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Bush Photo With Teen Becomes Internet Phenomenon
The Washington Dispatch ^ | June 14, 2004 | CK Rairden

Posted on 06/24/2004 9:34:32 PM PDT by anymouse

This is a story of how powerful the new media has become. A phenomenon of sorts has grown from a picture of a 15-year old girl named Ashley Faulkner in a warm embrace with President Bush. It all began in early May. President George W. Bush was on the campaign trail in Ohio and one of his stops for the day was at the Golden Lamb Inn in Lebanon, Ohio. In this Cincinnati suburb awaited Ashley Faulkner and her father Lynn. They had arrived early with their friend Linda Prince to get a spot in the front of the line hoping to get to meet the president. As the campaign event wound down they would indeed get to see President George W. Bush up close and personal.

Mr. Bush worked the line, shook Mr. Faulkner’s hand and then proceeded until Linda Prince spoke up. “This girl lost her mother on 9/11,” Prince told the president. With that proclamation the president changed from the leader of the free world to a father and a husband. According to Mr. Faulkner, “The president’s entire expression transformed and he turned and came back against the flow and his eyes locked on Ashley’s.” The president took the time to talk to Mr. Faulkner’s daughter Ashley and give her a warm hug. Mr. Faulkner told me he debated before taking this now famous picture, wondering if he was invading a very private and special moment between his daughter and the most powerful man in the world. He decided to snap the picture you see here, the only one taken of this incredible moment of compassion by President Bush.

(snip)

It is said that character is measured by what you do when no one is looking. President Bush warmed Ashley Faulkner’s heart and took the time to comfort her when he believed no one was looking. But with one fortunate click of a digital camera, now the world gets to look.

Perhaps they were wrong in the nineties--- maybe character does matter.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtondispatch.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Ohio
KEYWORDS: ashley; ashleysstory; bush; campaign; godblessthisman
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To: TheBattman

The stark contrast between Bush and Clinton is part of what is boosting Bush's poll numbers this week.


21 posted on 06/24/2004 9:50:30 PM PDT by dc-zoo
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To: Uncle Jaque
The Democrats will be screaming that this picture exploits 9/11 for political purposes. But Fahrenheit 9/11 doesn't, of course.
22 posted on 06/24/2004 9:51:31 PM PDT by bayourod (Can the 9/11 Commission connect the dots on Iraq or do they require a 3-D picture?)
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To: martin_fierro

Oh my! That did it. Anybody got a tissue?


23 posted on 06/24/2004 9:51:42 PM PDT by BykrBayb (5 minutes of prayer for Terri, every day at 11 am EDT, until she's safe. http://www.terrisfight.org)
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To: anymouse

I hadn't seen that picture before. It reminds me how I can't understand why so many people refuse to see his innate goodness and honesty, and hate him so passionately.


24 posted on 06/24/2004 9:51:46 PM PDT by Moonmad27 (Vote for GWB in November - make liberals miserable for ANOTHER four years!)
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To: anymouse
I've read this before, and loved it.

Now, I think that some Republican group should pay for this to be an ad for the re-election of GWB.

In print, at first, with narration, then...at the end...the photo and that last great line about the 90s and character counting.

Let America see what their choice should be in this next election.

Real... or botox.

NordP

25 posted on 06/24/2004 9:54:25 PM PDT by NordP (While our nation is at war w/ worldwide terrorism, the democrat party is at war w/ the President.)
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To: AuH2ORepublican

victims of 9/11


26 posted on 06/24/2004 9:54:28 PM PDT by Windsong (FighterPilot)
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To: TheBattman

Moreso than any potential groping, Slick would never have been satisfied with there simply being one picture of that event, taken by the girl's father. He would have summoned an army of WH photographers, and if necessary, would have re-enacted the compassionate moment. That is the difference between what Bush would do versus Clinton. Bush respected this girls dignity as a human being, whereas Clinton would simply have viewed it as a photo op.


27 posted on 06/24/2004 9:55:58 PM PDT by Michael Smith
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If it were Clinton, he would have grabbed the girls ass.


28 posted on 06/24/2004 9:56:20 PM PDT by oolatec
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To: martin_fierro
President Clinton mouthed, repeatedly, "I Feel Your Pain".

President Bush needs to say no such thing. He knows the pain that others suffer. yeah... He has An American "President's Way of Knowing". :)

29 posted on 06/24/2004 9:56:27 PM PDT by Alia (California -- It's Groovy! Baby!)
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To: anymouse
Perhaps they were wrong in the nineties--- maybe character does matter.

In the end, yes, character does matter. And all the athiests, welfare parasites, abortion enthusiasts, condom throwers, screeching feminists, Hollywood drunks, college professors, losers, weirdos, and malcontents who make up the Democrat base will not be enough to overcome the will of America's working, taxpaying, traditional families to make sure that character counts in a President.

Bush, in a landslide.

30 posted on 06/24/2004 9:57:00 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Michael Smith
Okay, I have tears in my eyes.

Wow. I'm with you.

31 posted on 06/24/2004 9:57:28 PM PDT by Angry Republican
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To: martin_fierro; Victoria Delsoul

HAAA! Victoria's in President Bush's ear!!!


32 posted on 06/24/2004 9:57:59 PM PDT by RandallFlagg (<a href="http://www.michaelmoore.com" target="_blank">miserable failure)
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To: Southack

I remember this picture and the article. I think drudge may have posted it. Very cool.


33 posted on 06/24/2004 9:58:25 PM PDT by ArmyBratproud
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To: anymouse

Beautiful. Need I say more? I guess a picture does say a thousand words.


34 posted on 06/24/2004 9:59:26 PM PDT by Angry Republican
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To: anymouse
John Kerry doesn't have that in him. He'd tell her "that's a touching, touching story" wipe away an imagined tear, and go on to shake hands with somebody more important--somebody who he deigns means something.

miserable failure miserable failure miserable failure miserable failure waffles

35 posted on 06/24/2004 10:00:20 PM PDT by Fun Bob
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To: Howlin; Mo1; onyx; Tamsey
Wonderful heartwarming, gutwrenching article...

~PING!~


36 posted on 06/24/2004 10:01:00 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (John Kerry: An old creep, with gray hair, trying to look like he's 30 years old.)
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To: anymouse
Good post and good story.

However, Lebanon is NOT a 'Cincinnati suburb.'

It is a charming town and the food at the Golden Lamb is excellent; and some of the rooms have a great history with them.

37 posted on 06/24/2004 10:03:46 PM PDT by Khurkris (Will the wind ever remember the names it has blown in the past, It whispers no this will be the last)
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To: anymouse

Bill Clinton "felt our pain..." But President Bush has compassion, hope, and strength. And the courage to do what needs to be done to protect our country. Amazing what this photo captured.


38 posted on 06/24/2004 10:04:37 PM PDT by Libertina
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To: anymouse

bump


39 posted on 06/24/2004 10:04:39 PM PDT by rwfromkansas ("Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?" -- Abraham Lincoln)
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To: BigSkyFreeper

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/images/bc42.gif


40 posted on 06/24/2004 10:06:08 PM PDT by Freesofar ( "[N]o arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral cour)
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