Laura Bush/Michael J. Fox: ‘It’s Always Easy To Manipulate People’s Feelings’

[Demeter]

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/10/31/laura-bush-michael-j-fox/

Laura Bush on Michael J. Fox: ‘It’s Always Easy To Manipulate People’s Feelings’

In an interview on C-Span, First Lady Laura Bush was asked about Michael J Fox’s advocacy for candidates who support embryonic stem cell research. Mrs. Bush responded that it was wrong for Fox and others to suggest that increased support for embryonic stem cell research could lead to cures for Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

She concluded with a thinly veiled critique of Fox: “It’s always easy to manipulate people’s feelings, especially when you are talking about diseases that are so difficult.” Watch it:
VIDEO IN ORIGINAL POST SEE ABOVE

Transcript:

Q: One of the issues that’s come up. Michael J. Fox. The whole issue of stem cell research. Your reaction to the events of the past week.

LAURA BUSH: Well, I don’t have any idea about any of those. I mean, I’ve watch on television just like you have. But the fact is President Bush is the only president that authorized funding for stem cell research. And, um, you know, it’s an issue that it’s easy to try to manipulate people’s feelings about and I understand that. My dad died of Alzheimer’s. You know, there’ s nothing I’d like more than to think there was a cure for Alzheimer’s. Especially before I get to be the age he is, but knowing also how he suffered. It’s always easy to manipulate people’s feelings, especially when you are talking about diseases that are so difficult.

[rodeodance]

1. she has an empty soul.

[acmejack]

2. How ugly.

And people like this person?

[baldguy]

3. Going to war is easy.

All you have to do tell the people they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.

[kurth]

4. Yep, it's very easy to exploit FEAR and HATRED

as the warmonger's spouse knows too well.

[whistle]

5. When is Laura filing for divorce?

[Just-plain-Kathy]

6. She’s a bu$h,

she aught know how easy it is to manipulate people's feelings.

[Joe Bacon]

7. Is she going to run over Michael?

She's pretty good at that.

[Demit]

8. Bush is the only prez to authorized funding for stem cell research because

he's the first prez to have a chance to. The research wasn't around before. I hate when they let these things go unchallenged.

[classysassy]

9. Dr Laura

buzzz off

[katty]

10. Always easy?! yes, bush & gang engage in that behavior 24/7

[LiberalinNC]

11. Such a classy lady..guess she's following in the foot steps of her mother-in-law!

;)

[yellowcanine]

12. Shut up Laura. You are not worthy to comment on Michael J. Fox.

[starmaker]

13. an elitest truth slip

if we only knew the depth of the manipulation
we the people might decide to unite against
those above

[salin]

14. is it common for first ladies to refer to their husbands as "President ___"?

Reading the excerpt it strikes me as Bob Doleish (remember how he talked about himself in the third person?) - she refers to her husband as "President Bush" - not George, not 'my husband', not even 'the president' (which, too, would sound a little odd.) Did Nancy Reagan refer to her husband as President Reagan? I know that protocol has most folks - even friends - refer to a President as "Mr. President" rather than by their first name, but is that common for the wife to do as well? I really can't recall - did Hillary refer to Bill as "President Clinton"?