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Planned Bush-Cheney Appearance Criticized
By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says it's baffling and embarrassing that President Bush (news - web sites) is appearing before the Sept. 11 commission with Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) at his side instead of by himself.

"I think it speaks to the lack of confidence that the administration has in the president going forth alone, period," Pelosi, D-Calif., said Friday. "It's embarrassing to the president of the United States that they won't let him go in without holding the hand of the vice president of the United States."

"I think it reinforces the idea that the president cannot go it alone," she said. "The president should stand tall, walk in the room himself and answer the questions."

White House spokesman Ken Lisaius dismissed Pelosi's comments and said the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, had expressed appreciation for Bush and Cheney's planned appearance.

"This has been a development that the commission welcomes and said so in their own statement; so it certainly sets the minority leader apart from the commission," Lisaius said.

Bush and Cheney agreed this week to a single joint private session with all 10 commissioners investigating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Previously, the administration was offering only private interviews of Bush and Cheney with the commission chairman and vice chairman. The commission agreed to the new plan.

Pelosi made her comments during a discussion with several reporters. She also said it was unfortunate that national security adviser Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) is giving her commission testimony next Thursday, when the House won't be in session.

"I think it should've happened much sooner," she said.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040402/ap_on_go_co/sept_11_pelosi_1