Blitzer claimed Bush's statement that U.S. "among the most religious" countries "sounded almost like a veiled rebuke" of Obama
SUMMARY: Discussing Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the White House, CNN's Wolf Blitzer stated that President Bush's comment that the United States is "among the most religious" countries in the world "sounded almost like a veiled rebuke of the controversial words that Barack Obama made." Ed Gillespie, counselor to the president, responded: "I think you're reading way too much into it," adding later, "[I]t's not a veiled anything."
During the April 16 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, after airing a clip of President Bush's comment during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the White House that the United States is "among the most religious" countries in the world, host Wolf Blitzer asserted: "Now, it may just be me and I may be reading way too much in what the president was saying, but it sounded almost like a veiled rebuke of the controversial words that Barack Obama made out in San Francisco several days ago that he's been very criticized over." Blitzer's guest, counselor to the president Ed Gillespie, responded by saying, "I think you're reading way too much into it, Wolf." Gillespie added: "I can tell you, having been involved in the preparation of the president's remarks and conversations surrounding them, that at no time in that process did the name Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton or John McCain come up. So it's not -- it's not a veiled anything. I think it was pretty explicit, and the words should be taken on face value." Blitzer responded: "It was in marked contrast to what Barack Obama said, but all right -- we'll leave it at that."
Blitzer made similar comments on CNN's Political Ticker blog, asking: "Was President Bush deliberating taking a veiled swipe at Obama? As I said, I don't know, but it was curious -- at least to me."
From the April 16 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:
BLITZER: I want to play a little clip of what the president said in welcoming the pope to the White House earlier today. Listen to these words.
BUSH [video clip]: The United States is the most innovative, creative, and dynamic country on Earth. It is also among the most religious.
BLITZER: All right. Now, it may just be me and I may be reading way too much in what the president was saying, but it sounded almost like a veiled rebuke of the controversial words that Barack Obama made out in San Francisco several days ago that he's been very criticized over.
Was that any response to Barack Obama? Or am I reading way too much into that?
GILLESPIE: I think you're reading way too much into it, Wolf. But that's, you know, that's the nature of the business that you're in. I don't quarrel with it, but I can tell you, having been involved in the preparation of the president's remarks and conversations surrounding them, that at no time in that process did the name Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton or John McCain come up.
So it's not -- it's not a veiled anything. I think it was pretty explicit, and the words should be taken on face value.
BLITZER: It was in marked contrast to what Barack Obama said, but all right -- we'll leave it at that.
Ed Gillespie, thanks very much for coming in.
From the CNN Political Ticker blog post headlined "Blitzer: Bush, the pope -- and politics?"
President Bush delivered a carefully-written address touching several sensitive issues. But I was especially struck by these words: "The United States is the most innovative, creative and dynamic country on earth. It is also among the most religious."
I may be reading way too much into those words, but I was struck by the contrast to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's controversial words about those people in small towns in Pennsylvania who've lost their jobs. "And it's not surprising then they get bitter," Obama said, "They cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
Was President Bush deliberating taking a veiled swipe at Obama? As I said, I don't know, but it was curious - at least to me.
What I do know is that the Pope's words very uplifting, especially when he blessed the United States with his "fervent prayers that Almighty God will confirm this nation and this people in the ways of justice, prosperity and peace."
"hehe, awesome job popey pope. Your words were magicimal. They really moved my, my insides, right here in my heart area"
If Bush was taking a swipe at Obama, his "awesome speech" line more than covered up for any kind of swipe Bush could have tried to deliver.
Frankly, I see this as WITH.
Blitzer simply set up Gillespie with a soft pitch so Gillespie could set things straight. Seems to me that CNN was trying to help out Obama in this rather strange exchange.
AA, You may have a point, but I do agree with your WITH assessment.
Aren't reporters or journalists supposed to ask questions of political operatives from either side questioning motives or strategy of some sort? It was simply a question.
The sensibilities of this website are more tender than ever......jeesh.
Of course, it's just a question, and questions in no way can forward a talking a point, no matter how detached from reality it may be.
For example...
Tommy exists solely to patronize MMFA and anyone who dares to question him from a liberal or progressive perspective?
See? What's the big deal?
I'm not asserting that!
It's just a question!
Oh, stop being so melodramatic. It was a question, and it was hardly so detached from reality as you make it out to be. It's a perfectly legitimate question whether or not Bush's statements had some relevance to Obama's comments.......Gillespie was there to answer it.
If a question is so ridiculous, or some obvious furthering of some agenda you don't agree with, then it will be shot down pretty easily for the ploy it is.
Calm down.
"It was in marked contrast to what Barack Obama said, but all right -- we'll leave it at that."
Ok, so let's look again:
Bush on Pope visit: The United States is the most innovative, creative and dynamic country on earth. It is also among the most religious.
Obama on campaign trail: And it's not surprising then they get bitter. They cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.
Why exactly would any same person be looking at these two statement side by side?
?
?
?.....................?
Hahaha, Oh Governor, even when you make no sense, you still make no sense.
I think you're cuter than the good Colonel. That's a feather in your cap.
"Oh Governor, even when you make no sense, you still make no sense. I think you're cuter than the good Colonel."
Whatever, dude.
Tell me Governor, would you consider it a "putdown" when you tell someone to fcuk off, or link them to a cartoon bashing one's genitals? Is that "putting someone down", in your opinion?
Whatever, dude.
When you lecture me on website etiquette and you have no leg to stand on, then my tender sensibilities will remind you of your hypocrisy. Stop acting like some victim, because none of us are around here. If you can't take what you dish out then I suggest you click to Yahoo Games or something.
Take responsibility for your own inflammatory slurs and stop blaming someone else for what you type, that is ridiculous. You must have swiped that little deflection technique from someone else here, just yesterday.
Sorry, not impressed, nor can I muster any sympathy for either of you.
I'm not lecturing you and I'm not playing the victim. Please carry on. My "whatever, dude" comment was in response to you're assertion that: "the 'us' you refer to, I prefer to think of 'us' as 'you and me', just so you know." But that's a lie, in fact, it was a backhanded diss of "the good Colonel." I was simply pointing out your lie. Have a good night.
When did I become the "good" Colonel? Is there a bad Colonel? Gov, I don't think Tommy's "me & you" had to do with me. I'm not sure it meant anything, I think he gets frustrated and just starts typing gibberish so he's not alone in his confusion. ;0)
Who know what he means, he went into that bit after implying that I was dumber than you. In any case, I hope he continues to type whatever he needs to. I suspect there are a few people out there in the real world who are very grateful that he's so busy here with his valiant efforts to cover-up conservative misinformation.
"Oh Governor, even when you make no sense, you still make no sense. I think you're cuter than the good Colonel."
Whatever, dude.
Unless it's you making the inflammatory comment, in which case you're not responsible for anything. "Dish it out but can't take it" is exactly what I pointed out about you.
What I find amusing is that you say the Clintons are responsible for everything said about them because they've brought it on themselves through their behavior, but your years of hypocrisy, personal attacks and unsustainable arguments supposedly have no bearing on how people treat you. You didn't bring anything on yourself, you're just an innocent victim.
I can't find myself to muster any sympathy for you either, somehow.
Whatever, Tommy. I'm not going to let you see me cry just because you think Gov. is cuter than I am.
I still think nobody's cuter than Tommy not getting the joke and blaming everybody else. That's like a bunny stuffed with a kitten covered with buttons cute.
......but go ahead and barbeque him anyway.
I'll pick up a bag of charcoal briquettes on my way home from work. :-)
Yes, when they can't find any real issues of substance (translate that as most of the time even after having heavily inserted all possible leftist and hypocritical biases into the predetermination) in an affront, they are left with "make it up as you go". I hope the general public isn't stupid enough to buy the hyperbolic and "content free" nature of most of MMFA's complaints....
I guess I can only say that when it comes to MMFA, the 1st Amendment works only in one direction.
Yes, when they can't find any real issues of substance (translate that as most of the time even after having heavily inserted all possible leftist and hypocritical biases into the predetermination) in an affront, they are left with "make it up as you go". I hope the general public isn't stupid enough to buy the hyperbolic and "content free" nature of most of MMFA's complaints....
I guess I can only say that when it comes to MMFA, the 1st Amendment works only in one direction.
"Thank you, Your Holiness, Awsome speech." George W. Bush
Words fail me.
Indeed it was! For those that missed it, the transcript can be found here:
http://www.catholic.net/global_catholic_news/template_news.phtml?news_id=22307Thanks for the link, AA. I didn't hear the speech, but this part bothers me a little;
"In that process, which forged the soul of the nation, religious beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force, as for example in the struggle against slavery and in the civil rights movement. In our time too, particularly in moments of crisis, Americans continue to find their strength in a commitment to this patrimony of shared ideals and aspirations."
Is he saying that Americans cling to religion in times of crisis? A bit condescending. ;0)
Col.
Nice try but I don't think your creative rephrasing matches at all to what the Pope said in that quote . O:-)
And, before he can gripe about liberals hating religion, I don't think that it's a bad thing. People have bad times. They turn to things that make them feel more comfortable. For me, it's riding my bicycle. For others, it's their faith and religion. Whatever you need to do to get through the day, and or maybe make improvements in your life when you're down, it's all good.
Obama had a ham fisted way of saying this, but that's what he was saying. That's what his Holiness was saying as well, just phrased a lot better.
I disagree. Obama feels religion is clung to by small town Midwesterners because of economic circumstances. The Pope was stating that faith has always been a part of the fabric of the United States and we as a people have been guided from that faith throughout our history, good times and bad. As you can see below the whole tone and context of the Pope's speech is completley different than Obama's tortured reasoning for running behind in Pennsylvania, which he stated that small town's in the Midwest cling to guns, religion, and bigotry because they've been out of work for 25 years. (Of course I'm paraphrasing.)
If you have a different interpretation, we simply disagree. Here is what I think is the relevant part of the speech by the Pope.
From the dawn of the Republic, America's quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the Creator. The framers of this nation's founding documents drew upon this conviction when they proclaimed the "self-evident truth" that all men are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights grounded in the laws of nature and of nature's God. The course of American history demonstrates the difficulties, the struggles, and the great intellectual and moral resolve which were demanded to shape a society which faithfully embodied these noble principles. In that process, which forged the soul of the nation, religious beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force, as for example in the struggle against slavery and in the civil rights movement. In our time too, particularly in moments of crisis, Americans continue to find their strength in a commitment to this patrimony of shared ideals and aspirations.
Small town people tend towards religion more during bad times
Americans tend towards religion more during bad times.
You sure do a lot of typing for nothing, AA.
Well at least he is correct, lol
Its a typical line.
"You might want to comment on that, Honorable."--To New Jersey's secretary of state, the Hon. DeForest Soaries Jr., as quoted by Dana Milbank in the Washington Post, July 15, 2000
The Good News: After 7 years and hundreds of vague and suspect and dubious things said by George W. Bush, a televised idiot 'pundit' (wolf blitzer) is going to finally start analyzing the President's words ("it may just be me and I may be reading way too much in what the president was saying, but it sounded almost like...")
The Bad News: This in-depth reading-between-the-lines analysis of the President's words, is limited to non-controversial non-Iraq non-Iran non-al qaeda non-pre-invasion intelligence non-National Security nonsense such as this:
BUSH: "The United States is ...among the most religious [countries on Earth]."
I knew that if we just held our breath long enough, eventually some part of the "media" would start holding the President accountable for the things he says, and start subjecting the President's words to an in-depth analysis... an analysis from the gut, or wherever else it might be that the insights of televised idiot 'pundits' are formed, and squeezed down, and squeezed out of their mouths or other orifice, for our consideration and their broadcast.
Whew.
BUSH: "The United States is ...among the most religious [countries on Earth]."
We're probably in the top three, along with Iran and Saudi Arabia. Good company to be in.Woolfie is just working an angle here. It's pretty typical. They [media] love to stir up a controversy.
So Wolf tried that here. Gillespie shut him down. Good for him.
"Was that any response to Barack Obama? Or am I reading way too much into that?"
YES you are, Wolf. In fact , Blitzer and the rest of the media need to take a vacation, travel to Idaho or Montana, live in a tent and not be in contact with the outside world for 2 weeks or so. It's obvious that their heads are getting completely fried. Everything is NOT about the political process.
Or how about at least STOP TALKING ABOUT THE GODD----D election process and instead start talking about the IDEAS AND ISSUES. I am so incredibly tired of hearing the people in the media doing their constant meta-analysis. I DON'T CARE about campaign strategies. I know, it might be fascinating to Blitzer & Co, but really, the rest of us debate ISSUES. We talk to people, we debate online, and the debates are almost always about IDEAS. Look at TV, and you NEVER see that outside of the formal debates (and in last night's there wasn't even much of it there).
This is totally sickening.
It's like when Bill Clinton said that a general election between his wife and John McCain would involve "two people who love this country," and Chris Matthews said the only way to interpret that is as a criticism of Obama.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/24/201427/495/636/483474
Wolf Blitzer and Chris Matthews are so desperate to see politicians attacking each other that they see it when it's not there.
Wookie,
Now we just refer to him as a radical leftist. :-)
Yep, if by radical, you mean 'awesome'!
True those Obama is a Muslim e-mails have stopped coming. Now I'm getting Obama is an elitist, or Obama is Anti-American ones instead.
And most are coming from Dems. Go figure ;-)
I'm going to go with Jon Stewart on this whole "elitist" thing...
http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=2e8f3421-9fc1-4727-ad7b-21172957794a
Pretty darn funny, and so true. I too want the president of our country to be elite, and smart. Darn, everyone left in this election is an elite member of our society. 3 Senators, 1 Naval Academy Graduate, some Harvard and Yale mixed in there, and so on and so forth... I don't want someone I can identify with, I want someone so damn smart that they make me look like an imbecile.
Be specific J, they are coming from HC supporters????
Hey Lynn :-)
I'm not sure where the e-mails originated from, but out of the dozen or so I've received questioning Obama's patriotism & suggesting he's anti-American at least half were sent to me by Democrats whom I happen to know are Clinton supporters. These e-mails deal specifically with Rev. Wright & Obama.
In the past few days I've received several e-mails blasting Obama for his remarks in San Francisco. Again at least some were from Dems who are Hillary supporters.
The Obama is a Muslim e-mails I received came from both Republicans & the same Dems who have been sending the recent anti-Obama stuff.
I got an e-mail tonight that pictured The Three Stooges & asked which would you vote for? Moe had Obama's face, Larry had Hillary's face, & Curley had McCain's face. Moe/Obama & Larry/Hillary were smacking Curley/McCain. That e-mail came from a friend I know is Republican.
Just for the record, the only political e-mails I pass along are the funny ones like the Moe/Larry/Curley one.
While he supported all human life, and our support of his support. The Supremes reopened the federal train of death.
He complemented our of historic support of immigrants. While the US Gov raided factories looking for ilegal immigrants. Got close to 200 I heard.
Instead of normal, foriegn leader reviews the troops, our government decided he should review the Boy Scouts.
No, Lorelei, because Bush didn't go to the Pope's church for 20 years, or get married by him, or have his children baptized by him. The Pope isn't scary to old white people either. I think I got all of the requirements in there.
And why are our media not pointing out the Pope's shameless pandering to Catholics? Mother Mary & Joseph, could it be any more shameless?
Ah I see, bush was being disingenous when he said it was "awesome" and "unbeleivable".....
Har.
Wow the president makes a speech about how innovative, creative and religous this country is, and it turns into a big deal.
The one thing that I have learned about the media and especially CNN is that they want a soap opra to start. Soap Opra=ratings! Most times reporters will ask the same question about a half dozen times to the same person and then wonder why that person gets p*ssed off.
I don't know about anyone else but when it is a slow news day, they practicly make things up just to have something to do.