Bush accused of staging chat with troops (this is getting nasty)

The Guardian ^ | October 14, 2005 | Jamie Wilson

[Former Military Chick]

The White House found itself at the centre of another public relations disaster yesterday after a Pentagon official was seen coaching a group of handpicked US troops before a live teleconference with President George Bush.

In a cringingly wooden exchange the group of soldiers stationed in Saddam Hussein's home town of Tikrit told the president exactly what he wanted to hear - that Iraqis were eager to vote on a new constitution this weekend and the country's fledgling security forces were ready to meet the challenge.

But before Mr Bush entered the room Alison Barber, a senior defence department official, went through a list of topics the president would later ask them about. At her prompting, the soldiers, who were displayed on a large video screen in a room of the Eisenhower Building next to the White House, raised their hands when the topic they were to answer came up.

At one point, she said, Mr Bush would ask them specifically, "In the last 10 months, what kind of progress have we seen?" before asking who was prepared to answer the question. "Master Sgt Lombardo," one of the soldiers replied.

Minutes later Mr Bush asked the same question and Master Sgt Corine Lombardo responded: "Over the past 10 months, the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces are improving ... They continue to develop and grow into a sustainable force." Mr Bush then asked: "Do the Iraqis want to fight, and are they capable of fighting?" He was told they were.

Ms Barber insisted later the questions were not rehearsed. The military had been told ahead of time only about topics the president might want to talk about, not specific questions. "We just knew broad themes," she said. The White House spokesman Scott McClellan said: "All they were doing was talking to the troops and letting them know what to expect."

But Democrats dismissed the event as a sham. The Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, said: "The American people and our brave troops deserve better than a photo-op for the president and a pep-rally about Iraq. They deserve a plan. Unfortunately, today's event only served to highlight the fact that the president refuses to engage in a frank conversation about the realities on the ground."

[Former Military Chick]

What bother's me, how this affects the fine men and women who are serving in Iraq (as it relates to this story) and they are reading the after math of what was a for them I am sure a very huge boost to their morale as they move into what I am sure are going to be some tough days.

It is always about everyone else ... no matter who the MSM hurts in the process.

[fanfan]

Thanks for the ping.

:-)

[Former Military Chick]

Bravo, what an excellent reservation thank you so very much for sharing your point of view.

My respect for Shep has decreased since the N.O. incident on the free way. I suppose he does think he has some free pass. But I will never forget one of his colleagues who said great job Shep, I am sure you will win all those awards you are shooting for. Says a lot about Shep.

I just think that beyond hurting Bush, he has a thick skin, those fine men and women who participated in the video conference, how are they feeling hearing this firestorm. Yeah they are soldiers but damn if they do not have feelings too. MSM does not care who they hurt.

[w1andsodidwe]

I watched it and of course it was staged. I didn't have a problem with that. They were obviously trying to get certain points across to the American public. The problem was that the soldiers contradicted the unstaged MSM reporting. Oh the horror!!!!

[COEXERJ145]

And how many other names have you used here to "criticize the President" before the one you created yesterday?

[doug from upland]

Thanks. In the post I linked, that was in the thread. I've used that Yahoo post to try to find him. If we can get him on film, it will do damage to her potential commander of chief image. She is no Ronald Reagan. She is no George Bush. She is no Geena Davis.

[NewEnglander]

This Shep the Alien guy (S. Smith) from FOX has turned into a real clymer (sp); for those of you from ReoLinda, that is an A..Hole, big time!!! His reporting from New Orleans was a disgrace. Most of the time he does NOT know what he is talk about. When I see him on FOX now it is time to CLICK.

[NormsRevenge]

NBC Nightly ran this as the top item.. LOLOL

What a sad sack of ignoramuses these MSM outlets are,,

They stooop lower than ever at any "opportunity" to tear down the administration,

What a joke the MSM has become,, a bad joke.

[NormsRevenge]

Andwea Mitshill did the report, they had David Gergen on as well..

Toads for the left.

[Txsleuth]

Andrea Mitchell DID do something very GOOD tonight, though.

Chrissy Matthews on Hairball was doing his umpteenth show in a row about how Rove and Libby, perhaps even Cheney are going DOWN...because of Plamegate...

BUT, tonight, Chrissy was talking about the trip to Niger that Wilson took, supposedly sent by Cheney...and Andrea INTERRUPTED Chris and went on to tell him that not only did Cheney NOT send Wilson to Niger...

but, he didn't know anything about it...that when Cheney had gone to CIA headquarters at one time, asking about this and that...and questioning whether anyone knew about the rumor of Saddam dealing for uranium in NIger...it was some CIA flunky that suggested it...and Plame was given the job the flunky of getting her husband to go...

Chrissy looked like she slapped him across the face...and then said, that surely Cheney knew about it and endorsed it though...and Andrea said of course he didn't...everyone knew that Wilson as against the war, and didn't know anything about WMDs anyway...so why would they send HIM!!!

Chrissy just turned red, purple, and then totally white...trying to come up with any scenario that would put Cheney in the middle of the Niger story...which would then give him reason to try to slime Wilson...

It was a hoot...and the first time I have cheered Andrea Mitchell...

BTW..A little while ago...on a Fox News break...there was a story about a NEW POSITION that has been created --- some kind of czar of the undercover terrorist hunter wing of the government...Some sort of high up person to be the boss over information gleaned from undercover agents...but, his identity CANNOT be told...totally clandestine...but, here is where I have a problem with this...

THEY HAMED THE COVERT CZAR---JOSE!!! Yeppers..an AMERICAN SUPER SPY CHIEF...they named him JOSE!

What kind of crapola is that....why not JOHN--James, Tom, Dick, Harry....why the hell did they give him a Spanish NAME FGS!!!!

[Txsleuth]

Please see post #70....I meant it for you also...but forgot to put your name down...sorry!

[RobbyS]

The Guardian understands nothing that it sees.

[Toespi]

Does anyone really think that the soldiers did not have a list of questions that they would be asked? It is naive for anyone to believe that this wasn't orchestrated and done so for good reasons. BUT, it does not mean that they lied, or had a gun to their head. This is stupid and I am sick to death of the daily barrage against our President and thus our country.

[ClaireSolt]

I would rather see the President interacting with some troops than all this carping by the vultures.

[af_vet_rr]

Oh - this will FOR SURE be the end of Bush!! How lame can ya get? He's a politician, for cryin' out loud! All politicians do this!

You're wrong - it's only the politicians who are in power who do these kinds of things! I've heard it on good authority! (please, stop laughing, you'll wake the neighbors).

You nailed it though - all politicians do these types of things (I'm sure I'll get labeled a Bush basher for saying that, lol).

Hell, I was around several Presidents while in the military, and when they were there for photo-op events or 'attaboy visits, those military personnel that were around were usually hand-picked.

You didn't pick 20 people at random and say "guess what, you are going to go hang out with the President for a few minutes".

Depending on the PR people involved, you would literally have them saying "I need this many Hispanics, this many Blacks, if you have some Asians, that would be great, also we need some females.".

These kinds of things can become so scripted, it's ridiculous. They also sometimes come off fake, because in some instances, people were being forced to become actors a few minutes, and it showed.

Since we aren't limiting ourselves to President Bush, I have to say that out of all the Presidents I had the honor of being around, President Reagan really knew how to put people at ease. Sure, part of it maybe that some people viewed him as a grandfatherly type and relaxed, but he really was a people person (stupid term, but I don't know how else to describe it).

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

And when the MSM instigated and staged an armor question by a US soldier to embarrass the secretary of defense, it was a great and honorable thing to do. S\

[SunnySide]

"This is a bunch of stuff about nothing. "

...

Agree, this is the same pre-prep work done with ALL PRESIDENTS. Next the MSM is going to point out a Presidents nose hairs. Desperate msm losers are so out of touch, the poor things don't even realize how Joe and Jane Public laugh and snicker at them.

[rlmorel]

I think this is a strategy by the Dems and the MSM. I don't believe there is out and out collusion on it, but I think they definitely subscribe to the "Death by a thousand cuts" strategy.

Every single day, no matter what, something must be said that is negative about the President, his staff, the administration, the state of the country, the economy, the war, etc. They are all doing it, the fork is struck and they all vibrate in unison.

If enough garbage is thrown against the wall, even if none of it sticks, this sets the Demotards up for the next election cycle. If they can push conservative candidates into a position where all they are doing is defending themselves, they are not going to win. You cannot score any points while playing defense.

I think this is their strategy. Will conservatives bite? Many here have.

[jveritas]

Relax Lady. Saturday will be a great day for the US, Iraq, our troops, and President Bush when the Iraqis will vote YES for their constitution. It will be another crushing defeat for the terrorists, the liberals, and their media whores. You do not want to be a liberal on Saturday October 15 2005.

[SunnySide]

"If they can push conservative candidates into a position where all they are doing is defending themselves, they are not going to win. You cannot score any points while playing defense."

...

No, too many citizens have figured out how the shell game works now. The reverse and reverse of reverses, etc., etc.,