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3. Musing » What’s up with Bush?
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5. Forumgezgini.com » Blog Archive » Little Girl Cries, Let’s Blame Bush

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Comments

1. #1
   On July 10th, 2007 at 7:20 pm, Wade said:

   Boo Friggin’ Hoo

2. #2
   On July 10th, 2007 at 7:23 pm, Rick Moran said:

   Holy smokes! When the dems actually do get around to impeaching this fellow, will he have any support at all - anywhere?

   I used to think Bush was just tone deaf. Now I’m beginning to think he’s a cad.

3. #3
   On July 10th, 2007 at 7:32 pm, John Ansell said:

   I didn’t see it and have not seen the full response but I don’t think you should beat up Bush over this. mho having just read the post.

4. #4
   On July 10th, 2007 at 7:33 pm, INC said:

   He could get away with this with a member of the press corps–but with a young girl? No!

   I’m sure the amnesty defeat was galling for him, but it’s wrong to strike out at someone who is at such a huge disadvantage in authority, age and experience. When you were 13 how would you have felt if the President put you down and you’d had 400 people laugh at you? Most of us would have wanted the ground to swallow us up.

   I haven’t heard the word cad in a while, but it certainly fits.

5. #5
   On July 10th, 2007 at 7:37 pm, huggybear said:

   “Do you think there’s anyone in the White House who might possibly realize that it’s precisely this flippant attitude that has turned off so many grass-roots conservatives and eroded the president’s political capital when he needs it the most?”

   Michelle nailed it - perhaps the girl was a little overly-sensitive, but no president should address anyone with a sarcastic answer like that in a public forum, no matter how old the questioner or the subject matter. Extremely inappropriate.

6. #6
   On July 10th, 2007 at 7:40 pm, uhangtight said:

   Now wait a minute.. let’s cool down and pull back on the throttle. She and her parents had to know that was a loaded question, period. As a parent I would have coached her to be prepared for any type of reaction. They obviously didn’t. And, yes my gosh, Bush is human.

   At least when he [Bush]recognized her reaction he did attempt to ease her discomfort.

   Now mind you his behavior, I haven’t seen, may have startled her but c’mon. To have asked the question means she knew enough of what has transpired recently to know he lost on this issue.

7. #7
   On July 10th, 2007 at 8:03 pm, John Ansell said:

   Inc, I did post that I didn’t hear the response or read the full transcript. But I don’t think it sounds like he crossed any line. And yes, I was around her age when I met George H.W. Bush and it was a similar situation. I was eating lunch at the pork expo and he asked how the sandwich was. I hated it and when I said so, the people around all busted out in laughter. Yes, I wanted to get out of there as fast as possible, but it wasn’t H.W.’s fault. He even covered nicely for me. So, you can call me biased.

8. #8
   On July 10th, 2007 at 8:25 pm, bdfaith said:

   When I was 13 I’d have flipped him off for an answer like that, but I spent a lot of time sitting in the corner in those days too.

9. #9
   On July 10th, 2007 at 8:33 pm, JadeNYU said:

   I can’t tell from the written transcript, but, as a person that uses sarcasm to cover for the fact that I’m squishy/gooey on the inside, his answer struck me as more of a self-deprecating thing than an attack on a little girl. Acknowledging the fact that he had just taken a horrible, public trouncing on this very topic.

   Furthermore, when he saw that the girl had taken it personally, he immediately consoled her and told her it was a good question, then spent a good amount of time answering that question.

   I don’t think he crossed the line, I think he just didn’t take into account how young she was (so, if anything, he’s guilty of speaking to a child as he would have spoken to an adult), but he immediately worked to make her feel better.

10. #10
    On July 10th, 2007 at 8:51 pm, bdfaith said:

    Rick, it’s not so much that he’s tone deaf as it is that he has his head so far up his arse that he doesn’t even realize anyone else is talking. I started blogging almost exactly three years ago to do my small part in keeping Jean Fraud Kerry out of the White House. I’d vote the same way if I had it to do over again but it’s a shame there wasn’t one good choice on the ballot. The only remaining hope I have for this country is that the Republican party will nominate a candidate next spring who’s not afraid to campaign as the un-W and talk about all the things he’d have done different, and will do different, from our current great illustrious leader.

11. #11
    On July 10th, 2007 at 9:15 pm, Lincoln said:

    If it had been me who asked the question and Bush replied in the same way, I would have cried too.

12. #12
    On July 10th, 2007 at 9:16 pm, greenfairie said:

    Well, I start crying too whenever President Bush starts talking about illegal immigration.

13. #13
    On July 10th, 2007 at 9:23 pm, gayle said:

    greenfairie;

    LOL! Good response!

    I really do not understand why a child would even ask that question. Seems to me that an adult prompted her to do this thinking that the Prez would be soft on her. Backfired somewhat.

    Bush has never been a man of etiquette when speaking, so I would not have expected anything different on his part.

    He should have admitted defeat on this fiasco and stated for all of us that he intends to SEAL THE BORDERS.

    Maybe the girl would have smiled instead.

14. #14
    On July 10th, 2007 at 9:28 pm, Yashmak said:

    Hilarious.

    It’s the kind of thing people joke about, but that’s somehow even more comic if/when it actually happens.

    I’m sure the Kos’ers are all over this, and I wouldn’t dream of begrudging them that. It’s funny like a video of John Edwards crossing the street to avoid a panhandler would be.

15. #15
    On July 10th, 2007 at 9:41 pm, terrig said:

    I remember being 13 and I could cry if someone looked at me crosswise. I really have lost almost all faith in W. While it’s true someone probably put her up to it, it’s probably not the response she was expecting. Anyway, I agree he should have said “seal the border” but it’s just something he doesn’t seem to want to do. You know, I just don’t get him sometime and this is one of those times.

16. #16
    On July 10th, 2007 at 10:11 pm, INC said:

    greenfairie, that’s good!

    John A, it sounds as if GHWB was trying to help you out of an awkward situation he inadvertently put you into by his question. His son was mouthing off at someone much younger than he was when he felt she put him in an awkward situation.

    The article does not indicate that her parents set her up nor does it indicate which side they were on regarding the bill. Since it was a business group, maybe they were some of the Republicans who wanted the bill passed. At any rate, having children who have been 13, we have certainly been engaged in conversation with them over many issues and they were capable of asking questions. When you consider that the parents are probably politically active, it’s not a stretch to see they had probably had some discussions at home and I think it’s quite feasible that her parents did not set her up with the question.

    From the article it sounds as if someone knew they had to do damage control.

17. #17
    On July 10th, 2007 at 10:15 pm, BluegrassHindu said:

    I really do not understand why a child would even ask that question. Seems to me that an adult prompted her to do this thinking that the Prez would be soft on her. Backfired somewhat.

    Thats a little demeaning Gayle, For one immigration has been all the rage in the news for how long now ? At least a year with all the marches etc so it is within the realm of reality that she followed it on the news with her parents and had a genuine interest. I still remember being 13 and begging my parents to take me out of school to see President Reagan speak on his second run for office at Fasion Valley mall in San Diego. I was very involved and interested in the issues and events back then so age = mute point.

18. #18
    On July 10th, 2007 at 10:32 pm, xblade said:

    his answer struck me as more of a self-deprecating thing than an attack on a little girl.

    That’s exactly what it was. He does this all the time, and frankly, anyone on this side of the aisle giving him a hard time over it should adjust THEIR newly acquired tinfoil hat by dialing it down a notch or two.

19. #19
    On July 10th, 2007 at 10:46 pm, DaleC said:

    I saw part of that Q&A today but not with the girl. I doubt it was his intention to be mean to her. I tried to watch but I could not get shamnesty out of my head. I have lost my ability to listen to our President speak .

20. #20
    On July 10th, 2007 at 10:47 pm, Thomas said:

    Well said, xblade.

21. #21
    On July 10th, 2007 at 11:14 pm, Pat said:

    Well, that was a loaded question, but his inability to relate to his constituents is astounding. He acts like it was a minor little defeat in the Senate instead of a watershed for our country, about what it means to be an American and how much being an American is worth.

    Clueless. No more dynasty politicians for me!

22. #22
    On July 10th, 2007 at 11:40 pm, PBoilermaker said:

    Call me insensitive, but what’s the big deal about this girl crying?

    I agree with others who noted that his apathetic treatment of the issue itself is more of a story than the girl’s tears.

23. #23
    On July 11th, 2007 at 1:14 am, SirKnob said:

    Gee.. has it come to this. The crowd laughed, the crowd understood the comment in the context it was meant. I do the same thing at times, its called self depreciating humor people, gee. One of the finer points of leadership is the ability to make light of ones own shortcomings.
    However you relate to the President is your own business, but with all his faults, he is not a mean and spiteful person.
    I agree, the young lady was overly sensitive.

24. #24
    On July 11th, 2007 at 2:06 am, theloneranger said:

    Frankly, I think it’s much ado about nothing. If the little girl had enough political awareness to ask that sort of question, then she must have enough savvy to anticipate that type of response from the President after knowing the outcome of the votes in Congress.

25. #25
    On July 11th, 2007 at 7:16 am, RobM1981 said:

    Spot on, Ranger.

    I don’t think Bush was being overly sarcastic at all, and his comment could be construed as a self-deprecating “thanks for reminding me of my failure.” As a father I *absolutely concur* that it sometimes takes virtually nothing to get some girls to cry.

    Most importantly, Bush’s recovery shows that he is most certainly not a cad. Once he saw how she reacted he reassured her that her question was good.

    This truly is much ado about nothing. Slow news cycle…

26. #26
    On July 11th, 2007 at 9:24 am, D-Hoggs said:

    “The crowd laughed, the crowd understood the comment in the context it was meant. I do the same thing at times, its called self depreciating humor people”

    Exactly correct, everyone here upset with W over this really needs to take a step back.

27. #27
    On July 11th, 2007 at 10:58 am, dadling said:

    Exactly the type of behavior that has lost Mr Bush MY support.
    I have supported him from day 1…I’m a very conservative person.
    He betrayed me, my family, my country, by trying to ram the immigration bill through congress, in such an unamerican way.
    I cannot trust him anymore….I’m not surprised he is ignorant of the feelings of others….
    I will continue to vote for real conservatives…but, Mr Bush is a very very VERY BIG disappointment….I’m ready for him to leave office…..

28. #28
    On July 11th, 2007 at 12:47 pm, Ombre Rose said:

    Anybody who hasn’t had a child put them in a spot like that by reacting in an unexpected way hasn’t spent any time with children.

    Frankly, I can see how she might have been overcome - the situation alone was way too high-adrenalin and we’ve all spent some time watching America’s Funniest Home videos and seen how some kids react to the cameras, even when the President isn’t speaking to you - and 13 is the worst age ever to shine those lights on a girl - I can say that, I are one, and have a handfull of nieces who are beautiful prima donnas. They are beautiful, smart, talented, and they are prima donnas.

    George Bush isn’t Oprah Winfrey, and we didn’t elect him to be that.

    If he’d set her on his knee and petted on her for crying, there would have been an equally disastrous political fallout for THAT.

    It’s like that old Hollywood advice - don’t work with or follow children or animals.

    I hate the anmesty bill worse than most who hate it, I live a spit and holler from the Mexico border! But this is kicking a man when he is down, just for the fun of kicking.

    It’s not like it was the first time Bush responded exactly that way to a sticky question. In fact, it is his standing schtick for that situation!

29. #29
    On July 11th, 2007 at 1:39 pm, Artbyruth said:

    Give me a break! Michelle Malkin needs to calm down for crying out loud!!

    George Bush didn’t “make a 13 year old girl cry”. She cried from embarrassment not from the comment made by the President.

    He was being self deprecating not cruel to the young girl. Sheesh!

    Your hatred for this President has made you a member of the “Bush Derangement Syndrome” crowd you make fun of all the tim, Ms. Malkin!

    Lighten up……….

30. #30
    On July 11th, 2007 at 5:46 pm, EdDantes said:

    I didn’t see it…but it sounds like the girl cried from embarassment because she thought the audience was laughing at her question, not laughing at the President’s sarcastic response.

31. #31
    On July 11th, 2007 at 9:23 pm, smalltowngirl said:

    Oh my! Never, EVER thought that I would disagree with Michelle but, here I must. If I didn’t know better, I would think her piece was written by a loony lib. I HATE what the President is doing with our borders, but COME ON! Geez people, we know he isn’t a nasty person. He wasn’t being sarcastic, just doing what he does when he’s trying to lighten the mood. We don’t need to be doing the moonbats job for them.

32. #32
    On July 12th, 2007 at 12:28 am, Speakup said:

    It take a lot of guts for anybody to stand up and ask the President of the United States a question, even more for a 13 year old.

    The least the man could have done is not use her to capitalize for his own inflated ego.

    What was it that Reagan said? A man never stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.

    In this case the President of all men should never have stooped so low or stood so short.

33. #33
    On July 12th, 2007 at 2:03 am, pgtips said:

    As others have said, President Bush was using self deprecating humor. The crowd were laughing at him, not at the girl.

    The fact that the media tries to somehow spin this to make the President look bad (lol, he already does on the immigration issue. No need to help there!) is just real sad. In fact, from what I’ve read, the President handled it well by trying to console the girl without drawing too much attention to her.