Oh boy! Bush just can't seem to get it right. Here we go again. He ribbed a visually impaired reporter about his sunglasses. Sad. At the very least, he apologized about this. Perhaps we can get an apology for his other misdeeds and misjudgements. I won't hold my breath for it!


MSNBC Story

UCLA I saw this story, and was amazed at first at the insensitivity showed by Shrub, though I was glad he apologized, as well he should have but still....that swagger of his, really bothers me.

Very small children will sometimes ask about "differences", different skin color, obvious physical disabilities, because they have not yet learned it is not "polite" and very small children are inherently honest and curious.
But Bush is not a 2 year old
He reminds me more of the frat boy mentality. Find a person who is different (disabled, gay, "funny looking") and hold him/her up to ridicule as a way of bonding with those who are not "other".

And how many people here have been calling Bush "Chimp" or "Chimpie" or McChimp"? I hate Bush as much as anybody, but let's not be hypocritical here. Lots of folks make fun of his personal appearance. Not saying you did it, but many others have.

Thatt said, what Bush did was really, really stupid. Par for the course.

I can't stand Bush...believe me. That said:

Bush was trying to make a joke, which he often does with members of the press corps. He is known for being playful with them. It's not like he knew the guy was vision impaired. He didn't pick on this guy because of his disability. It's not like he looked at a guy with one arm and said hey lefty, hold the mic in the other hand.

How many of us have made statements in jest, or in a playful way, only to find out after the fact that it could have been hurtful to the person. I would guess every one of us. Hopefully when I have done that, there are more forgiving people than those out there that want to turn this into another "I hate Bush" moment.

There are thousands and thousands of reasons why Bush is horrible...this isn't one of them though.

And by the way, in case anyone cares, the reporter in question isn't offended by what happened, quite the opposite. Just in case you were wondering.

Can't say I disagree with you, George, but with you, MdB, I do. Just how many men who belong to fraternities do you KNOW? How many have you ever talked to in anything but your usual dismissive manner? Were you in a sorority for that matter, and how many sorority women do you know?

For the record, as I've said here before, while I was in college, we initiated a gay black man into our chapter, and we have continued to initiate many "minorities" in all our chapters since. Stop your own tired stereotyping if you're going to keep tossing around such shopworn claims.

Bush is a tool.

I don't know if anyone has called Bush Chimpy to his face in front of the assembled media.

Can I?? I'll do it!!

Except that there's a difference when one doesn't know the recipient of the innocent, friendly jab is, in fact, handicapped the way this reporter was.

Except for UCLAfan, who is perfect and without error, who here among us hasn't said or done something later deemed to be stupid when we were unaware of the facts.

Another non-issue being exaggerated by those who really have too much time on their hands.

The President didn't call this reporter any names; he joked with him, and the reporter took it with the good nature, however ignorant of the details, with which it was delivered. That's how well-adjusted personalities with a sense of humor interact, often to the resentment of less personable people, as evidenced here.

As for the Chimp Callers, whether they stalk the media jungle or range elsewhere, I don't know if any of them have ever apologized for doing so - or criticized the President's policies with more rational and mature arguments than the silly and childish rants offered here.

You didn't expect the lefties here to be mature and intelligent now, did you? Really, gmg, I'm rather surprised by you.

MIB, I try to say intelligent things while getting my jabs in on Bush. He apologized for his unknowingly insensitive remarks, which means he is capable of admitting his misdeed. I am hopeful that he will admit his other misdeeds soon enough. However, I'm not counting on him to do so.

Yes, we know that you prefer "rational and mature arguments" such as those made by mAnn Coulter.

"I think there should be a literacy test and a poll tax for people to vote."