What was this business between Bush and David Gregory?

[Joe Fields]

I caught the tail end of it this morning on the news, and all I saw was Bush telling Gregory he wouldn't hire him.

What's the skinny? Bush seemed pissed and insulting.

[Mikimouse]

1. Pissed and insulting is the status quo for *...n/t

[WI_DEM]

2. I didn't see it but my guess is

that Gregory sometimes is one of the better WH correspondents and doesn't mind taking Bush to task so naturally Bush wouldn't want him around.

[BOSSHOG]

3. I bet Gregory is broken hearted

I didn't see the exchange but maybe bush needs a drink; maybe several. Keep pushing those buttons Dave. Wow, it would really tear me up to think that george bush wouldn't hire me for a job.

[TheLeftyMom]

4. maybe because Gregory actually does his job as a journalist?

n/t

[Sequoia]

7. Chimpy is still upset over Saturday.

Oh, he worked so hard on his little skit because presidenting is hard work and Colbert just knocks him out of the water in the best upstaging yet. Sure to go down in history and talked about as a great in journalism.

[Lisa]

16. yeah, Dubya had been toiling away on his "bit" since January!

Even got an expensive presidential impersonator flown in from California to lay out the act for him, and what thanks does he get? Everyone's talking about Colbert! Or about the impersonator's makeup job -- not how nicely Dubya read out his lines. Cut poor Georgie some slack!

[tridim]

5. "I would have hired you but you didn't pass the background check"

I think that's what he said. It was supposed to be a joke. :eyes: Ironically Gregory probably would easily pass a background check while *Bush himself wouldn't.

[billybob537]

8. DITTO n/t

[ShortnFiery]

6. I guess that David Gregory did NOT kiss Dear Leader's a**?

Unlike most of the rest of our strack White House Press Corps?

Anyone know the scoop of this latest dust-up?

[Jane Austin]

9. I saw the whole thing on Obermann or Stewart.

Can't remember which.

Bush came off looking evasive - - and verrrry petty.

The deal was that Gregory asked a question, and bush completely evaded answering it.

So Gregory called him on it.

That's when bush went on his nasty little snide-fest.

The only thing I'd change about Gregory's part in this is that he good-naturedly laughed when the president said Gregory wouldn't pass a background check.

I wish this stupid press corp would give his unfunny, ungrammatical and corny "jokes" the stony stare they deserve.

[WiseButAngrySara]

15. It was shown on KO last week; B* appeared petulant at best. There

were several DU threads on it at the time.

[Jane Austin]

10. BTW, this happened last week some time. n/t

[Dunvegan]

11. There's an article up...

...at the link below.

If you read at the link about the exchange, seems Bush just HAD to get in the last word, even if those words were inappropriate enough for even Bush to realize he should back-peddle and psuedo-apologize.

David Gregory Couldn't Pass Background Check
Posted by Greg Sheffield on April 28, 2006 - 15:28.

NBC White House correspondent David Gregory got into a sparring match with President Bush during a press conference today. Asked David Gregory: "Mr. President, we're seeing some turnover and some change within your administration, and I wonder what it says about what you think is necessary to turn your presidency around at this point?"

The president responded with: "I think it's necessary to continue doing -- to achieving results for the American people. We've got big challenges for this country and I've got a strategy to deal with them."

{snip}

The president then tried to call on someone else: "Martha Raddatz." But Gregory spoke up again: "But I asked you about your internal changes and what that says about how you think things need to be changed. They've been very public, your internal changes."

{sparring occurs}

Bush ended the exchange with, "I would, except you can't pass the background check. Okay, an unnecessary cheap shot, I take it back."

[LisaM]

13. Yes, David Gregory speaks French and that sent * round the bend

It completely outraged him for some reason. Who cares that it was polite to ask Chirac a question in his own language?

[Lisa]

18. I think Bush got jealous, LisaM!

Jacques Chirac smiled because Gregory was thoughtful enough to speak French, when in France. (I've tried this myself -- people in France, and Quebec for that matter, are gratified when visitors don't walk in and expect them to be speaking English. Even one sentence is enough to start off on the right foot, and then they will quite cheerfully help you, no matter how poor your French is.)

Would it be such a big deal for Bush, to try to learn a few words of French? It would not -- even easier for someone who claims to know Spanish (or "Mexican" as he calls it) -- clearly he's never bothered. So Bush realizes that he has slipped up, and decides that someone whom he considers to be subordinate to him has upstaged him. If he were a more generous person he would be praising David Gregory and showing him off ("see, Americans DO know other languages!"). But being Bush, he can't resist turning it into an insult, and slapping down the reporter. Not just then, but any chance he gets.

[LisaM]

23. I've had very positive response using my bad French in Montreal and Paris

You're right, it doesn't take much! Everyone was very kind to me in both places.

You're also right that it would have been a good opportunity for * to act justifiably proud of David Gregory. Instead, he and others all went on to mock him for using French at all.

[BrotherBuzz]

12. Bush* is still pissed about the dust-up in France back in 2002

<snip>

David Gregory asked George W. Bush, "I wonder why it is you think there are such strong sentiments in Europe against you and against this administration? ... Why, particularly, there’s a view that you and your administration are trying to impose America’s will on the rest of the world ...”

George Bush answered: "so you go to a protest and I drive through the streets of Berlin, seeing hundreds of people lining the road, waving ... I don’t view hostility here ... I view the fact that we’ve got lots of friends ... the fact that protesters show up, that’s good. I mean, I’m in a democracy."

Having failed to accept, and to address, the reality of the question put to him by David Gregory, George Bush went on to put Gregory down. I think of it more as, George Bush went on to censor David Gregory by putting him down. First, by somewhat delusionally describing the people along the road as waving. Reports are that Bush did not see the protesters except for a few souls along the road who gave him the finger. Second, by using as an excuse to put him down, the fact that Gregory addressed the last part of his question to Jacques Chirac, in French.

“The guy memorizes four words,” Bush said referring to Gregory, “and he plays like he’s intercontinental.” Then, added: “I’m impressed. Que bueno. Now I am literate in two languages.” (One wonders, English and French? Spanish and English? Spanish and French?)

<more>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/02/06/01_little.html

[WiseButAngrySara]

17. One Wonders! Literate in NONE! How funny! ....n/t

[MADem]

21. I love the way that report sort of suggests that the monkey said

'Que bueno' as it should be pronounced. The way it came out of his jawbone (not OPEC, of an ass!), it was more like four words, not two...Kaaaaay boooo way no!

That fit of pique showed a lot of people what a meanspirited, childish pisser he really is.

[fearthem]

14. Gregory is one of few reporters who are not afraid of him/them.

[0007]

19. Gregory is not a yes man and certainly won't play the part of

a dummy that junior likes to have journalist play.

[Beaverhausen]

20. Gregory should have kicked his ass right there!

I mean "You wouldn't pass the background check." EXCUSE ME???? You cocaine fiend, dry drunk, lying sack of shit!!! Gregory should have asked him what the fuck he meant by that. I could not believe he didn't say something to him.

[Missy Vixen]

22. I saw it

* informed Gregory after stating that the White House was hiring, "You wouldn't pass the background check."

He owes David Gregory a public apology. Considering the fact that * most likely wouldn't pass the background check to hold a low-level job in the White House, it was an ugly comment.

Julie