Fleischer: Bush Is Not Taking Questions From Press Because Doing So ‘Would Hurt John McCain’»

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/19/fleischer-bush-questions-hurt/

Fleischer: Bush Is Not Taking Questions From Press Because Doing So ‘Would Hurt John McCain’»

On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said that Bush has not taken questions from the press in over seven weeks because he wants to “make sure this election remains fully focused on the two candidates”:

PERINO: If you guys had him in here, almost everything would be geared towards the election, and he is cognizant of that. He wants to make sure that this election remains fully focused on the two candidates. … The President is reluctant to be in a place where there’s going to be a lot of competition for questions that get him involved in the 2008 campaign.

This morning, however, former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer argued that Bush is instead simply trying to avoid damaging McCain’s political fortunes:

LAUER: Dana Perino is saying we haven’t heard the President out there answering questions from the press over the last several weeks and months because he doesn’t want to get into campaign politics. … Where do you fall on this?

FLEISCHER: Well remember hasn’t taken questions since early August, Matt — well before this crisis really hit. And I think it does come down to campaign politics. He doesn’t want to get in the middle of the questions that would hurt John McCain more than anyone else.

Watch it at link~

By his own declaration, Bush is more than willing to inject himself into the 2008 campaign. But as Dee Dee Myers comments in response to Fleischer, “the problem is the President has no credibility. It’s his economic philosophy, his economic team, and I think the White House realizes that and is trying to help by keeping him off the front of the stage.”

Indeed, GOP candidates in congressional races around the nation have distanced themselves from Bush, believing his record could hurt their election chances.

[WritersBlock]

1. In other words, his masters have muzzled him. n/t

[elocs]

2. Bush is president of all the United States and not just the Republicans.

He theoretically works for us and owes all of us explanations about what is happening now.

[babylonsister]

3. Hahahaha! You'd think, wouldn't you. I've given up myself; he

has never proved he represents me. His self-interest has always been paramount.

[butterfly77]

4. He is not taking any questions because he knows..

he has fucked up this country and he doesn't know what in the hell he is talking about.He also knows that the people will begin to see that Obama is more of a president than he..and more people are paying attention..

[Vanje]

5. Bush takes no questions because he has no answers. nt

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

6. His silence and refusal to take questions is itself playing politics

and injecting himself into the campaign. Can't Bush for at least five minutes of his 8 year long presidency stop playing the politician and stand up and be a statesman and a man representing ALL of the country, instead of just a narrow group of ultra-conservative zealots? Every move Bush has ever made as president involves political considerations above all.