Chat With Bush Makes Opening Ceremony Even More Special for Skater Sasha Cohen

AP ^ | 02.09.02 | AP

[callisto]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - This is one phone call Sasha Cohen won't ever forget. The figure skater was talking to her mother on her cell phone as President Bush stood among the U.S. athletes at the opening ceremony Friday night. Seeing an opportunity, she passed her phone to Bush and asked if he'd say hello.

He took the phone with a smile and obliged.

'"This is the president speaking'," Cohen recalled Bush saying. He then spoke to her mother for about a minute.

The 17-year-old Cohen said Bush didn't know her name before she introduced herself, but he did know she was a skater.

"He asked me about my skating, and where I'm from, and all kinds of things about the Olympics," she said Saturday morning before returning to California to train for the women's competition, which begins Feb. 19.

"He was really personable, and great to talk to. It made opening ceremonies an even more exciting experience."

[umbra]

I think that will be the new protocol the president of the home country sitting with his delegation.

It was really cool, kind of like the political conventions..

[Happygal]

Truly a man of the people! :-)

[rintense]

Aw! What a great story. She'll never forget that moment.

[illbenice]

Thats, a great picture. I really feel that if President
George W. Bush Takes control of the moral and tax
wars he could be about as loved as Ronald Regan.

[umbra]

bump

[WIladyconservative]

And my first thought, upon seeing him in their midst was *He couldn't be anywhere safer than in the midst of America's finest young atheletes.*

[WIladyconservative]

Now, let the games begin....and if somebody slaps Katie into stunned silence, that's all right by me!

I'll second that!

[hoosiermama]

My father pointed out that by sitting with the athletes, and enjoying himself, he is truly leading by example. Messages to the terrorists: "We will NOT be frightened into going into hiding. We will NOT give up our freedoms!"

[Merovingian]

He took the phone with a smile and obliged.

..operant word OBLIGED...

I'm with you, not only that, but it was brazen of that kid to do such a thing..Indicates a high level of entitlement..I sure did not get the feeling he was delighted by her manipulation..

[mombonn]

Now, let the games begin....and if somebody slaps Katie into stunned silence, that's all right by me!

Me, me, me - I'd be happy to volunteer! I HOWLED when Bob Costas pointed out how cool it was that President Bush was there with the athletes, and took the phone.

I also HOWLED at the thought of how irate the perky one must be. Not a word out of her ugly little mouth.

[Republic]

Had they scoured the Earth, they could not have found three other individuals capable of ad-libbing a more pathetic string of banalities.

Well damn. A few hours ago I wrote to NBC to rant about this very thing...how I wish I had used your perfect language. And you said it all in one sentence! LOL

[Republic]

ugly little mouth.

?

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm? You could read the President's lips - and he said simply, "this is George Bush". No puttin' on airs - our President!! Gosh, I love this guy!!

[YaYa123]

wanna read something funny? Tom Shales, the Bush hating TV critic for the Washington Post, finally gets something right:

"..Couric and Costas managed to mangle what should have been one of the most moving highlights of last night's pageantry. The tattered and torn flag found in the ruins of the World Trade Center after its destruction by terrorists was carried into the stadium by New York firefighters and police officers. An awesome silence came over the crowd -- but not over the blabbery and jabbery Couric and Costas..."

Shales is never worth a thread, but if you want to read the whole article, it's:

"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48735-2002Feb8.html

[OldFriend]

Thanks, I thought I saw hesitation on his face but then went ahead rather than refuse. To me it was ill mannered but since there is serious attention to cell phones at the airport security check points, my heart stopped when she put the cell phone to our President!

[Miss Marple]

You know, she is 17 years old, and was no doubt excited at everything going on. He could have refused for security reasons, or said he would call her mother later, but instead just took the call, as any normal person would.

Cut the girl some slack...she is just a kid.

[cactmh]

You're honestly being paranoid...

[Brian Allen]

I reckon Mr Bush is a pretty neat man FRom a pretty neat family.

When G H W Bush became Mr Reagan's Vice President a 14-year-old Aussie wrote to him and said he'd learned at school that American VPs didn't have much to do and, as Mr Bush would probably have some time to kill, perhaps he'd like a pen-FRiend to keep him occupied.

A correspondence was established that I believe still continues -- but eight years later "the kid" was invited by President Bush to his inaugaration.

Good People!

[RobbyS]

and if somebody slaps Katie into stunned silence, that's all right by me!

She and Costa must think they are being paid by the word !

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

I LOVED the President's opening of the games from the midst of HIS TEAM USA members! And then seeing him sit right there with them - don't you KNOW they will never ever forget that no matter what else happens during these Games???

When they showed President Bush talking to the skater's mom (I guessed) I could see him mouth the words: This is the President - and just imagined a stunned parent might blurt out - THE PRESIDENT OF WHAT??? lol!!!!

(I'm sure they didn't do that as I am sure the parents were watching and were thrilled out the kazoo that his wonderful man would be taking the time to talk to them).

Old Friend - this decision to go be with the atheletes as he started the games was a big secret - and impromptu thing it seemed to me (the NBC announcers, at least, were stunned). And it was wonderful!

I am sure there was no danger from that cell phone because one of our skaters was talking on it just moments before she handed it to the Prez. OUR SKATERS - not a terrorist and not a DEMONRAT!

There was much more danger for him being out in front of that huge crowd earlier in the night than being in the middle of those young American atheletes and talking on one of their "stars" cell phones.

I LOVED seeing him there, enjoying these atheletes, and especially surprising that skater's mom on the cell phone call! LOL! BEAUTIFUL!