REUTERS/Rick Wilking U.S. President George W. Bush writes a note to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a Security Council meeting at the 2005 World Summit and 60th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York September 14, 2005.
Posted on 09/16/2005 4:50:08 AM PDT by linkinpunk
Reuters Photog Captures Bush at U.N. With 'Bathroom Break' Note
By E&P Staff
Published: September 14, 2005 7:35 PM ET updated Thursday 9:30 AM
NEW YORK In what seems destined to become one of the most joked about photos of the month, a well-known Reuters photographer on Wednesday captured President George W. Bush scribbling a note to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a session at the United Nations. On the note is a message revolving around the need to take a "bathroom break."
The photo, which appeared on Reuters' official photo site, was quickly published all over the Web, though dismissed by some as a likely photoshop special. Others suggested that surely someone must have hacked the Reuters site. But a Reuters spokesman on Thursday told E&P the photo was legit.
"The photographer and editors on this story were looking for other angles in their coverage of this event, something that went beyond the stock pictures of talking heads that these kind of forums usually offer," explained Reuters' Stephen Naru. "This picture certainly does that." E&P's update, including an explanation from Reuters' photo editor Gary Hershorn, can be found here.
Reuters told E&P today that Bush indeed did take a "bathroom break" shortly after the picture was snapped.
The photo by Denver-based Rick Wilking, taken over a man's shoulder, shows an official -- identified in the caption as President Bush -- scribbling in pencil on a small white piece of paper that already contains the words: "I think I MAY NEED A BATHroom break?" It is unclear if Bush is in the process of responding to that message or wrote it himself.
REUTERS/Rick Wilking U.S. President George W. Bush writes a note to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a Security Council meeting at the 2005 World Summit and 60th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York September 14, 2005.
XXXX UPDATE XXXX
Reuters Says Bush Photo Not 'Malicious'
By E&P Staff
Published: September 15, 2005 4:30 PM ET updated 11:30 PM
NEW YORK With confirmation that an accidental photo of President Bush at the United Nations on Wednesday, writing a note to Secretary of State Condeezza Rice about a “bathroom break,” was indeed real, newspapers around the U.S. and abroad are now planning to run it widely. But many, it seems, will treat it as something more than a joke.
A source at the Washington Post tells E&P that the paper is considering it for prominent play, in the context that, at least in some minds, it raises questions about overall perception of the U.S. at the United Nations, right or wrong. Reuters reports extremely strong interest in the photo today.
The fact is, according to Reuters -- and this has not been widely reported -- President Bush did indeed take a bathroom break after passing the note to Rice.
http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001137788
Why is this a media event? If he had written "I gotta take a leak". it might of had some value for humor....but I just don't get it.
The only thing that could be sillier than photoshopping to create this would be to treat such a note as newsworthy.
or... "I gotta go see a man about a horse!" (always one of my favs...)
I guess its SOP in the UN that deligates should have a jar with them during the sessions?? The President is human!
You know there's not much going on in the world when THIS makes news. They're really scraping.
Hillary just called for an independent commission to investigate.
The left shows, once again, it is unfit to lead. I don't follow children.
The photographer is a child and Reuters is simply evil in intent.
he could have just sneaked (snuck?) out and later on claimed that he missed all the good stuff - you know - kinda like al gore and his iced tea breaks.
Sounds to me like Bush is only human...not the superman the left apparently believes him to be.
Reuters: "Bush Needs To Potty! Developing ..."
This is beyond scraping. When I heard this on cnn last night among a host of other things that were either bush bashing or totally stupid for a news agency I had my opinion of cnn revitalized. Of course I wasn't watching on purpose, I was installing a satellite system that only had cnn. Government agency. Go Figure. Wonder who chose what amounts to the propaganda channel for the whats on when our training channel is off.
It is unclear if Bush is in the process of responding to that message or wrote it himself.
Don't let that stop you from publishing in your bid to embarass the Pres.
This is a lame attempt at 2nd Grade potty humor. About what I would expect from the MSM
If I were the White House I would pull every press pass for Reuters. No entry at the White House, Pentagon, Justice, etc. And Republican congress types should boycott Reuters if for no other reason than it has become the left wing equivalent of the National Enquirer.
Now the MSM is using Photoshop instead of Microsoft Word to 'create' news.
Plague ridden mice are missing, but the BIG news is that the President needs to urinate like the rest of us. I guess I don't get the MSM.
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