From today’s news briefing, White House press secretary Tony Snow:

Q: There’s 65 active duty troops that are coming out with a letter today, saying they think the occupation should end, and they’re saying that — this is part of the military whistle blower. Any reaction to that?

MR. SNOW: Well, number one, it’s a Fenton Communications job, which means clearly it’s got a political edge to it. But number two it’s not unusual for soldiers in a time of war to have some misgivings.

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Q: A question on Republican warnings about a potential takeover of the U.S. House of Representatives in an accusation of race baiting. In warning about what a Democratic takeover would mean, several Republicans - Republicans have repeatedly been pointing to two Democrats in line to chair committees: Charles Rangel of New York who would chair Ways and Means, and John Conyers who would chair Judiciary. And both of those are African American. And today — James Clyburn of South Carolina, who is also African American, makes this statement: “It’s a euphemistic way to say black people will be chairing committees. It’s a way of bringing race into the equation.” I’m curious what the White House has to say about that, particularly considering how many outreach efforts the President has made –

MR. SNOW: That’s counter race baiting. That is an attempt to race bait. The fact is that there’s a Democratic — if Democrats hold the House of Representatives, Charlie Rangel will be the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and John Conyers will be the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. I believe also, Republicans have talked about other people who are going to be chairmen of other committees — Henry Waxman, for instance. So the idea that that’s race baiting is absurd. It’s simply a recognition of who is chairing the committees.