Bush to visit Phoenix Friday By HOWARD FISCHER, 3/23

[White House Press Aide Taylor] Gross said that did not make this a campaign trip — one that would have to be paid for from Bush’s reelection warchest.

”There’s no political component to this trip in the way of a fundraiser or a campaign rally,” he said.

”This is the president discussing and highlighting his policies, with specifics, his housing agenda,” Gross explained. ”The president has done this since he’s been in office, since before there was a campaign under way.”

Gross said he will not debate the issue with others.

“This president is president 24 hours a day, seven days a week and he will continue to press forward policies that he feels are beneficial to America and will continue to reach out to Americans to discuss those policies.”

The difference between an official trip and a campaign trip is cash. While the president and his staff still get to use Air Force One, they have to pay the equivalent of the lowest unrestricted first class airfare for everyone in the entourage, not counting security.

On Monday, America West was offering unrestricted round-trip flights from Reagan National Airport in Washington to Phoenix for $2,424 [mjh: times dozens of staffers].

President Bush Plans Albuquerque Fund-Raiser 3/20

The White House said President George W. Bush would head to Albuquerque next week to raise money for his re-election campaign.

Bush plans a conversation Friday on homeownership, employing one of the White House’s favorite formats. The staged back-and-forth features hand-picked citizens who talk about their support for Bush’s policies.

The president has already reached his campaign goal of raising $170 million.

Supporters believe Bush can easily raise $200 million for the primary season. That would double what he raised in 2000.

Bush also plans fund-raisers next week in New Hampshire and Boston.

So, Bush will fly to Albuquerque, then to Phoenix. Because he doesn’t plan a fund-raiser in Phoenix, the trip is ”official” (you and I pay for it), not a campaign trip he has to pay for out of his $200 million.

But wait, he is having a fund-raiser in Albuquerque on that same trip.

So, is White House Press Aide Gross uniformed or a liar. Neither would be a surprise, any more than a rich guy sticking America with the bill. Still, somebody should be outraged. mjh