I wouldn't stand up for that dumb SOB either....it's a sign of respect for the MAN, not just the Office. And Bush was worthy of very little respect by the end of his Presidency. I just hope he keeps his dumbass in Texas, making speeches to stupid rich assholes, and stays the hell out of Washington.
Something about that clip with Bush seems not right. Granted many in the press corps didn't like President Bush, but I have to believe they took great pride in the fact that they worked in the White House.
One should stand up when the President enters the room as it is a sign of respect for the office and not just the man. I wasn't a big fan of Clinton but when I met him I stood up and greeted him cordially as I would anyone else holding that office. To do anything less is both self-serving and dripping in conceit...
I was taught you stand when a woman leaves or arrives at your table. A woman, period. Mama didn't say, you only stand for pretty women. You stand for the ugly ones too.
You respect the office. If you're really an American. Which is hardly a universal condition in this country these days. I stood for Clinton and shook his hand, even though I'd never vote for him. I'd do the same for Obama, and I can't forsee him getting my vote in 2012. People who pick and choose their respect for the office based on personal partisanship are typical of the quasi-citizens we've increasingly seen in this country lately.
This may seem silly, but it's symbolic: The discrepancy in treatment is all the proof a Republican needs to show that the press shows special deference to the new Democratic president. It's a distorted picture, though. We stood all the time for President Bush. Reporters customarily do so to show respect for the office of the presidency. In the East Room of the White House, we stood not only when the president came in but to ask questions. Some reporters said thank you to the president even before asking their questions. This practice continues under President Obama.
There are different rules for the briefing room, though, which is the place both events on the video took place. It's more informal. (CBS's Mark Knoller talked to Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer, who confirmed that no offense was taken when the press didn't stand in the briefing room.) It's not that there is a no-standing policy, exactly, but more that the question is unresolved. The press didn't stand for Bush in February but did when the president visited the briefing room for the last time. When he held press conferences in the Eisenhower Old Executive Office Building, the press did stand. Same with the Rose Garden. (On foreign trips, it was confusing. We stood when the host country's press corps often didn't, but once in Tanzania the roles were reversed for some reason, and the U.S. press had to stand quickly to catch up with the local Tanzanians.)
One reason reporters stay in their seats in the briefing room is that the space there is very tight. The cameramen and still photographers are in the back of the room and can't get a clean shot of his few brief steps if the press is standing. (Listen to the cameras click wildly when Bush walks in.) The president is powerful and all, but it's never wise to thwart the cameramen and still photographers. (This also goes for selecting movies on Air Force One, where during my years of traveling with Clinton and Bush they exercised total control over the viewing in the press cabin. Zoolander and Barbershop were particular favorites.)
Why, then, didn't the members of the press stay in their seats when Obama walked in last Friday? Unlike the Bush planned press conference in February, Obama's visit was a complete surprise (you hear fewer clicks because not every photographer is there), which meant the natural instinct to stand when a president enters the room may have kicked in as it did with Bush's last visit. As you can see from the video, they also ruined the shot, which means standing not only invited grief from conservatives but from their colleagues, too.
I wouldn't stand up for that dumb SOB either....it's a sign of respect for the MAN, not just the Office. And Bush was worthy of very little respect by the end of his Presidency. I just hope he keeps his dumbass in Texas, making speeches to stupid rich assholes, and stays the hell out of Washington.
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I wouldn't stand up for that dumb SOB either....it's a sign of respect for the MAN, not just the Office. And Bush was worthy of very little respect by the end of his Presidency. I just hope he keeps his dumbass in Texas, making speeches to stupid rich assholes, and stays the hell out of Washington.
ReplyDeletedon't worry the way your boy obammy is going there won't be any "stupid rich assholes" left
ReplyDeleteI only wish that were true...but will never happen.
ReplyDeleteSomething about that clip with Bush seems not right. Granted many in the press corps didn't like President Bush, but I have to believe they took great pride in the fact that they worked in the White House.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe it.
Well Hell!!! The American Press has to stand for SOMETHING don't they?
ReplyDeleteEven if you detest the president one must show respect...
ReplyDeleteRespect the position whether or not you respect the person in said position. I was raised that way and I am raising my kids in the same mode.
ReplyDeleteThe White House Press are pretending that Obama is different than Bush?
ReplyDeleteReally Tarp I and Tarp II bailing out Bankers and Automakers sure I see the difference NOT.
Stand UP for One Stand UP for the other.
Respect is earned it isn't an entitlement.
One should stand up when the President enters the room as it is a sign of respect for the office and not just the man. I wasn't a big fan of Clinton but when I met him I stood up and greeted him cordially as I would anyone else holding that office. To do anything less is both self-serving and dripping in conceit...
ReplyDeleteI was taught you stand when a woman leaves or arrives at your table. A woman, period. Mama didn't say, you only stand for pretty women. You stand for the ugly ones too.
ReplyDeleteYou respect the office. If you're really an American. Which is hardly a universal condition in this country these days. I stood for Clinton and shook his hand, even though I'd never vote for him. I'd do the same for Obama, and I can't forsee him getting my vote in 2012. People who pick and choose their respect for the office based on personal partisanship are typical of the quasi-citizens we've increasingly seen in this country lately.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.slate.com/id/2217664/
ReplyDeleteThis may seem silly, but it's symbolic: The discrepancy in treatment is all the proof a Republican needs to show that the press shows special deference to the new Democratic president. It's a distorted picture, though. We stood all the time for President Bush. Reporters customarily do so to show respect for the office of the presidency. In the East Room of the White House, we stood not only when the president came in but to ask questions. Some reporters said thank you to the president even before asking their questions. This practice continues under President Obama.
There are different rules for the briefing room, though, which is the place both events on the video took place. It's more informal. (CBS's Mark Knoller talked to Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer, who confirmed that no offense was taken when the press didn't stand in the briefing room.) It's not that there is a no-standing policy, exactly, but more that the question is unresolved. The press didn't stand for Bush in February but did when the president visited the briefing room for the last time. When he held press conferences in the Eisenhower Old Executive Office Building, the press did stand. Same with the Rose Garden. (On foreign trips, it was confusing. We stood when the host country's press corps often didn't, but once in Tanzania the roles were reversed for some reason, and the U.S. press had to stand quickly to catch up with the local Tanzanians.)
One reason reporters stay in their seats in the briefing room is that the space there is very tight. The cameramen and still photographers are in the back of the room and can't get a clean shot of his few brief steps if the press is standing. (Listen to the cameras click wildly when Bush walks in.) The president is powerful and all, but it's never wise to thwart the cameramen and still photographers. (This also goes for selecting movies on Air Force One, where during my years of traveling with Clinton and Bush they exercised total control over the viewing in the press cabin. Zoolander and Barbershop were particular favorites.)
Why, then, didn't the members of the press stay in their seats when Obama walked in last Friday? Unlike the Bush planned press conference in February, Obama's visit was a complete surprise (you hear fewer clicks because not every photographer is there), which meant the natural instinct to stand when a president enters the room may have kicked in as it did with Bush's last visit. As you can see from the video, they also ruined the shot, which means standing not only invited grief from conservatives but from their colleagues, too.
I wouldn't stand up for that dumb SOB either....it's a sign of respect for the MAN, not just the Office. And Bush was worthy of very little respect by the end of his Presidency. I just hope he keeps his dumbass in Texas, making speeches to stupid rich assholes, and stays the hell out of Washington.
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