Helen Thomas: "Does the President agree with his mother that the homeless. [View All]

[paineinthearse]

Helen Thomas catches up with Scottie and asks about Barbara Bush's insensitive statement "Almost everyone I’ve talked to says we're going to move to Houston." Then she added: "What I’m hearing which is sort of scary is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this--this (she chuckles slightly) is working very well for them."

(I know this was Helen because the question came after David Gregory's grilling - see http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4680500 - and the camera flashed on her).

See more background in related post - John Conyers: "...Like you, I was outraged by Barbara Bush's comments from the Astrodome as well -- what kind of country do we live in anyway?" - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2067395

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050907-2.html



Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 7, 2005

<snip>

Q Does the President agree with his mother that the homeless taken from New Orleans to Houston are much better off now because they were underprivileged in New Orleans?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think she was making a personal observation on some of the comments that people were making that she was running into. I'm not sure that that's exactly what she said, but --

Q I have it right here if you need it.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- what we're focused on -- what we're focused on is helping these people who are in need.

Q Does he agree with his mother?

MR. McCLELLAN: And I think that the observation is based on someone who -- or some people that were talking to her, that were in need of a lot of assistance, people that have gone through a lot of trauma and been through a very difficult and trying time. And all of a sudden, they are now getting great help in the state of Texas from some of the shelters.

Q "It's scary that they're all coming to Texas."

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I think you can look at her comments.

Q That is what she said, though.

Go Helen!!!!