PLEASE DUers - Need help with Bush quote!!!!

[alteredstate]

This thing is all over the Internet:

"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority." George Bush March 13, 2002

Could someone please tell me where he said it (the exact quote)?

[baby_bear]

1. try this

http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/voices/200304/0428span.html

"I don't know where he is and I really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."

On edit, it looks like that is not so reliable. See
http://experts.about.com/q/337/3679956.htm

s_m

[alteredstate]

5. Thank you!

I've spent hours looking for the source of that quote --- on another message board a repug stated that Bush never uttered those words. I'd like to prove him wrong. Bummer.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

2. This thread might help.

It has the ad by the DNC.
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1065717

On edit: Here's the transcript on the Whitehouse's OWN WEBSITE
www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html

[nostamj]

3. i know it's on the WH website

www.whitehouse.gov

saw the link posted here on the night of the debate

[aden_nak]

4. Here's what I do when I need Dubya material.

http://www.dubyaspeak.com

They have a nice search feature. And every quote is date stamped, as well as usually giving the location it was said. From there, you can go to the White House website and search by the individual day, to get a direct source.

[alteredstate]

6. Thanks!

Still can't find the exact quote anywhere.

[OutsourceBush]

8. And you won't because..

You have combined a couple snippets into one quote. It is very close to the actual text in content, but it is combined. One of the posters above gave you the link on the Whitehouse web site for the interview. It's all there, now do some reading.

[alteredstate]

10. I did some reading - I've been searching for two days.

Yes, I know "snippets" can be found at the White House site. I was trying to find the source of the exact quote, as it's been posted on many sites, to settle an Internet argument.

[Killarney]

7. I have never been able to find an accurate source for that quote.

I don't think he said those exact words.

The date for that quote is the same date he did the press conference where he said "I don't know where Bin Laden is" and "I'm really not that concerned about him." I think what happened is someone paraphrased that quote and turned it into "I have no idea and really don't care" and then it got passed around all the liberal sites but had no real source.

The real quote is on the whitehouse site the someone linked to above. That quote itself is damning enough. "I'm really not that concerned about him." Flip-flop from I'll find him dead or alive six months prior!

[alteredstate]

9. I agree

What we know he said is bad enough.

[Qutzupalotl]

11. Here's the exact quote...

Q Mr. President, in your speeches now you rarely talk or mention Osama bin Laden. Why is that? Also, can you tell the American people if you have any more information, if you know if he is dead or alive? Final part -- deep in your heart, don't you truly believe that until you find out if he is dead or alive, you won't really eliminate the threat of --

THE PRESIDENT: Deep in my heart I know the man is on the run, if he's alive at all. Who knows if he's hiding in some cave or not; we haven't heard from him in a long time. And the idea of focusing on one person is -- really indicates to me people don't understand the scope of the mission.

Terror is bigger than one person. And he's just -- he's a person who's now been marginalized. His network, his host government has been destroyed. He's the ultimate parasite who found weakness, exploited it, and met his match. He is -- as I mentioned in my speech, I do mention the fact that this is a fellow who is willing to commit youngsters to their death and he, himself, tries to hide -- if, in fact, he's hiding at all.

So I don't know where he is. You know, I just don't spend that much time on him, Kelly, to be honest with you. I'm more worried about making sure that our soldiers are well-supplied; that the strategy is clear; that the coalition is strong; that when we find enemy bunched up like we did in Shahikot Mountains, that the military has all the support it needs to go in and do the job, which they did.
...
Q But don't you believe that the threat that bin Laden posed won't truly be eliminated until he is found either dead or alive?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, as I say, we haven't heard much from him. And I wouldn't necessarily say he's at the center of any command structure. And, again, I don't know where he is. I -- I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him. I know he is on the run. I was concerned about him, when he had taken over a country. I was concerned about the fact that he was basically running Afghanistan and calling the shots for the Taliban.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html

More flip-flops here:
http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/pp.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=118263

Also see my flyer in my sig line on Bush Flip flops.