Laura Bush Takes Swipe at Media Coverage

Jason T. · #1 08-04-2004, 03:11 PM

WASHINGTON (Aug. 4) - First lady Laura Bush thinks the news media is increasingly filled with opinions instead of facts, and suggested Tuesday that journalists are contributing to the polarization of the country.

"I think there are a lot of reasons to be critical of the media in America," she said in an interview Tuesday with Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor."

"I think that a lot of times the media sensationalize or magnify things that aren't -that really shouldn't be," she said.

"I do think there's a big move away from actual reporting, trying to report facts," the first lady said. "It's in newspapers and everything you read - that a lot more is opinion."

When her interviewer suggested that journalists were out of sync with most of the country, she said with a laugh: "You just gave me a really great idea. Maybe it is the media that has us divided."

President Bush's mother had famously bitter relations with the news media during his father's term in office.

After the 1992 election, as Barbara Bush gave Hillary Rodham Clinton a tour of the White House she pointed to nearby reporters and told her successor: "Avoid this crowd like the plague."

2004 AP

I have to say that I agree with her. I mean, I'm someone who has had a extreme-left view for quite a while, but now it seems that more and more people are trying to adopt extreme-left/right views as well. There's hardly any more 'undecided.' There's no reason for politicians to move more to the center anymore, and that's never good.

The Media needs to be more responsible for the influence it has. Who knew I would ever agree with a Bush? I guess there's a first time for everything.

Tango · #2 08-04-2004, 03:18 PM

While she declined to get into it, she did answer, when probed, that there are areas of politics that she doesn't agree with her husband on. She also avoided taking shots at anyone, when it seemed O'Reilly was looking for it. While it was a short interview, she came off as careful, thoughtful, just as Clinton did on Letterman.

ShangriLaTroubl · #3 08-04-2004, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason T.

The Media needs to be more responsible for the influence it has. Who knew I would ever agree with a Bush? I guess there's a first time for everything.

Next thing you know you'll have a Bush Cheney sign posted in your yard!

Chris

dissention · #4 08-04-2004, 04:42 PM

And...her point? She appeared on The O'Reilly Factor and has the gall to criticize unfair media coverage? Gimme a f*cking break. Pickles sure is desperate to help her hubby.

Jason T. · #5 08-04-2004, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShangriLaTroubl

Next thing you know you'll have a Bush Cheney sign posted in your yard!

Let's not get carried away here! LOL! I still extremely dislike her husband.

strandinthewind · #6 08-04-2004, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

And...her point? She appeared on The O'Reilly Factor and has the gall to criticize unfair media coverage? Gimme a f*cking break. Pickles sure is desperate to help her hubby.

FOUL and BS - Laura Bush handled herself with dignity and class in that and every other interview I have ever seen her in - and she has been on other shows al la Larry King, etc., which are hardly Fox News. I know you have blind hatred for W and will sink to any level to spew it - but his wife has never done anything to draw that except support her husband, which even you can hardly fault her for - but you will because you hate W so much. I say beat up on W all you want, but pot shots at his wife are classless, unwarranted, beneath you.

I just hate it when First Ladies are attacked because of their husbands.

Johnny Stew · #7 08-04-2004, 06:27 PM

Quote:

"I think there are a lot of reasons to be critical of the media in America," she said in an interview Tuesday with Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor."

"I think that a lot of times the media sensationalize or magnify things that aren't -that really shouldn't be," she said.

Meanwhile, Rupert Murdoch was sitting at home, thinking, "Well, DUH."

sparky · #8 08-04-2004, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

FOUL and BS - Laura Bush handled herself with dignity and class in that and every other interview I have ever seen her in - and she has been on other shows al la Larry King, etc., which are hardly Fox News. I know you have blind hatred for W and will sink to any level to spew it - but his wife has never done anything to draw that except support her husband, which even you can hardly fault her for - but you will because you hate W so much. I say beat up on W all you want, but pot shots at his wife are classless, unwarranted, beneath you.

I just hate it when First Ladies are attacked because of their husbands.

I personally have never heard her say anything worthy of particular scorn or derision. She has always seemed vaguely vacant, Stepford like, and basically harmless. The simple fact that she married that scumbag and sleeps with him however, is plenty of reason for me to be suspicious of everything about her identity and personality. I'm sure Jesse Helms' wife is an absolutely charming dinner party guest as well.

strandinthewind · #9 08-04-2004, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparky

I personally have never heard her say anything worthy of particular scorn or derision. She has always seemed vaguely vacant, Stepford like, and basically harmless. The simple fact that she married that scumbag and sleeps with him however, is plenty of reason for me to be suspicious of everything about her identity and personality. I'm sure Jesse Helms' wife is an absolutely charming dinner party guest as well.

I guess, but it just rubs me the wrond way when people attack her personally when she tries as in that interview to empathize with all people in the media glare. But, the world never thinks like I want it to

Johnny Stew · #10 08-04-2004, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I say beat up on W all you want, but pot shots at his wife are classless, unwarranted, beneath you.

I just hate it when First Ladies are attacked because of their husbands.

Of course she was involved in a fatal hit & run, so that might be a reason to regard her with a certain amount of reservation.

(I'm placing bets now on how long it takes for someone to mention Teddy Kennedy... but I've never said I was wild about him either.)

strandinthewind · #11 08-04-2004, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Of course she was involved in a fatal hit & run, so that might be a reason to regard her with a certain amount of reservation.

(I'm placing bets now on how long it takes for someone to mention Teddy Kennedy... but I've never said I was wild about him either.)

All accounts of that exonerate her and indicate it was an accident. Please provide one peice of evidence that does not. You far lefties will go to any lengths

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e1698.htm

I know many conspiracies abound about this. But, the facts as we know them do not support that she willfully killed anyone. Having said that, I am sure this thread will turn into a Laura B. is a conniving murderer. I hope not, but history does not support me

sparky · #12 08-04-2004, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

All accounts of that exonerate her and indicate it was an accident. Please provide one peice of evidence that does not. You far lefties will go to any lengths

Anyone on any far end knows no bounds, from my experience !

strandinthewind · #13 08-04-2004, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparky

Anyone on any far end knows no bounds, from my experience !

Preach On and Amen brother Sparky

dissention · #14 08-04-2004, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

FOUL and BS - Laura Bush handled herself with dignity and class in that and every other interview I have ever seen her in - and she has been on other shows al la Larry King, etc., which are hardly Fox News. I know you have blind hatred for W and will sink to any level to spew it - but his wife has never done anything to draw that except support her husband, which even you can hardly fault her for - but you will because you hate W so much. I say beat up on W all you want, but pot shots at his wife are classless, unwarranted, beneath you.

I just hate it when First Ladies are attacked because of their husbands.

Sorry, but any type of message she was trying to get across was muffled by the venue and manner in which she chose to express it. You may disagree, but going onto The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News and making statements like she did not only makes her look out of touch, but ridiculous.

dissention · #15 08-04-2004, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

All accounts of that exonerate her and indicate it was an accident. Please provide one peice of evidence that does not. You far lefties will go to any lengths

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e1698.htm

I know many conspiracies abound about this. But, the facts as we know them do not support that she willfully killed anyone. Having said that, I am sure this thread will turn into a Laura B. is a conniving murderer. I hope not, but history does not support me

No, I just find it suspicious that Laura killed her boyfriend right after they borke up. I also find her association with the Bush family to raise doubts about her. But, hey, maybe she was simply a product of eugenics and thought she was being welcomed into an American dynasty.