<<http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/20040122-5.html>>

Remarks by the President to the Press Pool 
Nothin' Fancy Cafe
Roswell, New Mexico 



11:25 A.M. MST 

THE PRESIDENT: I need some ribs. 

Q Mr. President, how are you? 

THE PRESIDENT: I'm hungry and I'm going to order some ribs. 

Q What would you like? 

THE PRESIDENT: Whatever you think I'd like. 

Q Sir, on homeland security, critics would say you simply haven't spent
enough to keep the country secure. 

THE PRESIDENT: My job is to secure the homeland and that's exactly what
we're going to do. But I'm here to take somebody's order. That would be
you, Stretch -- what would you like? Put some of your high-priced money
right here to try to help the local economy. You get paid a lot of money,
you ought to be buying some food here. It's part of how the economy
grows. You've got plenty of money in your pocket, and when you spend it,
it drives the economy forward. So what would you like to eat? 

Q Right behind you, whatever you order. 

THE PRESIDENT: I'm ordering ribs. David, do you need a rib? 

Q But Mr. President -- 

THE PRESIDENT: Stretch, thank you, this is not a press conference. This
is my chance to help this lady put some money in her pocket. Let me
explain how the economy works. When you spend money to buy food it helps
this lady's business. It makes it more likely somebody is going to find
work. So instead of asking questions, answer mine: are you going to buy
some food? 

Q Yes. 

THE PRESIDENT: Okay, good. What would you like? 

Q Ribs. 

THE PRESIDENT: Ribs? Good. Let's order up some ribs. 

Q What do you think of the democratic field, sir? 

THE PRESIDENT: See, his job is to ask questions, he thinks my job is to
answer every question he asks. I'm here to help this restaurant by buying
some food. Terry, would you like something? 

Q An answer. 

Q Can we buy some questions? 

THE PRESIDENT: Obviously these people -- they make a lot of money and
they're not going to spend much. I'm not saying they're overpaid, they're
just not spending any money. 

Q Do you think it's all going to come down to national security, sir,
this election? 

THE PRESIDENT: One of the things David does, he asks a lot of questions,
and they're good, generally. 

END 11:29 A.M. MST 



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