Bush's father complains of news media "hostility" (accused news media of "personal animosity")

Reuters ^ | 1/26/07 | Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's father accused the news media of "personal animosity" toward his son and said he found the criticism so unrelenting he sometimes talked back to his television set.

"It's one thing to have an adversarial ... relationship -- hard-hitting journalism -- it's another when the journalists' rhetoric goes beyond skepticism and goes over the line into overt, unrelenting hostility and personal animosity," former President George Bush said.

The elder Bush, the 41st U.S. president, had a relatively collegial relationship with the press but things turned sour during his losing 1992 re-election campaign. He got so fed up with media coverage that supporters at the time circulated hats with the slogan "Annoy the Media -- Re-Elect Bush."

"I won't get too personal here -- but this antipathy got worse after the 43rd president took office," the former president said. He was speaking at a reception for a journalism scholarship awarded in honor of the late Hugh Sidey, White House correspondent for Time magazine.

"And so bad in fact that I found myself doing what I never should have done -- I talk back to the television set. And I said things that my mother wouldn't necessarily approve of," Bush's father said, according to a transcript of his remarks.

The current President Bush's approval ratings have slumped to the lowest level of his presidency -- around 33 percent -- amid anger over the Iraq war and opposition to his plan to increase troop levels in Iraq. In an election widely seen as a referendum on Bush, Democrats in November captured both houses of the U.S. Congress.

[bboop]

Yah, we ALWAYS talk back to our tv. What's with Bush Sr. 'sometimes' and 'finally' talking back? It is very satisfying.

[Blind Eye Jones]

Jeez, George, where have you been recently!

[Darkwolf377]

and said he found the criticism so unrelenting he sometimes talked back to his television set.

This is obviously meant as a barb, but the MSM elites don't seem to understand that ordinary folks view this as normal behavior.

[beyond the sea]

""And so bad in fact that I found myself doing what I never should have done -- I talk back to the television set. And I said things that my mother wouldn't necessarily approve of," Bush's father said, according to a transcript of his remarks."

I don't blame him. I have done the same thing.

[CitizenUSA]

bboop wrote: "Yah, we ALWAYS talk back to our tv."

I'm glad I'm not the only one. It's just so infuriating sometimes to hear the obvious partisanship of some media members who profess objectivity. Editorializing is one thing. Reporting the news is another, or at least, that's they way we USED to do it. Also, whatever happened to investigative journalism??? That's what I want to know. Rooms of commentators expressing their personal opinions is NOT informative. It always comes across as a "he said, she said" sort of thing. How about searching for the truth and reporting that???? (Gosh, I'm shouting at my monitor even now).

[afnamvet]

Well, GHWB did direct the CIA; perhaps in a closet somewhere are dusty, classified files that could be.......

[NormsRevenge]

When ya get hoarse and get physical,,,, I recommend Nerf balls, It'll save a lot in TV repairs. ;-)

[CitizenUSA]

NormsRevenge wrote: "I recommend Nerf balls, It'll save a lot in TV repairs."

Good idea, and it sounds therapeutic! I don't typically watch CNN, ABC, NBC, or CBS any more, but if I do, I'll have to stock up on Nerf balls in advance!

[nathanbedford]

I talk back to the television set. And I said things that my mother wouldn't necessarily approve of,

Well, Mr. Bush, better late than never. It seems to me I found myself talking to the television set as I watched you rub your backside up against Slick Willie's.

Perhaps you are at last experiencing an epiphany. Well better late than never but I fear it is too little and too late to save your constituents from the real financial and political pain which you now experience as personal pain. Good God man, where were you when we needed you?

[Bush gal in LA]

I hope he doesn't watch that idiot Olberman. He won't just talk back to the TV. He'll throw it forcefully out the window!

[dayglored]

I turned my TV off in 1975 and in 32 years I've only turned it back on twice: once to watch the election returns in 1980, and once again in 2000.

I don't talk back to my TV. I unplug the f'n thing!

[3IDVET]

I use to scream at my tv til I got to the point where I don't or can't watch any of it. IMO this is a big reason for what happened in November, and it's not going away any time soon, as a matter of fact it's gotten worse since then and will get much worse as 08 approaches..

[bboop]

We shout at the monitor too. hahaha. It's healthy, I think.

[bboop]

We also mute Alan Colmes EVERY TIME he speaks.

[Brimack34]

I do not watch any cable shows anymore. I even turn off fox radio news at the top of the hour when listning to Rush. Every story has to post the lie that President Bush approval is in the low 30's.

[TheSarce]

You guys just TALK to the TV? During the Clinton administration, I had to clean spit from the screen several times a month when the picture got too dim! ;-)

I will become dehydrated if Hillary becomes Prez....

[shield]

Elder Bush is completely right. The msm have gone way way completely off the cliff. It's gotten down right abusive. W is a gentleman and takes it quite well...I for one DO NOT. So I've stopped watching any of the scumbags totally. Ignore 'em completely is much healthier.

[IrishRainy]

Thanks to the Clinton years, not only do I yell at the TV, I now talk like a freaking sailor. Thank God my kids are grown now (18 to 24) because I'm no role model in that regard.

[Names Ash Housewares]

OH its beyond mere animosity.

It is pure madness on the level of Captain Ahab.