Commenting on President Bush’s decision to grant exclusive interviews to five regional broadcasters as part of the White House’s public relations campaign to defend its failed policy in Iraq, Communications Director Dan Bartlett said: 
 

“We believe local media and regional broadcasters are more interested in letting viewers or readers see or hear what the president has to say.” (Washington Post, Bush Courts Regional Media, 10/14/03)

However, an Associated Press story, which was printed in local newspapers across the country, reported on a topic that President Bush failed to address during his local media tour: Shortage of body of armor for troops serving in Iraq:
 

About one-quarter of the 130,000 U.S. troops in Iraq still have not been issued a new type of ceramic body armor strong enough to stop bullets fired from assault rifles... Delays in funding, production and shipping mean it will be December before all troops in Iraq will have the vests, which were introduced four years ago, military officials say. (AP story in Chicago Tribune, 10/14/03))

Schakowsky said, “How can we trust the Bush Administration with 87 billion more dollars when they can’t take care of our troops in Iraq?”