# Bush video chat with soldiers was scripted/rehearsed. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 14, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276 "2005-10-14T20:03:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/121 "2005-10-17T22:29:23Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > Does anyone have a media link or transcript to the event so that I can decide for myself whether the soldiers were told what responses to give or what questions to ask? Videos: [http://www.vortex.com/bv/coached.wmv](http://www.vortex.com/bv/coached.wmv) [http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/10/13.html#a5359](http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/10/13.html#a5359) Audio of rehearsal directions: > **[Take One: President Bush via Satellite](https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4957379)** > > President Bush's administration is known for its savvy use of technology and media strategy. That work has never been more important than now, with the president's polling numbers slipping and an election in Iraq looming. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/122 "2005-10-17T22:48:49Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Videos: > [http://www.vortex.com/bv/coached.wmv](http://www.vortex.com/bv/coached.wmv) > [http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/10/13.html#a5359](http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/10/13.html#a5359) > > Audio of rehearsal directions: > [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4957379](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4957379) OK… well, what I’m getting from this audio is that they went through the paces of the broadcast, who would ask what type of question, and what kind of question would be asked. This is pretty standard and not dishonest, at least not within broadcast norms. What I was looking for was coaching on what the answers should contain, emphasize, or support, and I’m not hearing that at all. So this does sound like a bit of a tempest in a teapot to me. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/123 "2005-10-17T23:15:20Z")
Propaganda. Pure and simple. Does the President have some compelling need to seek the input of the foot soldier? One can only hope and pray he is better informed than that (though one has doubts…). So we can reasonably assume that the premise of “feedback” from the troops is bogus. Everyone knows that the troops were carerfully vetted. No chance, none whatsoever, that a dissonant voice will be heard. You are free to assume that no such dissonant voices exist. That is your privilege. So why did the President ask his questions? To bask in their reflected sympathy, to pour praise upon thier heads and stand close enough so that some might splash onto himself. An America, we tend to think that propaganda by the State is something that happens elsewhere. We need to recongize that this is naive. This somewhat overblown scandal is a step in the right direction. When the people lead, the leaders will follow. The power is ours, we have only to assert it. When propaganda no longer works, there will be very little of it. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/124 "2005-10-18T00:07:22Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Everyone knows that the troops were carerfully vetted. No chance, none whatsoever, that a dissonant voice will be heard. You are free to assume that no such dissonant voices exist. That is your privilege. I’m just observing this particular event and noting that nobody here was told what to say. If the audio or video clips showed that to be the case, then this would be very interesting. But this isn’t any more interesting than any other time any other politician has appeared in a “candid appearance” with “the people”. Perhaps your “everybody” knows that every public utterance of any soldier in favor of Bush is a patent lie. But I have enough experience with the modern military and its culture to know that they overwhelmingly went for Bush in both elections, and it wouldn’t take strenuous hand-picking to find a few who would express heartfelt support for the leader, mission, and policies. This includes the poor and underprivileged ones as well. This is why I don’t go through the charade of “supporting the troops” and why this particular video is no big revelation. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/125 "2005-10-18T00:08:12Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > _Nobody_ with a functioning brain is as stupid as some claim Bush is… Reminds me of an old gag: Man 1: He’s not as dumb as he looks! Man 2: He _couldn’t_ be! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/126 "2005-10-18T00:18:24Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > OK… well, what I’m getting from this audio is that they went through the paces of the broadcast, who would ask what type of question, and what kind of question would be asked. This is pretty standard and not dishonest, at least not within broadcast norms. What I was looking for was coaching on what the answers should contain, emphasize, or support, and I’m not hearing that at all. You’re not concerned that Barber’s questions were nearly identical to Bush’s questions, word-for-word? Nor that the White House was insisting that the entire event was unstaged? > [@](#): > > Mitchell: “During today’s rehearsal, Barber played the role of the President. Here’s one of Mr. Bush’s questions in the practice session.” > > Barber: “I’m interested in how your pre-election operations are going.” > > Mitchell: “And here’s how it was repeated when the cameras were rolling with the President in place.” > > George W. Bush: “-confident? I mean, how do you feel like the operations are going?” > > Mitchell: “Here, from the rehearsal, is a soldier practicing his answer.” > > Unidentified soldier: “We’re working in northern Iraq right now with an operation we call Operation Saratoga.” > > Mitchell: “And here’s how it appeared on the broadcast.” > > Unidentified soldier: “We’re surging in an operation called Operation Saratoga.” > > Mitchell: “But the White House claimed only hours earlier that it would be unscripted.” > _– NBC Nightly News_ ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/127 "2005-10-18T00:44:47Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > You’re not concerned that Barber’s questions were nearly identical to Bush’s questions, word-for-word? Nor that the White House was insisting that the entire event was unstaged? In this case, what would really get me excited about dishonesty would be if Barber had said something like… “and when the President asks this question, here’s what we want you to say”. That would be the money shot, and it isn’t there. So what we have here is a basic dog-and-pony show, a time-worn staple of political theatre. Of course it isn’t particularly informative, authentic, or meaningful, but also not damning evidence of a conspiricy to broadcast soldiers saying things they didn’t really formulate or believe. But hey, if you’re needing to get your Bush hate on, yeah, this will do in a pinch. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/128 "2005-10-18T01:03:16Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > In this case, what would really get me excited about dishonesty would be if Barber had said something like… “and when the President asks this question, here’s what we want you to say”. That would be the money shot, and it isn’t there. So what we have here is a basic dog-and-pony show, a time-worn staple of political theatre. Of course it isn’t particularly informative, authentic, or meaningful, but also not damning evidence of a conspiricy to broadcast soldiers saying things they didn’t really formulate or believe. But hey, if you’re needing to get your Bush hate on, yeah, this will do in a pinch. The clip I saw showed a lady in a uniform telling the group when to say their lines. She specifically mentioned to the female sargeant, “after you talk about New York.” The same one who talked to the President about meeting him in New York. What was the point of this interview anyway? Probably because the White House couldn’t get away with hiring actors to do play your typical GI. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/129 "2005-10-18T01:58:50Z")
> [@you with the face](#): > > You think _Bush_ is responsible for fooling the electorate? Do you really think that without his team of Svengalis that Bush would be able to convince anyone that he should be president? I think you give the man too much credit if you think Bush is the one doing the tricking. > > Remember that in the story the Emperor was just as convinced as the public that he was wearing clothes. George “I have a mandate” Bush is naked but doesn’t know it. He insulates himself from bad press so he doesn’t have to hear anything but praise. He thinks being a “war president” should automatically earn him points, even though he earned that title by starting an unnecessary war. He values loyalty above all other things, because loyal people don’t tell him anything that he doesn’t want to hear. Like the word no. > > I think this “craftiness” that people attribute to Bush is imagined. There ain’t nothing crafty about this man. Sure, he’s smart enough to surround himself with intelligent people. But even the high school jock who never learned how to read is smart enough to know that if he wants to keep playing ball, he needs to pay a few brainiacs to do his homework for him. You seem to be saying, at one and the same time, that Bush surrounds himself both with smart people who tell him what to do and with yes men who tell him what he wants to hear. I know that isn’t directly contradictory, but it sounds mixed up to me. You are making an assumption that Bush is as simple as his public persona suggests. We all agree his public persona is manufactured. The one thing we do know is he managed to become POTUS. The default assumption has got to be that it takes brains or at least some sort of pretty sharp rat cunning to do that. If you are going to argue to the contrary, the onus is on you to prove your position. But given that Bush is very careful always to wear his “good ole boy, jus’ one of you regular folks” face at all times when in public, you might find that proof hard to come by. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/130 "2005-10-18T03:17:38Z")
I have no respect for the man. But, I mean, FUCK how do you mumble and stumble through a prepared speech you have right the fuck in front of you? How do you come across like a total idiot when you have the questions and answers in front of you? Unbelievable. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/131 "2005-10-18T04:10:10Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Propaganda. Pure and simple. > When the people lead, the leaders will follow. The power is ours, we have only to assert it. When propaganda no longer works, there will be very little of it. And, unfortunately for you and me, it still works. It would be impossible to underestimate the intelligence of the average American. “It’s taking longer than we thought.” ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/132 "2005-10-18T06:25:57Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > I have no respect for the man. > > But, I mean, FUCK how do you mumble and stumble through a prepared speech you have right the fuck in front of you? > > How do you come across like a total idiot when you have the questions and answers in front of you? Maybe the rumors about him drinking again are true? Hell, look at how he fumbled with that earplug – could he really be that klutzy sober? I dunno what if any truth there might be to such allegations, but damn, that performance makes a person wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/133 "2005-10-18T07:57:00Z")
There’s a huge difference between saying, “Sergeant, you speak about New York; Captain, you speak about Iraq” and "The lines were scripted. Are y’all trying to prove your ignorance or is it your prejudice? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/134 "2005-10-18T09:31:28Z")
p.s. I don’t particularly like Bush, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/135 "2005-10-18T11:13:32Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > There’s a huge difference between saying, “Sergeant, you speak about New York; Captain, you speak about Iraq” and "The lines were scripted. > > Are y’all trying to prove your ignorance or is it your prejudice? No, there is NOT a huge difference between telling people what to say and scripting it. There’s not even a LITTLE difference. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/136 "2005-10-18T12:46:20Z")
Are you just in love with a jerkish response to make or did you not notice that they weren’t told what to say, but rather who would be the so-called expert to handle the question? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/137 "2005-10-18T13:16:33Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Are you just in love with a jerkish response to make or did you not notice that they weren’t told what to say, but rather who would be the so-called expert to handle the question? That was jerkish? Pointing out the fact that they were told what to say when you insist they weren’t is jerkish? Damn, glad I didn’t call you a whack-job reactionist with a hair-trigger temper and a Mormon persecution complex like I was thinking. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/138 "2005-10-18T13:37:20Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > You seem to be saying, at one and the same time, that Bush surrounds himself both with smart people who tell him what to do and with yes men who tell him what he wants to hear. I know that isn’t directly contradictory, but it sounds mixed up to me. Not necessarily. He surrounds himself with people who are both smart and share the same worldview. He hears what he wants to hear because he’s being told it by people who want to say it, are smart enough to think of a rationalization for it, and can explain it articulately. Geenral intelligence is not incompatible with a capacity for self-delusion. > [@](#): > > The one thing we do know is he managed to become POTUS. The default assumption has got to be that it takes brains or at least some sort of pretty sharp rat cunning to do that. Or an ability and willingness to be manipulated by cunning rats. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/139 "2005-10-18T13:37:29Z")
Your last posting proves that you are certainly a jerk. I made my posting in response to yours which misrepresented what I posted. I clearly stated that there’s a difference between telling someone what to say and telling someone who it is to say something. Maybe in your vacuum of a skull, there’s no difference; however, for those of us connected with reality, there is. There’s nothing wrong with my temper. It’s just too bad you don’t like getting called out on an asinine comment you post for the world to see. Finally, “Mormon persecution complex?” What a consummate jackass you are! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276/140 "2005-10-18T13:38:50Z")
My last posting above is directed to Biggirl. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-video-chat-with-soldiers-was-scripted-rehearsed/326276.md?page=8)