Posted on 09/15/2005 1:27:32 PM PDT by Uncle Joe Cannon
Reuters Says Bush Photo Not 'Malicious,' Reports Wide Interest In it
By E&P Staff
Published: September 15, 2005 4:30 PM ET
NEW YORK With confirmation today 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 tomorrow morning, 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.
This apparently raised some eyebrows around the room, because American representatives (among others) have a reputation for suddenly bolting, though normally for a far different reason than this latest one.
Since the photo first appeared on the Web late yesterday, speculation has centered on whether the bathroom break reference was just a silly joke and who had written and passed the note.
Gary Hershorn, news editor-photos for the Americas at Reuters, told E&P today that the photographer, Rick Wilking, informed him yesterday afternoon that he had observed Bush pass the note to Rice, and a little later, rise from his seat, leave the room, and then return.
And while some have suggested that Wilking, a well-known photographer just back from taking some of the most gripping images in New Orleans, was out to embarrass the president, Hershorn said that the photog had no idea what Bush was writing on the paper. Wilking assumed the president was taking notes on what some other official was saying.
“Rick had no idea what he was shooting, or what Bush was writing,” Heeshorn said. “If Rick knew what he was writing we'd have 25 pictures of this, not two.”
The photo was taken at 12:08 PM and it was Hershorn, about three hours later, who took the trouble to examine the photo closely, noticed the writing, and decided to put it on the wire after 4 o'clock.
The photo, as E&P observed last night in the first story about the incident, shows Bush scribbling in pencil on a note that already holds the words: "I think I may need a bathroom break? Is this possible." Wilking is a veteran Washington photographer who has long covered Bush campaigns and the White House.
As for transmitting the photo, Hershorn says, "There was no malicious intent. That's not what we do."
There's a simple explanation, even a serious one, for all of this, he adds. Bush, he points out, is not used to attending meetings at the U.N. and probably did not know what the protocol was for exiting a room and returning. His question to Rice was “proper” and not all that surprising, “asking someone with more experience there about protocol,” he said.
The President of the United States uses the toilet just like everyone else in the world!!!!!!!!!"
We all know that Clinton never had to use the bathroom.
Heeshorn ... noticed the writing, and decided to put it on the wire after 4 o'clock. Heeshorn said ... “If Rick knew what he was writing we'd have 25 pictures of this, not two.”
Yep. Totally accidental, innocent, with no thought of upholding the dignity of the presidency or even their own nation in the eyes of the world.
So innocently done. So ... accidentally!
Honestly I think Bush should be commended, if the whole thing is really true, for being so deferential to protocol in an unfamiliar situaiton.
Funny you should mention wiz in water cooler. I heard on WFTL radio in Ft Laud this am that a Construction Guy stopped at convenience store in central Florida last week and bought a fountain type soda, and when he drank it it tasted god awful and it made him throw up. He complained to the Store and then had the drink analyzed, it turned out to be full of human Urine, an employee was arrested. The whole news item was gross!!!!They did not name the Store, and I live in Central Fla, I want to know to warn everyone to stay away.
REAL men don't wear Depends. Leahy, Schumer, Biden and Kennedy would have gotten a "warm" feeling that would put a smile on their face.
Clinton pissed down our legs and told us it was raining.
Now, if he would have followed the President into the bathroom and took a picture of him going pee, then THAT would be a picture. In the meantime, we need to let it drop. It's only news if we keep it news!
Sorry, couldn't resist.
"They got horrified mail by citizens who couldn't believe that the president of the United States would actually sleep with his wife."
That reminds me of the old movies. Under the Hayes Code (1935-1955) double beds weren't allowed to be showed. Married couples slept in twin beds.
That's "shown." (Shame on me, I'm an editor!)
I'll give you a genuine Welcome to FR!
I enjoyed reading your take during the Scamdy saga.
Keep up the good work, beckysueb!
For the life of me I can't figure out what the press thinks they have here. Is it news that the President goes to the bathroom?
"Why try to make something out of nothing?" Because we're dealing with the media, many of whom are pigs.
Why?
I know you're not making something out of nothing; I know you meant the media.
It was Pix, a branch of Publix.
There is a thread on FR from this morning about it.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1484871/posts
Reuters photo caption: “In an Echo of the Administration’s Response to Katrina, an Indecisive Bush is Slow to Ponder Bathroom Break, Relies too Heavily on Advisors”
NYT photo caption: “Carl Rove said to Have Been Waiting in Stall, Unnamed Sources Claim Rove Behind President’s Decrease in Bladder Size”
CNN photo caption: “Bush Friends at Haliburton Were Given Crucial Potty Contracts, Administration Benefited”
Washington Post photo caption: Toilet at UN is Overflowing – Where is FEMA? Bush Makes Photo-Op Appearance in Disaster Area”
NBC’s Katie Curic photo caption: “How Many Died in Iraq While President Lounged in The Bathroom – My Guest This Morning is Cindy Sheehan and She’ll Tell Me What to Think About It”
Fox News Photo Caption: “Where is Natalie Holloway? Greta Wants to Know. Meanwhile Sheppard Smith Reports Live From UN Bathroom, In Great Peril and Ankle Deep In Water – Shepp – Get out of There! Geraldo Wants to Take Over and Steal Your Face Time”
Accidental??? What the?
Evidently, Reuters is still in their potty-stage. My 6-yr old grandson would really get a kick out of this. My 8-yr old granddaughter has, thankfully, moved out of bathroom-joke stage.
Because of where they were. Because he is her boss. Asking about protocol.
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