It might actually be the first time that’s happened. A real interview with a real interviewer. Carol Whiteman from Irish television was given a sit down, face-to-face, one on one interview with George W Bush.
He could have come out of it a lot worse, but it probably represents the biggest media fumble on the part of his handlers.
There are several tense moments within the interview in which the wheels wobble noticeably. Bush is interrupted partway through a scripted response and nearly gives way to panic.
“Let me finish my answer,” he pleads. “I think it would be best if you would just please ask the question, and then let me answer. Then you can do a follow up question if you need to.”
Bush also makes a point that he’s not interested in winning any popularity competitions. Of course, he doesn’t have to. He didn’t let a silly little popularity competition get in the way of being President of the United States back in 2000 – why start now?
But my favourite moment is this one:
Q: But, Mr. President, the world is a more dangerous place today. I don’t know whether you can see that or not.
THE PRESIDENT: Why do you say that?
Watch the video here – scroll about 20m 40s through to get to the I/V [RealPlayer required].
Or, just read the transcript if you think that RealPlayer is an evil piece of spyware-disseminating crap.
