YES!!!
Posted on 09/21/2007 6:34:26 PM PDT by jdm
It has become apparent that some journalists covering President Bush either have a learning disability or work extra hard to twist his words until the reporters turn into novelists. The latest to prove this theory correct works for Reuters, which sent out a story that claimed George Bush thought that Nelson Mandela had died, when in fact Bush used an analogy that clearly sailed over Reuters' head. It also showed that some progressive bloggers don't do much research when jumping all over a news quote: (via Memeorandum, Instapundit, and Best of the Web)
Nelson Mandela is still very much alive despite an embarrassing gaffe by U.S. President George W. Bush, who alluded to the former South African leader's death in an attempt to explain sectarian violence in Iraq.
"It's out there. All we can do is reassure people, especially South Africans, that President Mandela is alive," Achmat Dangor, chief executive officer of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, said as Bush's comments received worldwide coverage.
In a speech defending his administration's Iraq policy, Bush said former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's brutality had made it impossible for a unifying leader to emerge and stop the sectarian violence that has engulfed the Middle Eastern nation.
"I heard somebody say, Where's Mandela?' Well, Mandela's dead because Saddam Hussein killed all the Mandelas," Bush, who has a reputation for verbal faux pas, said in a press conference in Washington on Thursday.
Wow -- what a tool George Bush must be, huh? Except that's not the context of what he said. The transcript shows that Bush used an analogy that first appeared in the press almost two weeks ago, to zero faux outrage:
There is local reconciliation taking place. I had a fascinating conversation in the Roosevelt Room earlier this week with members of provincial reconstruction teams from around Iraq who talked about how people are sick and tired of murder and violence, and that they expect their local governments and their central government to be more responsive to their needs, and local governments are beginning to respond.
Part of the reason why there is not this instant democracy in Iraq is because people are still recovering from Saddam Hussein's brutal rule. I thought an interesting comment was made when somebody said to me, I heard somebody say, where's Mandela? Well, Mandela is dead, because Saddam Hussein killed all the Mandelas. He was a brutal tyrant that divided people up and split families, and people are recovering from this. So there's a psychological recovery that is taking place. And it's hard work for them. And I understand it's hard work for them. Having said that, I'm not going the give them a pass when it comes to the central government's reconciliation efforts.
You know, it's funny that no one accused Ryan Crocker of not knowing Mandela still lives. On September 9th, a much-linked article on the history of the surge appeared in the Washington Post -- and deep within the article, we find this:
Bush rejected suggestions to help oust Maliki, reasoning that he was the product of a democratic system that the United States helped establish in Iraq, aides said. Moreover, as officials contemplated alternatives, they concluded there was no better potential leader. "There's no Nelson Mandela in Iraq," Crocker, the ambassador, told colleagues back in Washington. "Saddam killed them all."
Clearly, even from Bush's own words, he quoted Crocker (without naming him) saying "Mandela's dead, because Saddam killed all the Mandelas." Bush didn't claim that the Nelson Mandela himself was specifically dead -- he used Mandela as a metaphor for the lack of civil disobedients that could have facilitated a peaceful transition of power. Those that had existed in Iraq got murdered by the tyrant, a fate that did not befall Nelson Mandela in South Africa.
It's really a simple analogy. In fact, it's so simple that everyone but a Reuters journalist could figure it out. That does mean a moron attended the press conference, but it wasn't the man behind the podium.
UPDATE: Hot Air has more.
I’ll believe that when he stops calling the Muslims a religion of peace...
Hot Air, stoptheaclu.com and newsbusters had this before all the others.
The only faux pas is the stupid reporters that don't understand metaphor and analogy.
Elect a demon-rat and all of us are lost.
They are traitors.
That stupid statement is the biggest road-block in winning war on terror. To win the war you should define enemy. Enemy is not terrorists but their enabler -- mob philosophy called islam.
DOH!
YES!!!
exactly
The enemy’s philosophy is fascism.
Reminds me of when Rummy’s statement about unknown unknowns flew over the press’s (empty) heads.
I used to like and believe in W. Those days are long gone. The more I hear him and see his actions, the more I believe the man is a tool for something very dark and sinister towards this country and it’s sovereignty.
The only comfort I had is knowing what the alternative was. John Kerry, a tool for the UN and the moveon crowd.
Ahhh the choice of the lesser of two evils. One who wants to openly destroy this country and one who’ll do it in the backrooms and in secret.
Dam I ready for a real leader. Fred, I’m sure having high hopes for you buddy.
A reference could be just knee-high and still go flying over Reuters’ heads...
What was the last “good” thing GWB did? I cannot possibly recall.
“What was the last “good” thing GWB did? I cannot possibly recall.”
It would have to be the veto of Iraq war spending bill do to it’s conditions the RATS set.
Not very impressive!
He had a chance the last few days to regain some respect to come out and denounce, better yet stop, Ahmadhinijad’s visit.
Oh wait, that’s right, he belongs to the religion of peace.
it's exactly the opposit. are you counting pakistanies(or indian/bangladeshi muslims?), saudies, egyptions ? which one ?
By the way, which muslim countries do you consider the enemy?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.