In any event, instant panic on the part of the POTUS would be the last thing he should have done. Calm deliberation, knowing the people on the scene were handling things was the appropriate action.
Had Bush fled the room to "do something", the Dems would say he was in panic.
That's a sucker trap that Kerry's putting out there. I do believe that most Americans, except for the loons, agree with how the president handled it - it has NOT been a mainstream issue at all.
Any parent knows why he behaved as he did, and would hope they would be able to do the same.