Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Bush Condemns Poll Disclosures
President Bush today sharply condemned the New York Times' disclosure of his low approval ratings. "The disclosure of this information is disgraceful," he said.
The ABC/Washington Post poll, showing Bush still dragging along the bottom in approval polls, was not actually reported by the New York Times, but the President blasted them anyway. "For people to leak that information and for the New York Times to publish it does great harm to the United States of America," Bush said, jabbing his finger for emphasis. He said the disclosure of his low approval ratings "makes it harder to win this war on terror."
Vice President Cheney echoed the the President's comments. Referring to a USA Today poll showing the President at a dismal 37% approval, Cheney told a crowd of bloated Republican donors that the New York Times, which has not even mentioned the USA Today story, had acted as the "leader" of these other news organizations. He added, "What is doubly disturbing to me is that they have been rewarded for these damaging reports, as Americans buy more newspapers when they contain information beyond what the Government is saying. I think that is a disgrace."
White House Spokesman Tony Snow explained the larger implications. "We are very concerned about the reckless decisions being made by the American people, in answering these polling questions. The President and the Vice President have both announced that the government is acting correctly. Yet the American people, who were never appointed by anyone, just take it upon themselves to say otherwise. Well, they really need to think about what they say to pollsters, and how much they are helping terrorists when they give honest opinions."
The ABC/Washington Post poll, showing Bush still dragging along the bottom in approval polls, was not actually reported by the New York Times, but the President blasted them anyway. "For people to leak that information and for the New York Times to publish it does great harm to the United States of America," Bush said, jabbing his finger for emphasis. He said the disclosure of his low approval ratings "makes it harder to win this war on terror."
Vice President Cheney echoed the the President's comments. Referring to a USA Today poll showing the President at a dismal 37% approval, Cheney told a crowd of bloated Republican donors that the New York Times, which has not even mentioned the USA Today story, had acted as the "leader" of these other news organizations. He added, "What is doubly disturbing to me is that they have been rewarded for these damaging reports, as Americans buy more newspapers when they contain information beyond what the Government is saying. I think that is a disgrace."
White House Spokesman Tony Snow explained the larger implications. "We are very concerned about the reckless decisions being made by the American people, in answering these polling questions. The President and the Vice President have both announced that the government is acting correctly. Yet the American people, who were never appointed by anyone, just take it upon themselves to say otherwise. Well, they really need to think about what they say to pollsters, and how much they are helping terrorists when they give honest opinions."
