Bush Teleconference With Soldiers Staged

The1calledTKE · #1 10-14-2005, 11:12 AM

WASHINGTON -- It was billed as a conversation with U.S. troops, but the questions President Bush asked on a teleconference call Thursday were choreographed to match his goals for the war in Iraq and Saturday's vote on a new Iraqi constitution.

"This is an important time," Allison Barber, deputy assistant defense secretary, said, coaching the soldiers before Bush arrived. "The president is looking forward to having just a conversation with you."

President Bush waves goodbye as he finishes speaking via video teleconference to American troops from the 42nd Infantry Division on duty in Tikrit, Iraq, at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (J. Scott Applewhite - AP)

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Barber said the president was interested in three topics: the overall security situation in Iraq, security preparations for the weekend vote and efforts to train Iraqi troops.

As she spoke in Washington, a live shot of 10 soldiers from the Army's 42nd Infantry Division and one Iraqi soldier was beamed into the Eisenhower Executive Office Building from Tikrit _ the birthplace of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"I'm going to ask somebody to grab those two water bottles against the wall and move them out of the camera shot for me," Barber said.

A brief rehearsal ensued

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xo_kathy · #2 10-14-2005, 11:21 AM

Most of GC knows I'm a card carrying Democrat who really dislikes our current President. That being said, I really don't see the big deal here. Obviously it's a publicitiy stunt. Every time a President, ANY President, talks to troops and it's shown on TV it's a publicity stunt. And so they coached them on who is answering what question. And they moved water bottles out of the shot - OMG! I'm sure they were trying to simply avoid a situation like the Rumsfeld one when the soldier asked about lack of armor. Any good production team would do that, I'm sure.

This situation isn't going to change anyone's mind. People who support him still will, people who don't still won't, and I don't think anyone who is on the fence is going to be swayed by this insignificant event.

ETA: It's not like they claimed this was a random group of soldiers they just minutes ago pulled from the front lines to talk to the President. It's not like they were leading us to believe that this would be a completely candid discussion, right? That's why I think it's no big deal. It's not like we were lied to.

honeychile · #3 10-14-2005, 11:42 AM

Anyone who doesn't think this happens on EVERY political event is sadly naive about politics.

The1calledTKE · #4 10-14-2005, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by honeychile
Anyone who doesn't think this happens on EVERY political event is sadly naive about politics.

The media must not think so because it is in most newspapers and been on most major news channels.

With the war dragging on, the Katrina fiasco, the Delay, Frist and Rove messes, and members of his own party fighting him on Miers; this is minor.

It would be interesting to see what troops would say if they were not rehearsed or hand selected.

Rudey · #5 10-14-2005, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The1calledTKE
The media must not think so because it is in most newspapers and been on most major news channels.

With the war dragging on, the Katrina fiasco, the Delay, Frist and Rove messes, and members of his own party fighting him on Miers; this is minor.

It would be interesting to see what troops would say if they were not rehearsed or hand selected.

A lot of things are in the major media but get relatively little attention - like this.

No on the second part.

And it seems those troops voted, huh? for the third part.

-Rudey

honeychile · #6 10-14-2005, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The1calledTKE
The media must not think so because it is in most newspapers and been on most major news channels.

With the war dragging on, the Katrina fiasco, the Delay, Frist and Rove messes, and members of his own party fighting him on Miers; this is minor.

It would be interesting to see what troops would say if they were not rehearsed or hand selected.

Sure, it's on the news! It's another chance to smear a politician! Surely you realize that there's nothing more fun to a reporter than a political smear!

Have you ever worked in politics? I have. I've seen this done more times than I care to remember. And before you cry "Partisan Politics", I've worked for both major parties, but only the Democrats on a national level.

hoosier · #7 10-14-2005, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The1calledTKE
The media must not think so because it is in most newspapers and been on most major news channels.

The massive coverage of this is expected in the mass media, which can be considered the media wing of the Democratic Party."

moe.ron · #8 10-14-2005, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hoosier
The massive coverage of this is expected in the mass media, which can be considered the media wing of the Democratic Party."

You still believing that BS?

DeltAlum · #9 10-14-2005, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by honeychile
Sure, it's on the news! It's another chance to smear a politician!

I guess I'll have to add the broadcasters perspective here.

If a TV station did this and it was discovered, the station would/could lose its license.

In advertising, this would be called "misleading advertising."

Of course any party and/or administration does what it can to "control" the media, but I haven't seen any be as cynical as this one -- and I've been around TV news since the Nixon Administration.

In the end, it's not so embarassing that he/they did it, but that they got busted. They were dumb. I suppose it didn't occur to anyone that people watch satellite transponders before and after scheduled feeds.

KSigkid · #10 10-14-2005, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum

In the end, it's not so embarassing that he/they did it, but that they got busted. They were dumb. I suppose it didn't occur to anyone that people watch satellite transponders before and after scheduled feeds.

Are the posts here enough outrage? This is why I can't understand the idea that the Republicans get a free pass on this site.

Honestly, I don't think it's a big deal. It's something that happens in politics, and that's that.

I don't think the "mass coverage" has anything to do with politics, either. I think it would have received the same coverage no matter what the party. The only thing that would have changed would have been the editorials in different papers (those that lean one way as opposed to those that lean another way).

WCUgirl · #11 10-14-2005, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hoosier
The massive coverage of this is expected in the mass media, which can be considered the media wing of the Democratic Party."

^^^^^
This dude is more annoying than cashmoney.

At least cashmoney was fun.