Bush Unsure He's Been to Space Center

AP via ABCNews ^ | 1/4/03

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Bush Spokesman Backpedals From Assertion That President Previously Visited Houston Space Center

SPACE CENTER, Houston Feb. 4 — President Bush is no longer so sure he's been here before.

A day after telling reporters that Bush had visited Johnson Space Center while serving as governor of Texas in the 1990s, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer backpedaled from that assertion.

"I think right now it's somewhat murky," the press secretary said aboard Air Force One Tuesday, en route to a memorial service for the seven Columbia astronauts who died in last weekend's tragedy.

On Monday, Fleischer dismissed suggestions that Bush had not been interested in the NASA program before the Columbia crash and rejected a report that Bush had never been to the Space Center. He told reporters the president visited the facility near Houston in 1995 or 1996.

The spokesman did not know the exact date, and promised to do more research.

Fleischer said Tuesday that after further review, Bush's staff could find no record of the visit. "Johnson Space Center says that he did not go there, and I'm not able to find the exact date. So that's why I say it's murky," Fleischer said.

"To the president's recollection, he thinks he has been there," his spokesman said, adding that Bush's staff from Texas also thought they recalled such a visit.

The spokesman said Bush has never seen a NASA launch or landing, in part because there are so many other beautiful things to see in the country that he has yet to explore.

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What a crappy hit piece by a lame brain writer. Note that nobody asked Bush whether he’s been there before or not. I guess Fleischer is supposed to know every place on earth that Bush has ever been.

Naturally, ABCNews couldn’t wait to give this non-story a nonsensical insulting headline and a prominent page on their website.

[demlosers]

I agree with you.

[daler]

From the same people who didn't find Juanita Broaddrick newsworthy.

[Michael Barnes]

Ari, Ari, Ari...The proper response is "I don't recall"..It was perfected in the last admin..(/sarcasm)

[Wphile]

This is rubbish. Who gives a rip whether he's been there or not? Sheesh...some news story.

[marty60]

Talk about a stupid story. But, what do you expect from ABC.

[cyncooper]

Fleischer dismissed suggestions that Bush had not been interested in the NASA program before the Columbia crash...

Let me think...who would "suggest" that President Bush had "not been interested" in the NASA program?

Could it be the unbiased press?

And surely they meant the implication in this "suggestion".

[cyncooper]

This is rubbish. Who gives a rip whether he's been there or not? Sheesh...some news story.

See the "suggestions" that President Bush "did not care" about the NASA program.

Wink, wink

That's code for "the crash is Bush's fault through his disinterest".

They are beneath contempt.

[grania]

This is a non-sequitor. It's entirely possible for a person to be interested in the space program without going to the space center.

The "hit piece" part is the implication that GWB can't remember if he's been there or not. Before they print this stuff, why don't they just ask him? And why doesn't Ari say something like "you'll have to ask him"?

[Senator Pardek]

LBJ never visited, and it was named after him!

[Osage Orange]

ABC..couldn't ride a nightmare without falling out of bed. All Bull Crap.....................

[Wphile]

Oh, I know. Everything is Bush's fault.

I can't stand the press.

[LibWhacker]

ABC grasping at straws. It's as irrelevant as the French.

[Gary Boldwater]

Wasn't Hillary Clinton told to go elsewhere when she tried to become an astronaut?

[JennysCool]

It's the same old story. I don't recall a single time, during the myriad disasters and tragedies of his years, Bill Clinton or his minions being asked similar questions. A big percentage of the media just loves to write non-stories like this; ANYTHING to get a jab, no matter how slight, at the President. Sheesh.

[OldFriend]

And the point is??????????

[Willie Green]

Well I never been to Spain
But I kinda like the music
Say the ladies are insane there
And they sure know how to use it
They don't abuse it
Never gonna lose it
I can't refuse it

Well I never been to England
But I kinda like the Beatles
Well, I headed for Las Vegas
Only made it out to Needles
Can you feel it
It must be real it
Feels so good
Oh, feels so good

Well I never been to heaven
But I been to Oklahoma
Well they tell me I was born there
But I really don't remember
In Oklahoma, not Arizona
What does it matter
What does it matter

Well I never been to Spain
But I kinda like the music
Say the ladies are insane there
And they sure know how to use it
They don't abuse it
Never gonna lose it
I can't refuse it

Well I never been to heaven
But I been to Oklahoma
Well they tell me I was born there
But I really don't remember
In Oklahoma, not Arizona
What does it matter
What does it matter

[dead]

Oh I've been to Nice and the isle of Greece
While I've sipped champagne on a yacht
I've moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo
And showed 'em what I've got
I've been undressed by kings and I've seen some things that woman ain't supposed to see…
I've been to paradise,
But I've never been to me….

[baseballmom]

ABC are vile pigs. It has been 6 hours since that beatiful memorial - and the very moving remarks by our President. Yet, they leave this crap up there. "let's see, should we lead our website with a hit piece or something positive about the President of the United States comforting the grieving families, NASA, and the nation?" NAAAAHHHHHHHHH

Someone even reported on the "Live Memorial Thread" that the nightly anchorman (yeah, him) seemed very moved after the ceremony.

I loathe the liberal media