Lawrence Ari Fleischer

“ Q Senator McCain has suggested out there that President Bush has agreed to this shareholder protection aspect of the bill, if Senator McCain would agree to the paycheck protection. MR. FLEISCHER: Well, this President has long held that people should not have to have their money taken from them involuntarily, whether they are shareholders in a corporation or whether they are members of a labor union. He makes the distinction between that and individuals who give of their own free will, and therefore, have a constitutionally protected right to give money. ”

“ I happen to think that any time you can begin three days into your term and have a meeting with somebody who advocates something that's important and something that many people think you're far apart, and it becomes clearer and clearer you're not so far apart, and both parties say it's a good meeting, then the process is beginning on the right note. ”

“ But for people who otherwise -- it's money taken involuntarily, whether they're shareholders, corporate employees -- although in this case it's shareholders -- or members of unions. So the President shares a concern about taking money involuntarily from people through corporation ties. Q Did the President, after talking with Senator McCain, change his position on any of the differences the two of them have, and did Senator McCain indicate that he has changed his position at all? ”