White House: President Supports Condoleezza

Boiled Rice versus Condied Rice Explained

Transcript of Press Briefing conducted by Press Secretary Scott McClellan:

First, the President has asked me to say that he is behind Condoleezza Rice one thousand per cent, that she has his support one thousand percent. He asked me to say, and this is a direct quote, Condi Rice is the finest National Security Advisor in a generation, if not in the history of the White House, and she has my support one thousand percent. End of quote. There seems to be some confusion about some of Dr. Rice's statements regarding the allegations made by Dick Clarke. So this morning I want to correct any misunderstandings or flawed perceptions on the media's part as to what Dr. Rice said, when she said it and to whom she was referring when she said it.

Question: (inaudible).

Answer: Yes. The President and I did have a discussion about how some of you would immediately jump on the one thousand percent figure and drag everyone back to 1972 when Senator McGovern used it to refer to Senator Eagleton. We discussed issuing just a plain vanilla support statement of one hundred percent, but it simply didn't convey the strength of the President's support for Dr. Rice. We also discussed using ten thousand percent, but felt certain that the media would, as usual, ridicule a statement of such magnitude, though I can assure you that Dr. Rice does have the President's backing, ten thousand percent. For that matter, one million percent.

Question: (inaudible).

Answer: Let me remind you that the President's remarks at the Radio and Television Correspondent's Dinner were off the record. But since some of you felt free to break the off-the-record agreement, let me say that the President's remark about the difference between boiled rice and condied rice was a joke. Nothing more than that, a joke, a remark made in jest. You might want to look up the word "joke" in your dictionary, if you have one. What many of you don't realize is that the President can be a funny guy. Let me remind you of the poem he wrote last fall for Laura while she was on her European trip and he remained right here in the White House directing the war on terror. I want to reiterate something that many of you choose to ignore: The President could have had a career in standup comedy. Fortunately for you and for me and for the people of the United States of America, he chose to be President instead and lead our nation in the war on terror.

Question: (inaudible).

Answer: Our telephone intercepts clearly show that George Soros has hired a team of gag writers that is supplying jokes to late night television talk shows. We have incontrovertible proof that the Soros gag writers were the source of the condied rice joke that Jay Leno used last night. It was a cheap shot at Dr. Rice and at the President as he leads the nation in the war on terror.

Question: (inaudible).

Answer: David, please! I often eat in Indian and Pakistani restaurants and I don't ever recall seeing a dish named "Condied Rice."

Question: (inaudible).

Answer: No. Absolutely not. I can categorically state that we do not, repeat, do not have our own team of gag writers feeding jokes every afternoon to late night talk shows. The nation is at war and President is too busy leading that war to worry about such things.

Question: (inaudible).

Answer: Yes, I have heard the same reports you have. I do know that some of the country's finest comedians, who as patriotic Americans support the President as he leads the nation in the war on terror, have banded together and are writing their own jokes that support him. What they do with those jokes, I'm not aware.

Question: (inaudible).

Answer: No. Absolutely not. The Press Office does not review any jokes that comedians might write in support of the President as he leads the nation in its war against terrorists. And I'm sure the President is far too busy to even be aware of the existence of the joke writers, let alone actually review their jokes or contribute jokes of his own. That's a wildly inaccurate assumption, frankly.

Question: (inaudible).

Answer: The answer is no. I can categorically deny that. The President does not do standup comedy routines either at staff meetings or during Cabinet meetings. Period.

Question: (inaudible).

Answer: Yes, Dan Bartlett does sometimes make humorous presentations at staff meetings. And the President might have, repeat, might have occasionally joined in, if only briefly. Both of them are fun loving guys Texans, after all. But I can assure you the President is far too busy prosecuting the war on terror and searching for Osama bin Laden to spend much time on frivolity.

Question: (inaudible).

Answer: The phrasing of your question suggests you feel that way yourself, Bobby. I'm sorry if you come away from these briefings with that impression. I can state to you categorically that I am not an aspiring comedy writer. The statements for the media we write and the conduct of these briefings are not meant to be humorous. Period. The war on terror is serious business. We are deeply involved in supporting the President as he leads the nation in the war on terror. Our job in this room everyday is not to entertain, but to inform. I would appreciate it if you would keep that in mind. Thank you and have a nice day.