Democratic attacks "out-and-out false": White House

By Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Friday decried as "out-and-out false" some of the criticism leveled against President George W. Bush at the Democratic convention, where Barack Obama was named the party's presidential nominee.

But White House spokeswoman Dana Perino insisted Bush had no plans to go on the attack against Obama when the Republican president addresses his own party's convention on Monday in St. Paul, Minnesota, where Sen. John McCain will be nominated.

Obama, in his acceptance speech in Denver on Thursday as the first black nominee of a major U.S. party, sought to link McCain directly to the unpopular president, saying their failed Republican policies were responsible for a faltering U.S. economy and a decline in America's standing in the world.

Other prominent speakers at the convention assailed Bush on everything from energy policy to the Iraq war.

"Some of the attacks are just out-and-out false -- for example, suggesting that the Bush administration hasn't invested in alternative or renewable energies," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters.

"This president has been unfairly attacked across the board by many Democrats for quite a while," she added.

Though Bush has sometimes returned fire, he has mostly avoided criticizing Obama by name during the campaign, and the White House signaled that the president would try to stay above the fray in his speech to his fellow Republicans.

Perino said Bush would use his nationally televised appearance to make the case that McCain is the "best qualified to be our next leader and commander in chief."

"Do not expect the speech to define the president's legacy," she said. "It will not serve as a farewell to the American people, and it certainly will not attack Barack Obama."

Asked why Bush would not seize the chance to answer his critics, she said, "He knows what it's like in high political season, and he's not going to respond to every attack."

She said Bush did not even stay up on Thursday night to watch Obama's acceptance speech but that the president congratulates him for his achievement.

Bush was more attuned on Friday to McCain's surprise selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. McCain did not consult Bush in advance but did inform him an hour or so before announcing his choice, Perino said.

McCain has at times sought to distance himself from Bush -- they have rarely appeared together on the campaign trail -- though the Arizona senator has embraced many of the president's policies, including his current strategy in Iraq.

(Editing by Jackie Frank)