December 08, 2005

QUESTION: Will Senator Lieberman also be celebrating Christmas with the President and First Lady at the Western White House?

QUESTION: Secondly, have you seen Howard Dean's comments this morning? Do you see that as a clarification of what he said --

MR. McCLELLAN: As a clarification? What was his clarification, that his comments that we can't win in Iraq were taken a little out of context?

QUESTION: Yes.

MR. McCLELLAN: I think it highlights the problems within the Democratic Party. You have a lot of disarray and disagreement within the Democratic Party. You have some that are advocating like he is, to -- that we can't win and that we should cut and run and retreat. You have some that are trying to score political points off the situation on the ground or off media reports. And then you have a few within the Democratic Party, like Senator Lieberman, who understand the stakes that are involved in Iraq, and understand the importance of winning and know that we will win. They have great confidence in our troops, and they know that our troops will succeed.

And what the President is emphasizing is a plan for victory, and a way to get there. And what others are emphasizing is immediate withdrawal of troops, or artificial timetables. That's a plan for defeat.

QUESTION: Is Senator Lieberman getting a holiday invitation to the ranch by any chance? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead.

QUESTION: Or to the Pentagon?
[White House Press Briefing - White House - 12-08-05]