Do these two sentences mean the same thing?
But U.S. administration officials moved to talk down Snow 's impact on currencies , saying his comments were not reflective of Washington 's policy and were merely an observation about the economy .
U.S. administration officials said Snow 's rate comments were not reflective of Washington 's policy and were merely an observation about the economy .

Choose from:
(1). no;
(2). yes;...I think the answer is
(1).