CNN used an old tactic in the mainstream media’s play book - a person overcome by emotion - to drive home the point they wanted to make - that the only state that hasn’t been visited by President Bush is Vermont. In a segment during the 4 pm hour of "The Situation Room" detailing this apparent "snub," CNN chief national correspondent John King played a clip from an interview of Regina Gilbert, the mother of Kyle Gilbert, who was killed serving in Iraq four years ago. Gilbert fought back tears as she made her plea for a visit from the President.
Video (1:46): Real (1.54 MB) or Windows (1.74 MB), plus MP3 audio (309 kB).
In his introduction to King’s piece, host Wolf Blitzer highlighted how Vermont "was the first state to outlaw slavery... the last state to get a WalMart, and it is the only state in the union not to have been visited by President Bush." Blitzer then asked King, "Is this a snub or an oversight?" King replied, "I think you can safely say ‘snub,’ Wolf," and detailed how the President has visited Missouri more than 30 times since his election, and how in 27 consecutive presidential elections between the 1850s and 1960, Vermont voted Republican.
King’s report then played with the caption, "Vermont, Forgotten State." The word "forgotten" is also used by King at the beginning of his report. "Yet Vermont is the forgotten place in the crowded travelogue of George W. Bush, the only state he's failed to visit in his presidency."
King then cut to the "self-described socialist" U.S. Senator for the state, Bernie Sanders, who, as King put it, "all but dares Mr. Bush to visit, saying he would benefit from sitting down with his critics whether the issue be Iraq, the economy, or climate change." Sanders claimed in one sound bite from the report that "this president will probably go down in history as being the least popular president in [the] modern history of this country. He should go forward and find out why that is so." King juxtaposed Sanders with a clip from Garrison Nelson, a political science professor at the University of Vermont, who saw "no upside" to a visit from the President. "It's a photo opportunity he does not need. I cannot imagine any assemblage in the State of Vermont that would give him an unalloyed positive reception."
After a clip from Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, a "throwback to the moderate breed of Republicanism that once thrived across New England," King then played clips from his interview of Regina Gilbert. The full transcript from this portion of King report:
REGINA GILBERT: He [President Bush] asked something that surprised me. 'Does it ever get easier?' And I just looked at him, and I looked at my husband, and I said absolutely not. I said this is a hole in my heart and it's always going to be there.
KING: Regina Gilbert traveled to Fort Bragg, North Carolina to meet the president. Her only child, Kyle, was killed in Iraq four years ago. Vermont has lost 18 soldiers in Iraq. 41 states have lost more, but because it is so tiny, Vermont has the highest per capita death toll. More than reason enough, Regina Gilbert says, for the President to visit.
GILBERT: Hopefully we're making strides. But I want to hear something good about it, so my son can look down and say, 'See, Mom, I told you.' But I'm still waiting for that day. So, I hope he does come, to our little state, 'cause I think that we've -- like I said, we've stepped up. And I'm hoping he will reflect and step up as well.
Perhaps King didn’t realize it, but Regina Gilbert expressed the wish of many military families concerning the Iraq war, that "I want to hear something good about it." But don’t expect too much of that kind of reporting on the war from CNN.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
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If Bush did see her CNN is
August 22, 2007 - 18:45 ET by mlongIf Bush did see her CNN is would just attack him for that...I really wish Bush would just come out one day and say F*** you to the MSM....heck his poll numbers might shoot up 20pts if the did.
*********** John Edwards '08 ***********
"More woman than Hillary,more black than Obama!"
Golly
August 22, 2007 - 20:29 ET by SportPoliticsGee, it seems to me we have arrogant smarmer Sen. Patty Leahy, Howard the hateful Scream Dean, and Bernie Sanders (all from Vermont aren't they ?)... and wasn't the kookball milkman senatorial switcharoo traitor from Vermont as well ?
I guess "snub" explains it ?
I think CNN should have INTERVIEWED the damned congressmen from Vermont.
I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the "snub" comes from THE LIB SIDE.
Something like " **** *** **** you're never invited here! Set foot in our state and we'll have you arrested! "
Loved that last line - how it "always" voted republican , but "not anymore" - AS IF their fantasy Bush "snub" caused that. (or worse yet, forms the result - AS IF no other of the 49 states "don't vote republican anymore - that they declared Bush visited- each and every one)
Gawd libs are stupid mindless jerkoffs.
Golly you idiot CNN turdbird whatever your bullshitzer name is, you or your stupid sidekick ask the CONGRESSPERSONS from that state (all flaming wacko libs) what the deal is ?
Gee, uhhhhh... how STUPID are you two ?
Ok, Leahy, Sanders, Peter D Welch ( D), and Jim Jeffords was the other milkman guy.
Is it wrong that I want to smack the idiot newscasters upside their head now ?
Green acres
August 22, 2007 - 19:55 ET by third eyeIn his introduction to King’s piece, host Wolf Blitzer highlighted how
Vermont "was the first state to outlaw slavery... the last state to get
a WalMart, and it is the only state in the union where one may apply makeup to domesticated sheep"
GILBERT: Hopefully
August 22, 2007 - 20:01 ET by BlazerGILBERT: Hopefully we're making strides. But I want to hear something good about it, so my son can look down and say, 'See, Mom, I told you.' But I'm still waiting for that day. So, I hope he does come, to our little state, 'cause I think that we've -- like I said, we've stepped up. And I'm hoping he will reflect and step up as well.
There is plenty of good being said about it, not much makes it through the leftist agenda filter though, and evidently from what little was paraphrased above, Mrs. Gilbert is naive about the MSM. Shame on CNN for exploiting this woman, once again using someones grief to drive an agenda. I guess their looking for the next Sheehan, without all the bats in the belfry.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
The People's Republic of Vermont
August 22, 2007 - 20:04 ET by CTNot visiting the People's Republic of Vermont can hardly be called a failure. It just wouldn't be prudent, as George H. W. Bush would say.
On Bush and the Област of VT
August 22, 2007 - 20:04 ET by UnsaneIt doesn't surprise me at all that Bush hasn't been to the Област of Vermont! Why should he go there? What awaits him at Москва-in-the-Green-Mountains? To what political advantage?
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
"What awaits him
August 22, 2007 - 20:20 ET by Blazer"What awaits him at Москва-in-the-Green-Mountains?"
Thousands of these nasty little creatures Unsane.
http://akidsheart.com/pics5z/batwp2.jpg
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
The Gilberts are an
August 22, 2007 - 20:32 ET by VT Con ManThe Gilberts are an honorable family in our town. The town's ilk fought with them about a memorial bridge at the end of Main Street, in their son's honor, because they did not want to appear to be "supporting the war". So, an inane disclaimer is blended into the memorial plaque for their son. Disgusting, vile town ninnies... and as usual, shame on CNN for twisting this into a Bush slam fest. Scumbags.
Also, I would not wish the hellish brouhaha that would face our President if he were to come here on anyone of honor.
A COUPLE THINGS...
August 22, 2007 - 23:08 ET by danybhoyVermont is really more of a county then a state. Sure, there may be a star on the flag, but should it really have one? It really is a "progressive"(=entry level marxist) section of the nation that denounces many of the reasons this nation has become great. High taxes, anti-capitalist, & lets elect some of THEEEEE biggest leftists in America. Howard Dean, Pat Leahy, & the most honest of the kooks on the left, Bernie Sanders. At least he admits he's a socialist, unlike many of the Dems hiding behind the donkey logo.
Bush would gain nothing by going there, & as much I would like this President, or any president go to all 50 states, he would never be recieved in a proper manner by many of the people there. Those are the people who barely respect the office at all, & only care about having their guy in the office. Otherwise, screw the president & the office.
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin
Hey, i live in vermont...
August 22, 2007 - 23:23 ET by mawendtand i'm surrounded by liberal nut cases. those are the polite ones you can have a discussion with. the crazier ones can't be described.
i think the president really would waste his time here, and if he did come, the vocal 60's anti-war throwbacks would get most of the air time. so why would he want to give them the opportunity? there are a lot of people that believe its their constutional right to belittle a guy that has a tough, unforgiving job - one they could never aspire to do. i hope the President never wastes his time by coming here.
Mrs. Gilbert, what can be said for the loss of a child? he stepped up, unusual for a member anti-war anti-conservative liberal state. but to pass that on as 'hoping (the President) will reflect and step up as well' is a backhand slam. your son, an adult, obedient to the laws of his commander-in-chief and of his own free will, is to be honored as a fallen sacrifice for his death under orders. don't slur his memory by slapping at the president. rather, you could have said, "i'm hoping those defeatist SOB democrats, including my own vermont senators, step up and do everything they can to put the screws to those bastards that killed my son while they were committing terrorist acts against innocent people my son was protecting". naw, can't have none o' that.
i don't know Mrs. Gilbert, but the quoted statement doesn't peg her as exactly supportive of the President's actions regarding Iraq, and i doubt any credit can be given to Vermont as a whole for having its extreme minority of volunteers believing it is still honorable to join the military, in stark relief of the more common attempts here that criticise those in uniform and encourage people not to serve. the loss is profound, but the responsibility of soldiers killed does not reside on the President - rather it is on those in Iraq that act criminally, and those that empower them from here in the United States. maw
Bush in Vermont
August 23, 2007 - 00:18 ET by Lame CherryIn knowing President Bush, he would be the first to say he is President of the United States and that includes Vermont and the Kennedy Compound as well as the Pelosi sodomite communist society of District Frisco.
Bush puts up with kooks wherever he goes and the kooks like Cindy Sheehan who he did meet with stalk him at his home in Texas.
I doubt the President shunned Vermont no matter the kooks there. He is a busy person and you just don't say, "Hey fellas we are in Concord let's get some of that good piney tasting tofu those Verde Mountain amigos are cooking up".
I just saw him in Minnesota and you can not believe the security and the things going on there to protect him for a few hours to make Minnesotans feel numero uno.
President Bush has gone out of his way to not intrude on families and not make a hint of politics in their deaths in serving America. Speaking of a family as mine who has buried our dead, I have no comfort in any President visiting my state.....my comfort came to a shiver through my body in pride and meaning when the United States flag is folded after covering the casket and thee representative of the President of the United States and all Americans presents that flag to our family in stating everyone is grateful for what we gave.
In that Truth, perhaps Mrs. Gilbert should understand the President was at her son's funeral as was every grateful American and hopefully will have some peace.
I doubt though that this has anything to do with Vermont, but it could have that aftertaste of Cindy Sheehan burning the President. If this mother wanted to meet Bush, she should have done it quietly and not on CNN throwing down with tears. Nobody is going to walk into that now.
Reagan would of course send the woman a personal letter, but in these days in how screwy people are I would not be surprised if Huffington Post would not get their hands on it and some a** like Lane Hudson from there would not filing charges against Bush for stalking like he did against Fred Thompson with the FCC in him being a criminal.
This woman's kid if he was saved in faith is in heaven with Christ and she doesn't have to worry about him looking down as people in heaven have better things to do than look at a cesspoll of Patrick Leahy.....he would though want one thing for his mother to know he was fine and for her to stop being sad as everything was alright with him.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Vermont is a state?
August 23, 2007 - 00:43 ET by mattmOh...yeah....now I remember.... Just kidding, I love Vermont. They make the best maple syrup in the world...
But seriously, Did anyone invite Bush to Vermont? I mean to something other than a fist fight?
I hope Bush goes to Vermont and visits Mrs. Gilbert privately, and snubs both the press and any Demogogic Party politicians who are so low as to try to make political hay out of the deaths of soldiers and the grief of their families.
I agree Matt, not for
August 23, 2007 - 07:31 ET by Senior ChiefI agree Matt, not for political reason, but as a Commander-in-Chief and in symphaty to the family of one of his soldier. Just go Mr. Prez. Leave the cameras, reporters and entourage behind. Hug the greiving family...
I think this is, by far,
August 24, 2007 - 09:07 ET by BeowulfI think this is, by far, the best post in response to this article Matt. People will all have their own perception of the welcome Bush would get in a publicized Vermont visit, and, thanks to CNN, he actually can't visit now because it would be seen as him capitulating to CNN. I know it would have real meaning to a family to have the Commander in Chief pay such a personal and respectful visit in recognition of their loss. AND it would put such a slam on the MSM and Libs at the same time. I would love to see how they could put a negative spin on such an event. "The President of the United States, without fanfare or publicity, personally visted the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq today. He expressed his condolences and expressed his personal guarantee that this family's loss was not, and would not be, in vain, as we would see this conflict through to a sucessful conclusion, despite the sentiments of the anti-war media and politicians willing to throw away such sacrifices for their own political gain."
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
...the last state to get a
August 23, 2007 - 09:55 ET by PeskyDane...the last state to get a WalMart,
Like that's something to be proud of.
Heal thyself doc bernie
August 23, 2007 - 12:07 ET by acumen." Sanders claimed in one sound bite from the report that "this president will probably go down in history as being the least popular president in [the] modern history of this country. He should go forward and find out why that is so."
Heal thyself Doc Bernie. No "probably" about it, your Congress has the LOWEST approval rating of ANY Congress in history....maybe YOU should "find out why that is so" before pointing an accusatory finger at others based merely on speculation.