Posted on 01/18/2006 9:40:31 AM PST by radar101
Laura Bush criticized Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday for suggesting that the Republican-controlled House is run like a plantation where dissenting voices are ignored.
"It think it's ridiculous — it's a ridiculous comment," Mrs. Bush told reporters when asked about the remark during a return flight to Washington following her four-day swing through West Africa.
Clinton made the comment in Harlem at an event honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. She said the GOP was running the House "like a plantation" because ideas from the minority Democrats were not respected. The White House on Tuesday called the senator's comments "way out of line."
Mrs. Bush, who said her next trip likely will be to New Orleans to visit schools damaged in the hurricane, also reacted to a comment by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin that stirred controversy. Nagin had said: "This city will be chocolate at the end of the day." He later apologized.
Nagin also said the hurricane that devastated New Orleans was God's way of showing displeasure about U.S. involvement in Iraq. "Surely God is mad at America," Nagin said in a speech Monday. "Surely He's not approving of us being in Iraq under false pretense. But surely He's upset at black America also. We're not taking care of ourselves."
Asked about the comment, Mrs. Bush joked that she didn't really think she could speak for God. Then she added that she believes Nagin wants New Orleans to be rebuilt.
"He wants people who lived in New Orleans to come back," Mrs. Bush said. "I do to, and I know the president does too. You know it's going to take a long time."
The first lady headed home after reaffirming the U.S. commitment to help Nigeria treat AIDS patients and stem the spread of HIV. She said she hoped that "one day an entire generation" will be free of the disease that has ravaged Africa.
The first lady highlighted the $163 million in U.S. assistance that will receive in 2006 to fight AIDS.
"We are all hopeful that one day an entire generation will be born free of HIV," Mrs. Bush said in a speech to the National Center for Women's Development in the Nigerian capital.
The crowd applauded with Mrs. Bush talked about attending Monday's inauguration of Liberia's president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman president elected in Africa. She said Sirleaf is an example for women all over the world of what can be accomplished through hard work and a strong belief in education and democracy.
"The question we must answer now is 'how do we nurture the development of the next generation of women leaders in Africa and worldwide?'"' Mrs. Bush asked. "The answer begins with education."
Earlier, Mrs. Bush drove to the dusty outskirts of Abuja to visit a small AIDS clinic where a young woman told her of how drugs helped her escape death from the disease. Mrs. Bush visited St. Mary's Hospital, where she stood next to four cartons of anti-retroviral drugs __ enough to treat 500 people over the next year. It is the first U.S.-backed shipment of the drugs St. Mary's has received through President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
I'm finding it interesting that Mrs. Bush is being quoted on almost everything lately. Hardly a quote in the media in the first term, now she is far more public. Maybe a new job coming up? Secretary of Education?
I don't know why. But I don't trust it.
Quite a different message from the one heard in Harlem on that day.
What a great lady.
Clinton made the comment in Harlem at an event honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. She said the GOP was running the House "like a plantation" because ideas from the minority Democrats were not respected. The White House on Tuesday called the senator's comments "way out of line."
Clinton is an idiot. She should have said that when she was in power, her husband was running the "Whitehouse" like a whorehouse because the rights of the interns were not respected.
Trying to capitalize on MLK day with racially contexted words to make an utter ridiculous and unfounded political point is unbelieveable. How about when her husband was getting a BJ while making political calls to psychophant cronies? Is there anyone home in that head of hers or is she on left-wing extremism auto-pilot?
When ABC reporterette Ann Compton was speaking to our local radio afiliate newscasters about the "plantation" comment, she mentioned "Of course, there are Texans in Congress, too."
Wha---?
There are congressmen from every state, as we all know. Then, I guess she realized she hadn't made any point whatsoever, so she underscored it with, "That would include Tom DeLay."
So out of the blue, the ABC commentator brought up Tom DeLay. I'm surprised she didn't mention Halliburton.
I agree.
I think she is wants to run for office now. Has anyone notice that she is getting into Hillary territory lately? I am so disappointed in her lately especially he pro choice stance.
Ridiculous! Well said and nuff said.
"I am so disappointed in her lately especially he pro choice stance."
I don't understand that either. That's pretty cold hearted.
Yeah, this is typical distorted AP writing. Whenever GWB, Laura, or anyone in the Bush Administration says anything mildly critical, AP writers use terms like "attacks", "assails", "harshly criticzed", etc. to try to make Republicans look mean and nasty. I've noticed too that when a Bush Admin official sticks to his position on an issue and doesn't move in response to Dem attacks, the AP likes to use the work "insists", as though the official is stridently sticking to a weak position. The terms "insists" implies stridency and a harsh tone of voice, which is always the way the AP tries to portray Republicans. No question about it, the AP is consistently and strongly biased against the GOP in their choice of words and especially in their selection of facts to present in articles and in their headline writing.
She was an incredible First Lady the first four years, but now she is running for something.
However, reading some further posts, maybe the press is making this up....I hope so. I want her to go back to the job she is supposed to be doing.
ROTFLMAO !!!! That is one of the funniest stories I've heard in a long time. That is a instant classic, Gee who would have guessed there are Congressmen and women from Texas.........
Can we all say riveting news journalists? "That is funny right there, I don't care who you are".
Ok, maybe she's running for Pres. with Condi as VP (or visa versa).
Can you see it? Laura & Condi against Hillary and Madeline, or Janet Reno. THAT WOULD BE SO GREAT !
I don't think she's running for anything. The Bushies are probably just getting her out into the media more often so she can speak and counteract the relentless MSM propaganda campaign against the GOP.
Main Entry: as·sail
Pronunciation: &-'sA(&)l
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French asaillir, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin assalire, alteration of Latin assilire to leap upon, from ad- + salire to leap -- more at SALLY
: to attack violently with blows or words
synonym see ATTACK
- as·sail·able /-'sA-l&-b&l/ adjective
- as·sail·ant /-'sA-l&nt/ noun
No kidding. If that AP fool thinks that's "assailing" her ears would fall off is she heard what I have to say about Hildebeast!!
"Nagin had said: "This city will be chocolate at the end of the day." He later apologized."
lol... I guess it finally occurred to him how racist that remark was. Can you imagine the outrage from the black community if a white politician said he wanted the city to be white?
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