Ari Fleischer (born c. 1962) is the press secretary for
U.S. President George W. Bush.
Fleischer was born in Pound Ridge, New York. He graduated from Middlebury College[?] in Vermont in 1982. He worked as press secretary for Congressman Norman Lent[?]. Fleischer was Senator Pete Dominici[?]'s press secretary from 1989 to 1994. He served as spokesman for the House of Represenatives Ways and Means Committee for 5 years. Late he was deputy communications director for George H. W. Bush's 1992 reelection campaign, then communications director for Elizabeth Dole. He joined George W. Bush's Presidential Campaign in 1999.
On May 19, 2003 he announced that he will resign from in the summer citing a desire to see his new wife more and to work in the private sector.
- "But assuming the press reports are right, it's a terrible thing to say, and it unfortunate. And that's why -- there was an earlier question about has the President said anything to people in his own party -- they're reminders to all Americans that they need to watch what they say, watch what they do. This is not a time for remarks like that; there never is." --in reponse to Bill Maher[?]'s comment that the September 11 terrorists were not cowards, and "We have been the cowards lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly."
- "Freedom's taste is unquenchable," -- after he was asked about the president's reaction to television coverage of Iraqis dancing, looting and cheering U.S. convoys during the 2003 invasion of Baghdad.
- "Okay, let me try to share or inform you about where things stand in the fluid situation with the diplomacy. The end is coming into sight, and there are numerous routes to reach that end through the diplomacy the President is pursuing. And the President has said that he seeks a vote, and we seek a vote. There are options, as the Secretary has said. I discussed with you this morning the possibility of the vote coming to a conclusion tomorrow, or it could continue into next week. There are numerous options to achieve in the end the President seeks, which is a diplomatic solution. I cannot predict for you every shape and turn of the road on the way to that end, but this end is coming into sight, and that's why you're seeing some levels of flexibility and discussion of options as it comes into sight." --asked why President Bush had said he wanted a Security Council vote on war with Iraq, and then Colin Powell said that was optional.