Bush Q&A's Are All on the Same Side

[kskiska]

Pep Sessions Keep Protesters Out of Sight

HUDSON, Wis., Aug. 18 -- The audience gathered at Lakefront Park is small, intimate, the size of a crowd at a high school play. They've been instructed before he arrives not to be shy; this is their one chance to ask the president anything, and the president wants them to; after all, he calls this event "Ask President Bush." As they wait, it's raining one minute, sunny the next. In the background, Lake Croix, the pride of western Wisconsin, looks choppy. Hawks are circling overhead. Anything could happen.

"What do you got?" the president taunts them when the questioning session opens, and then calls on the first hand.

"Mr. President," begins a young man in a baseball hat. "I just want to say I'm praying for you and God bless you."

And then one questioner later:
"I would just like to say that I agree with this gentleman, that we should all pray for you."

Every campaign has its preferred way of cavorting with the common man, and they are always somewhat canned. John Kerry and John Edwards have their "front porch" meetings, highly staged hangouts on a suburban stoop, just the two Johns, an average American family and 200 reporters. Bush prefers the "Ask President Bush" sessions, the campaign equivalent of the infomercial, with an audience designed to look as if it's been plucked randomly off the street, delighted anew at each twist and turn of the master's demonstration, irrepressibly bursting with questions and comments.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13338-2004Aug18.html

[glitch]

1. Warped as usual

"front porch" meetings, highly staged hangouts on a suburban stoop, just the two Johns, an average American family and 200 reporters"

as if that's all the Kerry campaign does, thus covering for the canned Qs and hand-selected audiences, which IS all * does.

I take that back, * also does elite private fundraisers.

[kskiska]

2. It's a good, lengthy piece, actually

and reveals how these people get their tickets, and the dubious W.H. rationale.

(snip)

The campaign insists that the audience is not heavily screened and the questions are not planted. And if protesters are weeded out, that's only a question of hospitality.

"We have an obligation that people can come and have a level of comfort that the event won't be disrupted," says campaign spokesman Terry Holt. "A few people can ruin the experience for everyone. This will be the first or only time some of our supporters will have a chance to see the president, and we feel strongly that people should have good manners and not work to disrupt the events."

Gee, and I thought these things were for people to gather information, not necessarily to be entertained and have a good time.

[Auntie Bush]

3. No wonder bush is behind in the polls...he only preaches

to the choir.

[NMDemDist2]

4. ok I went and read it and I have only one response

:puke:

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Is Bush holding campaign events or prayer meetings?

All of these reports indicate the latter. T Jefferson must be turning over in his grave.

[thecrow]

6. "What do you got?"

Very un-presidential language if you ask me!

[DFWJock]

7. Mr President,

Do you love Jesus, kitties and puppies?