Folksy Is As Folksy Does.

Fenian_Bastard · Jun 14, 2006

From today's WH press conference:
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, Peter. Are you going to ask that question with shades on?

Q I can take them off.

THE PRESIDENT: I'm interested in the shade look, seriously.

Q All right, I'll keep it, then.

THE PRESIDENT: For the viewers, there's no sun. (Laughter.)

Q I guess it depends on your perspective. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Touche. (Laughter.)

The reporter (Q) in question, Peter Wallsten of the LAT, is legally blind.

CentralIllinoisan · Jun 14, 2006

Very smooth, George. Very smooth.

ifilus · Jun 14, 2006

clip:
http://www.bestweekever.tv/2006/06/14/icymi-bushs-blind-item-of-the-day/

Songbird · Jun 14, 2006

That is a fantastic story right there, boys.

Fenian_Bastard · Jun 14, 2006

Thanks iflius.
I spent an hour looking for the damn thing before I posted the transcript.

Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L) · Jun 14, 2006

More than 1.3 million Americans are legally blind. That means that they have worse than 20/200 vision. Jim McMahon was technically "legally blind" (because of a childhood illness in one of his eyes) and he liked to wear shades as well.

I think pointing out Peter Wallsten's handicap is in worse taste than Bush asking about his shades. Now he gets to be "that legally blind" guy instead of being known for his reporting.

At least we finally got FB's daily Bush bash thread out of the way.

TheSportsPredictor · Jun 14, 2006

Man, if the guy was bald, Bush would be in his glory:

sportschick · Jun 14, 2006

Bush apologizes to reporter for making fun of his sunglasses
By NEDRA PICKLER
^Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush, who often teases members of the White House press corps, apologized Wednesday after he poked fun at a reporter for wearing sunglasses without realizing they were needed for vision loss.
The exchange occurred at a news conference in the Rose Garden.
Bush called on Los Angeles Times reporter Peter Wallsten and asked if he was going to ask his question with his "shades'' on.
"For the viewers, there's no sun,'' Bush said to the television cameras.
But even though the sun was behind the clouds, Wallsten still needs the sunglasses because he has Stargardt's disease, a form of macular degeneration that causes progressive vision loss. The condition causes Wallsten to be sensitive to glare and even on a cloudy day, can cause pain and increase the loss of sight.
Wallsten said Bush called his cell phone later in the day to apologize and tell him that he didn't know he had the disease. Wallsten said he interrupted and told the president that no apology was necessary and that he didn't feel offended since he hadn't told anyone at the White House about his condition.
"He said, 'I needle you guys out of affection,''' Wallsten said. "I said, 'I understand that, but I don't want you to treat me any differently because of this.'''
Wallsten said the president said he would not treat him differently, so Wallsten encouraged him to "needle away.''
"He said, 'I will. Next time I'll just use a different needle,''' Wallsten said.
Wallsten said he thought that was a pretty good line. And his only complaint is that the president didn't answer his question at the news conference.
Wallsten, who is also author of a book coming out next month titled "One Party Country: The Republican Plan for Dominance in the 21st Century,'' had asked about White House credibility now in the aftermath of top aide Karl Rove having been cleared in the CIA leak investigation. But Bush said he wouldn't comment with another top White House aide still facing prosecution in the case.
Click to expand...

Songbird · Jun 14, 2006

Do you think Bush likes to stick his nose between Cheney's butt cheeks and take big, long snorking huffs?

buckweaver · Jun 14, 2006

Lou Merloni said:

More than 1.3 million Americans are legally blind. That means that they have worse than 20/200 vision. Jim McMahon was technically "legally blind" (because of a childhood illness in one of his eyes) and he liked to wear shades as well.

I think pointing out Peter Wallsten's handicap is in worse taste than Bush asking about his shades. Now he gets to be "that legally blind" guy instead of being known for his reporting.

At least we finally got FB's daily Bush bash thread out of the way.
Click to expand...

20/200? I was under the impression that it was 20/400.

Anyway, I was 20/475 before my LASIK in April. Now I'm 20/15. If you're hesitant about LASIK ... don't be. Get it. Now.

Ben_Hecht · Jun 14, 2006

Lou . . . F_B's task in this area is greatly facilitated by the CIC in question . . .

Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L) · Jun 14, 2006

Harry Truman was also most likely legally blind. He normally carried an extra pair of eye-glasses around with him because he couldn't see without them.

Songbird - you are the embodiment of the Democratic base right now.

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