FW: video clip: Bush makes verbal slip

—— Forwarded Message
From: Tina La Porta <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2004 12:06:01 -0400
To: Tina La Porta <[email protected]>
Subject: video clip: Bush makes verbal slip

US President Bush makes verbal slip during terror speech
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39927000/rm/_39927782_bush15_bush_vi.ram


President gaffes in terror speech
In his latest gaffe, President George W Bush has appeared to suggest that
his administration is forever thinking up ways of harming the US and its
people.

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful - and so are we," the US
president told a high-level meeting of Pentagon officials.

"They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people
- and neither do we."

His comments came during a signing ceremony for a $417bn defence bill.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said that Mr Bush's mistakes should
reassure rather than alarm.

"Even the most straightforward and plain-spoken people mis-speak," he told
the Associated Press.

"The American people know this president speaks with clarity and conviction,
and the terrorists know by his actions he means it."

'Liked for his flaws'

According to Jacob Weisberg, who has made it his job to catalogue the gaffes
commonly known as "Bushisms", even when Mr Bush trips over his words he does
not always fall flat on his face.

"I don't think it does him any harm, because people who are appalled by the
way he speaks tend not to like him for other reasons," he told the BBC's
World Today programme.

Indeed, he says, his flawed public performances should not be
misunderstimated - to borrow a "Bushism" - as they actually strengthen his
bond with ordinary people.

"I think his inarticulacy is part of it, people identify with his problem.
You know, its hard to speak in public - one makes mistakes, it can be
embarrassing. And this bonds him to people."


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/3541706.stm

Published: 2004/08/06 12:49:42 GMT