Political Punch
Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper
Jake Tapper is ABC News' Senior White House Correspondent based in the network's Washington bureau. He writes about politics and popular culture and covers a range of national stories.
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SHIITE HAPPENS
July 18, 2006 9:11 AM
As we said on Nightline last night, if the President is going to curse on camera, is it too much to ask that he not appoint Federal Communications Commissioners who will fine us for broadcasting it?
Apparently unaware that a microphone near him was on, the President yesterday told British Prime Minister Tony Blair that "the irony is what they" -- United Nations officials -- "need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this sh-t, and it's over."
Aside from the innacurate, Alanis Morissette-esque use of the word "irony," the President's cussing put media in a tough spot.
The leader of the free world, at an official event, discussing a war, curses. Are we obligated to censor it so as not to offend the American people or, in the case of broadcasters, face FCC fines?
Last month, after all, the President signed a bill increasing FCC fines to $325,000 (from just over $32,000), including for using an "excretory" word broadcast during daytime hours. At least one LIBERAL BLOGGER HAS SUGGESTED the President put $325,000 in the swear jar.
As USA Today's PETER JOHNSON REPORTS, "CNN broadcast and posted unedited video. The New York Times and The Washington Post reported the word in Web stories. On CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox News, MSNBC and USA TODAY, the word was excised in videos and Web stories (though an audio clip with a warning at USA TODAY included it). The Times and the Post said they'd publish the word today; USA TODAY will not."
White House press seceretary TONY SNOW SAID the President's "reaction first was, what did it say? So we showed him the transcript, then he rolled his eyes and laughed."
Thoughts?
jt
July 18, 2006 | Permalink | User Comments (5)
I think Bush should be prosecuted for saying the illegal word. More than that, I think his name should be come a place holder for it. Think about stepping in a bucket of Bush, up Bush Creek without a paddle, so whadda you got, Bush for brains? Where is Lenny Bruce when we need him? I guess Bush will just keep Roving us up the Chenney.
John Ullman
Posted by: John Ullman | Jul 18, 2006 4:01:51 PM
THANK god someone else sees the error in the Alanis Morrisette song. "Meeting the man of your dream, and then meeting his beautiful wife"... that's not irony, that's bad timing. And the whole fork & knife bit.... horrible lyrics. In any case, isn't this just another case of "do as I say, not as I do?" And really, isn't that what this administration is all about?
Posted by: crazyvirgo | Jul 18, 2006 3:21:39 PM
Keep in mind that this isn't the first time the President has been caught in front of an open microphone making off-color comments which are recorded. In the 2000 campaign, Bush was speaking to Cheney about the presence of a New York Times political reporter (unfortunately, I don't recall the name) and called him a "major-league ***." Not exactly shocking, but as Reyonthehill makes clear in his comments, it certainly was a telling indicator of Bush's character and temperament.
Posted by: chuck | Jul 18, 2006 1:40:02 PM
Of course he laughed, just like he smirked when during the 2000 campaign he called a reporter a "major ***". He's the Emperor and he knows it. 30 whatever percent of persons polled thinks he still walks on water, and the rest don't bother to pay attention to any media anymore.
Posted by: Liberal Texas Democrat | Jul 18, 2006 1:39:39 PM
I think the majority of the news coverage of the president's use of the s-word is overblown. What is ironic, however, is that this fits the previously-advertised (and highly-touted) profile of a maverick cowboy president -- telling it like it is, no matter the consequences (e.g., dead or alive, bring 'em on). And, now, since the "cowboy diplomacy" has somewhat failed, at least with regards to receiving support from the United Nations, the fact that the president is a fratboy Texan is being construed as a negative, although that has been Bush's style all along. (Doesn't anybody remember nine-eleven?)
Posted by: reyonthehill | Jul 18, 2006 10:55:39 AM
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