Bush doesn't want to hear from the American People

by Matthew Gabriele in Current Affairs, Events, Letters To Editors, Media Watch, Participate.

From today's MediaCorps alert:

Earlier today we asked you to call in your questions to George Bush tonight during an exclusive interview with Larry King at 9:00 p.m. EST.

We just found out that George Bush will NOT be taking any questions from viewers. In fact, Bush's appearance on Larry King LIVE is taped.

Should we have expected anything different?

At campaign stops across the country, the Bush-Cheney campaign has routinely barred individuals who disagree with the president from attending public events with Bush, and the Republican National Committee has required event-attendees to sign endorsement forms that pledge their support for the re-election of Bush.

If we can't get into Bush's events and we can't ask him any questions during a rare, exclusive hour-long interview, WHEN will we ever get the chance to ask him the important questions? When are we going to get the chance to ask him what he plans to do about the 1.9 million Americans have lost their jobs under his watch? Or that 44 million Americans still don't have access to health insurance? That our children and young people will shoulder a deficit that is already out of control? That higher education is completely out of reach for most Americans?

Think it's already bad enough? Check out newspaper clips of some of the latest Bush campaign stories --

Bush Spokesman Says Woman Should "Come To Her Senses" and Support Bush If She Wants To See Him. [Arizona Republic, 8/12/04] Sue Walitsky, communications director for the Kerry-Edwards campaign in Arizona, had a valid ticket to see Bush speak at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Pheonix, AZ, but the Bush-Cheney campaign refused her admittance with no explanation. Walitsky said that she wore no Kerry button and did not bring any Kerry campaign chum that would have upset Bush supporters. Danny Diaz, a spokesman for the Bush campaign said, "If she's willing to come to her senses and support him, we'll be happy to welcome her in." Walitsky said that the Kerry campaign allows everyone with valid tickets, regardless of political affiliation, to attend Kerry campaign events.

Campaign Staff Rips Up The Tickets Of Three Teenagers. [Reno Gazette-Journal, 6/19/04]] In Reno, Nevada, Bush's campaign workers stalked the line of attendees to a Bush rally to ensure that only his supporters were allowed inside. "Three Reno teenagers had tickets pulled out of their hands and ripped to pieces by a campaign staff member after someone in line pointed out an anti-Bush sticker on one of the teens' shirts." 17-year old Jonathan Daniel tried to assure staff that he wouldn't make trouble and only wanted to hear the president on the issues. The campaign would not be swayed. Daniel protested, "I believe it's my right as an American to hear where he is leading our country."

Family of Three Was Kicked Out Of Bush Event For Bringing A Pro-Choice T-Shirt. [Saginaw News, 8/6/04] The Millers, a family of three - husband, wife and daughter - were removed from a Bush-Cheney campaign event because the wife, Barbara Miller, brought a pro-choice t-shirt with her. A campaign worker confiscated the t-shirt informing the family that "We don't accept any pro-choice, non-Republican paraphernalia." The campaign worker returned an hour later with another worker and a security guard and accused the Millers of "smuggling t-shirts." Barbara Miller, who brought the t-shirt because she was cold and had not considered the implications of its pro-choice logo, reports that a guard grabbed their three tickets from her hand and ripped them up "violently and told her, 'They're no good anymore.'" A Bush campaign spokeswoman, Jennifer Millerwise, defended the right of the campaign to ask individuals who intend to "disrupt campaign events" to leave. "These events are put on ... for people of an open mind who are interested in hearing [Bush's] positive message and his vision for a future," she said. Theresa Miller, the daughter, said that was what she was there to do. "I'm not an American? I can't see my president?" she asked.

Here's what you can do to make a difference:

Write to all the major news networks with your questions for George Bush. Ask the major news networks to focus on the number of Americans who want George Bush to answer the real questions. Ask your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to join you in this effort.

To email CNN, click here.
To email MSNBC, click here.
To email ABC, click here.
To email FOX, click here.
To email CBS, click here.
To email NBC, click here.

Don't let this happen to you. If we can't get our questions directly to our president, let's take them right to the American people.