio stream to hear the conference break up amidst raucous laughter.
Too precious.
That is about as sad as Bush’s failed attempt at stand up a couple of days ago.
I mean, really, he interupts national television with “an urgent message on events in Iraq” to first give us some really not so funny jokes, then to tell us EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS BEEN TELLING US ALL ALONG… NO NEW INFORMATION.
It was a sad day… His bad acting took the last 10 min of Jeopardy.
Olentzero opened a similar thread yesterday about this. See Ari to view.
Aiy-ya, I missed that. I looked, honest. Nice that both thread-titles evoke vaudeville, anyway.
Now, where’s a terran ghost when you need one? (Hotkey - “L”)