Bush To Legally Blind Reporter: 'You gonna ask a question w/ shades on?'

[seafan]

President Bush To Legally Blind Reporter: ‘Are You Going to Ask That Question with Shades On?’

6-14-06

At a press conference this morning, President Bush needled Los Angeles Times reporter Peter Wallsten after he stood up to ask a question wearing sunglasses. “Are you going to ask that question with shades on?” Bush said, telling Wallsten, “I’m interested in the shade look, seriously.”

But as Wonkette first noted, and which ThinkProgress subsquently confirmed, Wallsten is legally blind. Wallsten tells us he has a rare genetic disorder called Stargardt’s Disease. The disease is a form of macular degeneration that can be slowed “by wearing UV-protective sunglasses and avoiding exposure to bright light.”

Wallsten said Bush’s comments did not offend him at all. “I never advertise it to him. I’ve never told him.”


Transcript below:

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.)

Q Following up on the other Peter’s question about Karl Rove, you said that you were relieved with what happened yesterday. But the American public, over the course of this investigation, has learned a lot about what was going on in your White House that they didn’t know before, during that time, the way some people were trying to go after Joe Wilson, in some ways. I’m wondering if, over the course of this investigation, that you have learned anything that you didn’t know before about what was going on in your administration. And do you have any work to do to rebuild credibility that might have been lost?

THE PRESIDENT: I think that — first of all, the decision by the prosecutor speaks for itself. He had a full investigation. Karl Rove went in front of the grand jury like — I don’t — a lot of times. More times than — they took a hard look at his role.

Secondly, as I told the other Peter, I’m going to tell you, that there’s an ongoing trial, it’s a serious business. And I’ve made the comments I’m going to make about this incident, and I’m going to put this part of the situation behind us and move forward.

(Video at link above)





This is just beyond comment.

[LaurenG]

1. Well we always knew bush was a moran!1!!!

and he never did care for anyone unlike him. He really has a bad case of foot "in" mouth disease.

[Karenca]

2. Oh god I can't take anymore of him ......nt

[shance]

3. To be fair, it's apparent Bush had no idea the man was blind

or had an eye disorder.

Gosh knows I hit hard on everything else Bush does, but this sounds like a harmless mistake. He would not have said that had he known he was blind.

If there was a journalist asking questions with sunglasses on and it was cloudy, its fair for a president to kid around and ask him to take the shades off.

[GCP]

6. To me it reeks of Shrub's arrogance and narcissism

I can just see him thinking to himself that the guy was being disrespectful of him, The President, how dare he? And it shows how insecure he is that he had to bring it up.
If the SS can wear shades all day, why is it the rest of us have to take them off when addressing Monkey-Boy?

[LaurenG]

8. It shows how arrogant the president is

Would you say something like that to someone you didn't know in front of the whole world?

Bush has NO CLASS, NO BREEDING, NO MANNERS.

[shance]

15. You make valid points.

I can't argue with either reply**

[Starbucks Anarchist]

17. Why else would a reporter wear shades in front of the president?

[otohara]

4. “I’m interested in the shade look, seriously.” WTF

does that mean?

Embarassing as usual

[eShirl]

5. oh, he's just a dumbass, he didn't mean anything

Isn't this the same guy who waved to Stevie Wonder?

[lyonn]

14. And tried to make fun of David Gregory when he spoke

in French. bush enjoys humiliating people too much and it's obvious. Loves to pat and kiss bald heads in particular.

[Virginia Dare]

7. After watching the video...

it's clear that he was taunting the man. What a sick motherfucker he is.

[olaus]

9. Seems

like I saw a picture of this guy outside without his dark glasses on just recently. So does anyone know for sure does he have an eye issue?

[Trouser Trout]

10. “I’m interested in the shade look, seriously.”

I wish the reporter would have said," I'm blind, asshole! "

[tanyev]

11. Legally blind. Very sensitive to bright light.

But as Wonkette first noted, and which ThinkProgress subsquently confirmed, Wallsten is legally blind. Wallsten tells us he has a rare genetic disorder called Stargardt’s Disease. The disease is a form of macular degeneration that can be slowed “by wearing UV-protective sunglasses and avoiding exposure to bright light.”

Wallsten said Bush’s comments did not offend him at all. “I never advertise it to him. I’ve never told him.”
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/14/bush-reporter-shades/


Even though the freepers refuse to believe it.

Reporter who wore sunglasses while asking President question today is not blind
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1649317/posts

[oasis]

16. How can you be sure it was him if he had no shades on? And what about him

caused you to focus on him?

[Ian David]

12. 'You look mighty comfortable' Bush tells man in wheelchair

'You look mighty comfortable'

Posted By Carpetbagger On 10th May 2006 @ 10:35 In General | 16 Comments

The AP ran a report last night on Bush visiting Florida to tout his Medicare prescription drug plan. It was mostly boilerplate stuff, with one exception.

He stopped by Broward Community College, where government officials set up tents and tables with laptops to help dozens of seniors there choose among the myriad plan options available.

Bush visited with some waiting in a courtyard where Frank Sinatra's "Young At Heart" played on the loudspeakers, then he went indoors where people were looking over the laptops. He walked around giving handshakes and hugs to those who rose for his entrance, and greeted a man who remained sitting in a wheelchair with, "You look mighty comfortable." (emphasis added)

Now, I realize the president was probably kidding. For all I know, the senior citizen laughed.

But I have to wonder what on earth Bush was thinking. Maybe the president has never had a friend or family member confined to a wheelchair, but as a rule, noting how "comfortable" they look is rarely a friendly way to start a conversation.
Tags: Bush, Florida, wheelchair, comfortable

More:
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/7369.html

[seafan]

13. A complete lack of empathy toward others. A very bad quality in a leader.

"You work three jobs? … Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that." —George W. Bush, to a divorced mother of three, Omaha, Nebraska, Feb. 4, 2005

(Listen to audio) http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushism-uniquelyamerican.htm