Lawrence Ari Fleischer

“ Who he is, is shaped by a variety of factors, and that's his background as a governor, it's his faith, it's his experience in working with Democrats and Republicans to bring about bipartisanship -- all factors go into one man's approach. You cannot separate a man's background from his approach. But it is a very complicated and nuanced decision, and it's something the President is approaching in a very thoughtful and deliberative fashion. ”

“ The President is committed to both objectives: to a fundamental reform in the Medicare system that includes prescription drugs, and the President also believes, and until a reform can be enacted, it's important to help seniors get prescription drugs at as low a prices as is possible. Q As the President considers whether to federally fund embryonic stem cell research, what impact will the announcement of the Virginia firm creating embryos for the purpose of destroying them to extract stem cell lines, what impact will that have on his decision? ”

“ The President believes that people should have the right to sue; it's a question of which court is an appropriate court, a federal court or a state court. And that's a matter that deals with ERISA legislation, as you know, which is a very highly complicated topic dealing with the rights of insurers to provide insurance. ”

“ The actions that will be taken in the Ways and Means Committee to support the President's faith-based initiative provide for a charitable deduction for people who do not itemize on their taxes, just as the President proposed. ”

“ There are all kinds off issues that are state government issues that involve federalism, that involve different interpretations of state and local issues, with federal issues. It's not a one clear-cut system we have ”

“ It's not a question of hitting anybody, it's a question of helping people to get prescription drugs at lower prices. Q But the burden falls -- it doesn't fall on the drug -- MR. FLEISCHER: There are economies that can be achieved through group purchasing. Q What happened to your immediate helping hand proposal, to help those seniors that can't afford even discounted -- MR. FLEISCHER: The immediate helping hand proposal is part of the President's budget that is pending before the Congress. ”

“ Q Is he on a timetable? Q Did this meeting come up with the House Republican Conference this morning -- did he discuss stem cell research? MR. FLEISCHER: No, it did not come up. Q Did he present his Medicare reform plans to -- MR. FLEISCHER: No. The President's remarks this morning focused on education, focused on patients' bill of rights, it focused on the faith-based initiative, it focused on trade, and the President also thanked the Congress -- Republicans in the House -- for their action to give strength to the economy by cutting taxes. Q Ari, just one more on the stem cell. ”

“ The federal law is clear and the President supports the federal law in this matter. Q The President is going to meet the Hong Kong Chief Executive. Why is Hong Kong important to the U.S.? And what is Hong Kong going to do for China-U.S. relations? ”

“ And I think when you read that story, you see that there are many people who are on the other side of the issue on stem cell research, who are clear advocates of stem cell research, who have raised questions. Q Given the depth of these issues, what role will the President's personal religious beliefs play in his decision? ”