President Bush, You're in the Situation Room
The Buzz blog - 10/14 10:31 AM
The Washington Post and several other media outlets today have negative reactions to President Bush’s semi-scripted news conference with U.S. troops in Iraq yesterday. After reading their takes, I’d say they are 1 for 2 on judging the politics of this.
First, the teleconference was a failure by any reasoned account. On this point, you can’t really blame the political press for criticizing the president. As I joked with a fellow blogger yesterday, Bush appeared to be reenacting CNN’s “Situation Room,” conducting what looked more like an interview on a multi-flat screen tv receptacle.
I’ve heard from a number of readers currently serving in the military, including some self-ID'd Democrats. Based on their accounts, without exception, this sort of sensitive outreach by Bush does not go over well. He is most inspiring when expressing his true confidence about the war’s effort and purpose. In other words, be the Commander-in-Chief, not the “I feel your pain” post-modern empathizer. It’s not that Bush shouldn’t connect with troops. But he accomplishes this with so much more efficiency when it’s in person. Having me t the president myself, I can personally attest to his ability to convey trust and conviction on an individual basis more than any other politician I’ve met. And that includes Bill Clinton, the man who supposedly makes even Republican quiver face-to-face.
Reporters aimed their second arrow at what was supposedly an entirely scripted and rehearsed meeting between Bush and the troops. However, on this point, the press seems to be exaggerating somewhat. As the Post reports:
“Before they spoke, Allison Barber, a mid-level Pentagon official, helped coach the troops on who would be asked what by Bush. Afterward, according to Reuters, she told reporters that "we knew that the president was going to ask about security, coalition and training" but not the specific questions.”
So, what exactly is wrong with this approach? When I’ve put in tv appearances on cable news networks, the producers tell me what the general topics of discussion will be. Is this coaching? Or, is it being professional and avoiding the uncomfortable silence seemingly only favored by Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction and White House reporters?
What this really comes down to is press anger over Republicans hand-picking attendees for Bush town hall meetings during last year’s White House campaign. It’s something both parties do and is a reasonable point for debate. But when it comes to yesterday’s conference call with troops, the White House is only guilty of an awkward, not telegraphed, delivery.
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