# What did Bush say? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 6, 2000, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176 "2000-09-06T03:18:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/1 "2000-09-06T03:18:16Z")
I haven’t watched the news all weekend. On the 10:00 news tonight they mentioned his half-assed apology for making a “offensive comment” to a reporter, but of course didn’t tell us what the offensive comment was. What did he say, to who, and what happened? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/2 "2000-09-06T03:19:53Z")
> [@](#): > > What did he say, to who, and what happened? Sorry. Should be “to whom”. I’m tired. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/3 "2000-09-06T03:25:49Z")
According to WOR radio, at some recent event he didn’t realize his microphone was on, and referred to a _New York Times_ reporter in the audience as “something that rhymes with ‘glass bowl.’” (really, that’s what they said on the radio! LMAO!) ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/4 "2000-09-06T03:26:07Z")
Bush made a comment to Chaney about a reporter: “He’s a major league asshole” Bush did not know there were any microphones on. And so what? He’s allowed to his opinion. The media is blowing this all out of proportion! ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/5 "2000-09-06T03:27:28Z")
Here you go, Kinsey: [http://www.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/09/04/bush.comment/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/09/04/bush.comment/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/6 "2000-09-06T03:44:28Z")
It’s also possible it was done on purpose. He’s gotten a ton of press because of it and it definitely will create a backlash popularity for him. Look what it did for his father in his infamous Dan Rather interview. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/7 "2000-09-06T12:35:31Z")
Thanks everyone. There was a big article about it the paper this morning, complete with the word “asshole.” “Glass Bowl”…that’s funny! You’re such a glass bowl! ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/8 "2000-09-06T13:59:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Bush did not know there were any microphones on. Lesson #1: If there is a microphone next to you, assume it is live, especially if you are a politician. (Former Ohio Representative Martin Hoke got nailed by this also.) > [@](#): > > And so what? He’s allowed to his opinion. The media is blowing this all out of proportion! If you want the media to provide balanced coverage concerning your campaign, it’s generally bad form to insult its members in front of a live mic. This is also the George Bush who recently called for a more civil discourse in the campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/9 "2000-09-06T16:13:11Z")
The comment was something like “There’s (reporter’s name), that major-league asshole from the New York Times.” I thought it was pretty funny when I heard about it, and I really don’t see this hurting Bush. After all, alot of those guys really are assholes (where do you think the stereotype of the the rude, inconsiderate news reporter came from?), although apparently this is news to the news industry. ---
**Author:** ![Ranma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Ranma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranma)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/10 "2000-09-06T16:26:41Z")
I think those news made it around the world…(3 times ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Needs2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5e925/32.png) [@Needs2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Needs2know)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/11 "2000-09-06T16:33:29Z")
What I found especially funny about the little episode was the TV news made a big issue out of it. Then…when replayed the video…they bleeped out the word!!! Needs2know ---
**Author:** ![fierra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58956e/32.png) [@fierra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fierra)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/12 "2000-09-06T16:41:46Z")
They didn’t beep it in the UK, and you could hear the VP cheerfully agree with him. Nice to know the two of them share the same policies so amicably… ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/13 "2000-09-06T16:56:05Z")
I doubt the VP agreed with him, but maybe the former secretary of defense did. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/14 "2000-09-06T17:07:06Z")
In the whole presidential campaign, this is the only clear statement anybody’s made yet. They should do more of this, not less. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/15 "2000-09-06T17:08:48Z")
The _Washington Times_ called it “a euphemism for a rectal aperture” ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/16 "2000-09-06T17:22:34Z")
NPR ran it uncensored, but they’ve been surprising me lately (as has 60 Minutes. . . I lately heard an interviewee ask “Can I say ‘bullshit’ on 60 Minutes?”). ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/17 "2000-09-06T17:23:07Z")
They’re making a big deal out of a non-event. Maybe Bush will loose the “major league asshole” vote? ---
**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/18 "2000-09-06T18:45:39Z")
They probably are blowing it out of proportion but it does bug me a little. I mean if they’re willing to say it about a reporter in such a public place it makes me wonder if someday they’ll make the same slip-up around some third-world leader at a Washington gathering. Bush talking to someone…“Chutney, the leader of Upchuckistan, is a real dickhead.” Then he turns around to see Chutney and the Sec. of State staring at him wide eyed. Yes, they’re probably blowing it out of proportion but I do hope he actually learns something from it, either that or gets his butt kicked in November. ---
**Author:** ![gabbyhayes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@gabbyhayes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gabbyhayes)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/19 "2000-09-06T18:53:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Robot Arm \* > \*\*In the whole presidential campaign, this is the only clear statement anybody’s made yet. They should do more of this, not less. \*\* I agree. It would be refreshing if GW Bush called each and every member of the fourth estate some insulting name or other. The shock was discovering what’s going on his head while he’s smiling sweetly (as he was when he said it). And Dick W. Cheney–a heart attack away from the presidency–had the lightning wit to come back with this rejoinder, while also smiling and waving to the crowd: “Yes he is. Big time.” I can’t believe anyone with a three digit IQ could bring himself to vote for these losers. Just my opinion, of course. ---
**Author:** ![TampaFlyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71e660/32.png) [@TampaFlyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TampaFlyer)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/20 "2000-09-06T19:44:58Z")
It’s not as bad as Clinton’s use of the n-word & Hillary’s FJB slur. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176.md?page=2)