Russian journalist challenges Bush on freedom of AMERICAN press

[Cocoa]

interesting exchange, and I'm very curious what Putin asked Bush about. Was it about Eason Jordan?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/24/international/24TEXT-BUSH.html?oref=login&pagewanted=print&position=

<snip>

QUESTION (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): To follow up on the issue of democratic institutions, President Bush recently stated that the press in Russia is not free. What is this lack of freedom all about?
Your aides probably mentioned to you that our media, both electronic and our printed media, have full coverage on the manifestations and protests in our country. Our regional and national media often criticize the government institution.

What about -- why don't you talk a lot about violation of rights of journalists in the United States, about the fact that some journalists have been fired or do you prefer to discuss this in private with your American colleague?

BUSH: I don't know what journalists you're referring to.
Do any of you all still have your jobs?
Look, I think it's important any viable democracy has got a free and active press.
Obviously, if you're a member of the Russian press, you feel like the press is free.
Feel that way?
That's good.
But I've talked to Vladimir about that. And he wanted to know about our press. It's a nice bunch of folks. And he wanted to know about, as you mentioned, the subject of somebody getting fired.People do get fired in American press. They don't get fired by government, however. They get fired by their editors or they get fired by their producers or they get fired by the owners of a particular outlet or network.
But a free press is important.
BUSH: And it is an important part of any democracy.
If you're a member of the press corps and you feel comfortable with the press in Russia, I think that's a pretty interesting observation for those of us who don't live in Russia to listen to.
But no question, whether it be in America or anywhere else, the sign of a healthy and vibrant society is one where there's an active press corps.
Obviously there's got to be constraints. I mean, there's got to be truth. People've got to tell the truth. And if somebody violates the truth -- and those who own a particular newspaper or those who are in charge of a particular electronic station need to hold people to account. The press, the capacity of the press to hold people to account also depends on their willingness to self-examine at times when they're wrong.
And that happens on occasion in America. And that's an important part of maintaining a proper relationship between government and press.
I can assure you that the folks here are constantly trying to hold me to account for decisions I make and how I make decisions. I'm comfortable with that. It's part of the checks and balances of a democracy.
And so I'm glad to hear your editorial comments, so to speak, on your comfort with the situation of the press corps in the Federation of Russia.

[babsbunny]

1. I Hate Him!

Looks like the whole world is aware of our lack of a fare and balnced press!

[Downtown Hound]

2. The rest of the world is not stupid

they know our media is full of shit, and that our statements of having a free press are just as ridiculous.

[TWiley]

3. It is embarassing when the Russians have to

set the record straight. However, this is necessary as our media is not up to the job.

[cthrumatrix]

5. our own press is coporate owned...we look like fools to the world

when the press wull NOT report the facts

[TWiley]

14. And fools we are. Especially those who voted for shrub.

He is the gimping embarassment.

[Cocoa]

7. Bush faces real journalists when he travels

I've seen some of the questions he's asked when he's abroad, or when he's hosting a foreign leader and takes questions from foreign press.

My favorite example is this one, where Bush utters a completely stupid answer (which was never commented on in the American corporate media) and a British journalist does the unthinkable, asks a follow up which highlights the stupidity:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/07/20030717-9.html

Q Do you have concerns they're not getting justice, the people detained there?

PRESIDENT BUSH: No, the only thing I know for certain is that these are bad people, and we look forward to working closely with the Blair government to deal with the issue.

<snip>

Q Nick Robinson, ITV News. Mr. President, do you realize that many people hearing you say that we know these are bad people in Guantanamo Bay will merely fuel their doubts that the United States regards them as innocent until proven guilty and due a fair, free and open trial?

[shadowknows69]

13. why can't his supporters see

how badly he really unravels when faced with real questions. He mummbles and dances his way around everything.

[Alpharetta]

16. They're blinded by the pompoms they wave

They think it's a football game and their team is winning. They don't want to have to scrape a loser's bumper sticker off their car. That's all that matters.

[TWiley]

17. Again, it is embarrassing that we must rely on the foreign press.

The only genuine counterbalancing force actively opposed to the misdeeds of the bushtapo comes from foreign nations. Nearly 50% of the American People depend upon foreigners to "liberate" us from the lies of our press.

[bryant69]

4. Or in other words let me repeat teh question in

as many different ways as I can. You have a free press, or you think we do, but we really do in america but it's interesting that you think you have a free press, but our press is really free . . .

What a dingleberry.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[LSK]

6. "they get fired by the owners of a particular outlet"

And geee, what party does the FEW remaining outlets support???????

[Richard Steele]

8. Breaking News: President of US fails 'Turing Test'....

JESUS!
What an utter load of formulaic, non-responsive CRAP!

Read that slowly: he can barely make one sentence relate to the last!

[Cocoa]

9. he actually seems to be being highly sarcastic

I think he's mocking the guy who asked the question, he sounded very defensive and snippy.

It would be an interesting thing for our media to comment on, what exactly was going on in this exchange?

But that's the whole point. They won't.

[DearAbby]

11. The Egg is on the Face of the American Media.

And the irony is, It takes a Russian to point it out. The Media here has no one to blame but themselves. The whole world is aware of the failure of the 'Corporate' Media here in the United States. Miserable failures.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

10. Peter Arnett and Greg Palast and Dan Rather and Eason Jordan

[Cocoa]

12. this Russian site thinks it's about Jordan

and it's looking like that Russian reporter is Putin's own Jeff Gannon. :-)

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5441851&startrow=1&date=2005-02-24&do_alert=0

<snip>

A Russian journalist asked the President why he kept silent when accused of lack of press freedom in Russia, although in the US the CNN was firing journalists .

[zanana]

15. Bush's end-run around Democracy.

"I didn't fire them". (I have people to do that for me).

[Cocoa]

18. still zero comment in American media about this

is no one curious what journalist Putin asked Bush about in private?

How does CNN feel about their cowardly Eason Jordan decision being used as cover by a dictator, to justify repression of the press?

But I've talked to Vladimir about that. And he wanted to know about our press. It's a nice bunch of folks. And he wanted to know about, as you mentioned, the subject of somebody getting fired.

[xchrom]

19. ''It's a nice bunch of folks.''

what a fucking buffoon.

the way he speaks makes my teeth grate.