Posted on 05/27/2002 8:29:56 AM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - President Bush lashed out at a network reporter in Paris Sunday, challenging press claims of increasing anti-America sentiment throughout Europe.
NBC's David Gregory asked Bush at a joint press conference with French President Jacques Chirac about why "there are such strong sentiments in Europe against you and against this administration."
"Why, particularly, there's a view that you and your administration are trying to impose America's will on the rest of the world, particularly when it comes to the Middle East and where the war on terrorism goes next?" Gregory asked.
Then in French, he asked Chirac: "And, Mr. President, would you maybe comment on that?"
"Very good," Bush shot back. "The guy memorizes four words, and he plays like he's intercontinental."
"I can go on," Gregory returned.
"I'm impressed - que bueno," said Bush, saying in Spanish, "how wonderful."
"Now I'm literate in two languages," he said.
After a roar of laughter erupted in the press room, Bush downplayed the protests.
"So you go to a protest and I drive through the streets of Berlin, seeing hundreds of people lining the road, waving," Bush said.
"I don't view hostility here," he said. "I view the fact that we've got a lot of friends here.
"And the fact that protesters show up - that's good," Bush added. "I mean, I'm in a democracy."
If anyone doesn't believe that George Bush is in full and complete control of American Foreign Policy, of the White House and of this Government, please steer them to this little story. It speaks volumes.
He's right. Most protestors represent only a fraction of the people at the event.
They are the same unwashed anarcists, communists, dopers, and tree huggers who spend their entire lives protesting because they're too useless to do anything else. I've always wondered who's paying their way.
When did THAT happen? Verbal jousting - maybe. But lashing out? Nah.
Mommy and Daddy.
I saw it too, the guy was a total bafoon!
NBC obviously needs to send their correspondents to a manners class. This mental pigmy didn't even notice who the protesters were. LOL, some "reporter".
Maybe not, but the fact there were demonstrators was not particularly newsworthy. There have always been protests about the US and our presidents throughout modern history. The press just seems to play up the protests more when a Republican President is visiting. I remember reading about many protests when Kennedy visited Berlin, yet the TV media played up only the good side, the same courtesy wasn't extended to President Bush.
(Tim Russert is another one, with his bulging eyeballs, feral and flushed face he looks like a rat in heat).
It might be that Chirac speaks perfect English, but I think someone was translating for him. Not all French speak English you know
And, it sure is a mistake for us to judge public opinion by what we hear from a few outspoken individuals.
For example, someone viewing C-Span this morning might have thought that half of the American people agreed, with Dan Rather, that patriotism has run amok in the US. I sure hope the viewers remembered that C-Span screened the callers to make sure that half the callers agreed with Rather's statement. I doubt that half of the American population thinks we are running amok.
I doubt, too, that 50% of the American people agree with Rather that critics of the administration are being "necklaced", like the South Africans who were punished, by having burning tires placed around their necks, when they disagreed with folks in charge.
Rather is getting rather petulant, like a lot of the spokespeople for the Left are.
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