Bush at Unity: Wishes He Wasn't 'War President' (Journalists being snarky)

Editor and Publisher ^ | 08/06/04 | Mark Fitzgerald

[Pikamax]

Bush at Unity: Wishes He Wasn't 'War President' President George W. Bush

By Mark Fitzgerald

Published: August 06, 2004 12:33 PM EST

WASHINGTON In an appearance at the Unity 2004 joint convention of minority journalists associations Friday morning, President George W. Bush lauded his "diverse" administration, and lamented that he's become a "war president."

"This is a dangerous time. I wish it wasn't," he said. "I wish I wasn't the 'war president.' Who the heck wants to be a 'war president?' I don't."

Bush received a polite reception from the audience of more than 5,000 journalists that Thursday greeted Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry with a standing ovation. Bush was interrupted several times with applause, though a few of his statements prompted loud guffaws from an overflow crowd watching the speech on monitors away from the ballroom.

The mixed reaction was especially noticeable when Bush spoke of the racial and ethnic diversity of his cabinet and staff. The black, Hispanic, Asian-American and Native American journalists applauded when Bush said, "I have got a diverse cabinet, a diverse administration. I think it's a good example for all institutions -- including newspapers." But in the overflow space, at least, there was some hooting at an earlier remark: "The people who walk into the Oval Office and say, 'Mr. President, you're not looking so good' -- they're diverse."

Bush appeared relaxed during the appearance, even when Roland S. Martin, the syndicated columnist and editorial consultant for the Chicago Defender, asked pointed questions about guaranteeing voting rights in Florida during the upcoming election, and about the president's views on affirmative action. Martin's persistent questioning got Bush to state flatly at one point that he opposed "legacy" admission policies at colleges, the preference for the offspring of alumni. Left unsaid by both Martin and the president was the fact that Bush, like his father, attended Yale University.

While lamenting his status as a "war president," Bush responded to a question by PBS reporter Ray Suarez by refusing to specify any date for a troop withdrawal from Iraq. "We will stay there until the job is completed and commanders on the ground tell us it's completed," he said. "You want me to put it on a timetable, and I am not going to do it."

Like Kerry's earlier address, much of the president's remarks seemed drawn directly from his standard stump speech. And Bush echoed Kerry's challenge when he repeatedly said he should be "judged by the results" of policies such as the income tax cut and public school testing.

Bush's finale to his speech was a contrast with Kerry, who gave a snappy salute at the end of his remarks. Bush ended by saying, "Well, I'm off to shake a few hands in New Hampshire. But what the heck? It's the season, right?"

[Western Phil]

"I wish I wasn't the 'war president.' Who the heck wants to be a 'war president?' I don't."

Bush is not like Clinton. BJ wanted to be a 'war president" for his legacy.

[snarkytart]

"Journalists being snarky"

HEY WATCH IT!!!
;^D

[X-FID]

Bush's finale to his speech was a contrast with Kerry, who gave a snappy salute at the end of his remarks.

BWAHAHAHA, snappy salute my arse.