Bush Seeks Distance From Lobbyist
WASHINGTON — Trying to distance himself from a corruption scandal, President Bush on Thursday refused to release photographs showing him with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and declined to disclose information about meetings between Abramoff and White House staff.
Recent news reports have described five photographs showing the president with Abramoff, a GOP-friendly lobbyist and longtime Republican fundraiser, which were shot during White House functions. Bush's spokesman has acknowledged that "a few staff-level meetings" between Abramoff and White House aides took place but has declined to say who met with the lobbyist or what was discussed.
"I had my picture taken with him, evidently," Bush said Thursday of Abramoff. "I've had my picture taken with a lot of people. Having my picture taken with someone doesn't mean that I'm a friend with them or know them very well."
He added: "I'm also mindful that we live in a world in which those pictures will be used for pure political purposes."
The president's comments, which came during a wide-ranging White House news conference, underscored the challenges he faced heading into Tuesday's State of the Union address, a speech that aides hope will help kick-start an agenda for the year and lift Bush above Washington scandals and weakened approval ratings.
Many political strategists believe that the elections this November, which will determine which party controls Congress, could be tied directly to the public's view of Bush.
The president called Thursday for setting aside partisanship that "inevitably will come with an election year" and said he intended to push an "optimistic agenda" that would "get some stuff done." But persistent questions about Abramoff and other topics at the news conference pushed Bush off a desired script.
Instead of focusing on economic gains and his ideas for changing healthcare, Thursday's appearance showed how Bush must navigate questions about the lobbying scandal, the White House's refusal to provide testimony on its response to Hurricane Katrina, and whether the president broke the law by approving domestic surveillance without warrants. In almost every case, the questions and Bush's responses illustrated the tensions created by the administration's long-held belief in strengthening executive power.
