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I urge you all to take a few minutes and call GW on a regular basis.

202-456-1111

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This is the most interest I have personally seen in the issue by reporters so far.  It's going to get nasty.

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Arie was getting grilled in the press conference today.  He is still sticking to his guns that "The President will keep the promise he made in 2000".  That promise was to support the AWB.  More than one reporter asked him detailed info today, and even brought up the idea of it being killed in Congress and is the President ton worried about losing his Republican base of voters.  He danced around the topic a bit, and basically said that "The President sides with the NRA on many issues, but not this one".  This is the most interest I have personally seen in the issue by reporters so far.  It's going to get nasty.

Cope

MR. FLEISCHER: Well, the President thought, and said so at the time in 2000, that the assault weapon ban was a reasonable step. The assault weapon ban was crafted with the thought that it would deter crime. There are still studies underway of its crime deterring abilities, but the President thought that was reasonable, and that's why he supported it. And that's why he supports the reauthorization of the current ban.

Q Does it work?

MR. FLEISCHER: There are, indeed, studies underway that will determine that. And we'll await those studies to make any final conclusions. But that's exactly what the President said in 2000.

Q But he's willing to disappoint a pretty big supporter here, the NRA, based on some ongoing studies, or does he have a more fundamental belief that these kinds of weapons should not --

MR. FLEISCHER: He believed it in 2000, before studies were completed; he continues to believe it now. We'll see if the studies provide any additional information. But the President focuses on this issue like he does on all -- he focuses it on the merits. He makes his determinations. Often the President will agree, of course, with the National Rifle Association. On this issue he does not.

Q One more point on this. Forgive me for wading into the politics of issues like this, but he doesn't think that there's -- is he concerned about taking steps that put him at odds with his Republican base, or does he feel like really he's built himself up so much it's not an issue?

MR. FLEISCHER: No, I think when you look across-the-board at the positions the President takes, the President evaluates the issues that come before him based on the facts, based on the merits. He makes the determinations, and then others are free to say whether they agree or disagree with the President. I think his view to whether it's an issue that's important to one party or another party, or to many people in the middle, his view is, do what's right, and let people interpret it from there. In this instance, you know what he said, as you pointed out, in 2000. He continues to believe it today.

Q Ari, on that, last night Karl Rove was in New Hampshire, and he spoke with one of the leading gun activists in the state, who says on his website today that Karl Rove said Congress isn't going to pass this extension anyway, and so gun owners don't have to worry, the President is going to be for the extension, but Congress isn't going to pass it anyway. Is that the President's attitude, that this bill isn't really coming his way?

MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think you can talk to any number of handicappers about any number of issues that are pending before the Congress and probably get an equal number of opinions. So this is a matter that the Congress will be taking up, and they will be taking it up now, knowing what the President's position is on it. And I can't make any predictions about what Congress ultimately will do. It's a business that outsiders engage in and insiders engage in; we'll see who's right.

Q According to this gentleman, Karl Rove was engaging in that. Given the fact that Republicans do control the Congress and that getting this passed, getting it onto the agenda will require Republican leadership, is the President willing to fight for this, to fight for the extension of the assault weapons ban?

MR. FLEISCHER: The President has made his position known. And during the course of the debate, I imagine that people will refer to the President's position and cite it, and I will continue to repeat it. The President, you will watch his actions and judge for yourself over time.

[red]Q So no plan to make any calls on this, to spend political capital to get this done?

MR. FLEISCHER: [b]No,[/b] as I indicated, I think you'll be able to judge the President's actions by observing them yourselves. [/red]

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Studies? What studies?

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[b]IT IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN.[/b]  If the AWB makes it to GWB's desk, he is going to sign it.  Lets make sure that it doesn't make it to his desk.  Our best chance to kill this bill is in the House.

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[b]IT IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN.[/b]  If the AWB makes it to GWB's desk, he is going to sign it.  Lets make sure that it doesn't make it to his desk.  Our best chance to kill this bill is in the House.

The other real threat is to watch out for Democratic dirty tricks.  The Dems know that the house is not going to pass the AWB and will probably pull all the stops on this one.