Posted on 02/27/2005 1:37:05 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
George Bush knew Vladimir Putin would be defensive when Bush brought up the pace of democratic reform in Russia in their private meeting at the end of Bush's four-day, three-city tour of Europe. But when Bush talked about the Kremlin's crackdown on the media and explained that democracies require a free press, the Russian leader gave a rebuttal that left the President nonplussed, TIME magazine will report on Monday.
If the press was so free in the U.S., Putin asked, then why had those reporters at CBS lost their jobs? Bush was openmouthed. "Putin thought we'd fired Dan Rather," says a senior Administration official. "It was like something out of 1984."
TIME's John Dickerson: The Russians did not let the matter drop. Later, during the leaders' joint press conference, one of the questioners Putin called on asked Bush about the very same firings, a coincidence the White House assumed had been orchestrated. The odd episode reinforced the Administration's view that Putin's impressions of America are often based on urban myths fed to him by ill-informed aides.
Developing...
Remember the few times that Euros would criticize Clinton? Even conservatives came to his aid. He was definitely a sleaze, but hey, he was OUR sleaze. But the American Left hates Bush so much, they won't defend him...or their country.
Bush's response:"Gee, Pooty-Poot, I didn't know they were your fellas."
Rating the Roadshow
By Richard Wolffe
Newsweek
March 7 issue - It was meant to be a heart-to-heart: just the two presidents and their translators, sitting alone inside the historic castle that overlooks the Slovak capital of Bratislava. Four years earlier, in another castle in Central Europe, George W. Bush looked Vladimir Putin in the eye and saw his trustworthy soul. But what he saw inside Putin last week was far less comforting. When Bush confronted his Russian counterpart about the freedom of the press in Russia, Putin shot back with an attack of his own: "We didn't criticize you when you fired those reporters at CBS."
Press Release Source: Newsweek NEWSWEEK: Putin to Bush: 'We Didn't Criticize You When You Fired Those Reporters at CBS'
Sunday February 27, 12:34 pm ET
NEW YORK, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- When George W. Bush confronted Vladimir Putin last week about the freedom of the press in Russia, Senior White House Correspondent Richard Wolffe reports, Putin shot back with an attack of his own: "We didn't criticize you when you fired those reporters at CBS." Details of the meeting, which included just the two presidents and their translators inside the historic castle that overlooks the Slovak capital of Bratislava, are reported in the March 7 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, February 28).
Pssssssttt!! I've actually heard from an inside source, now I'm not saying it's true but..... apparently we've also kidnapped the "fifth dentist"!!! You know, the one who WOULD NOT play ball and go along with the other four that recommended sugarless gum to their patients who chew gum....
I heard we have him somewhere in a remote place in Colorado...
lol
Putin better watch it, or we'll fire him too!
ROFL!!!!
GEEZ!!
Its definatley exagerrated.
You can see the clip, if you haven't seen on the news yet, just wait, I know some of the networks have shown it already.
I do know that a russian media reporter asked Bush about it again, later on, and he did give a well spoken answer, though he was definatley annoyed and had a nasty quip.
Mr. Putin may never realize the dynamics and checks on abuse of power that occur in a free society.
Just as he'll likely never learn that power derived from the grass roots support of 51% of a free and informed people is much greater than the power extorted from 100% of a fearful population.
Putin knows it isn't true. He's just another jackbooted KGB goon.
LOL! Excellent summation.
When Bush confronted his Russian counterpart about the freedom of the press in Russia, Putin shot back with an attack of his own: "We didn't criticize you when you fired those reporters at CBS."
It's not clear how well Putin understands the controversy that led to the dismissal of four CBS journalists over the discredited report on Bush's National Guard service. Yet it's all too clear how Putin sees the relationship between Bush and the American media—just like his own. Bush's aides have long feared that former KGB officers in Putin's inner circle are painting a twisted picture of U.S. policy. So Bush explained how he had no power to fire American journalists. It made little difference. When the two presidents emerged for their joint press conference, one Russian reporter repeated Putin's language about journalists getting fired. Bush (already hot after an earlier question about his spying on U.S. citizens) asked the reporter if he felt free. "They obviously planted the question," said one of Bush's senior aides.
Of course, also reported by Newsweek/MSNBC-March 7 issue.
Who needs the KGB when you have the Liberal News Network/print media?
If Putin has any trouble understanding that concept, then he can simply have a chat with Saddam.
The fake CBS stories are achieving their desired result. The only wanted the ability to make the acusation regardless of facts.
Goebles would be proud of CBS.
The left is proven yet again to be the true Nazi party.
I always suspected that Frank had something going with his partner, Joe. [Cue "Dragnet" theme]
...and now you know...the REST of the Gannon story!
fyi
Dick Thornburgh served three years as Attorney General of the United States (1988-1991) in the cabinets of Presidents Reagan and Bush.
Some of the left see a White House connection.
Almost everyday I hear a caller to a radio talk show say that Rove created the CBS phony documents.
The Russians are tuned into our enemies within. Why wouldn't they prefer moveon and Err America to get off on.
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