February 26, 2003

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Ari Gets Laughed Out of the White House Briefing Room

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

BuzzFlash Note: Although we didn't see this occur, we have received three separate reader accounts indicating that the White House press corps finally laughed at the absurdity of Ari Fleischer's lies, at least once.

The following is the account from one of our BuzzFlash e-mail reporters about the White House news briefing on Tuesday, February 25:

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ON CSPAN --- WH press conference with Ari ended just now. It's grim. Not much new but a reiteration of the "Saddam must disarm" and some hints that Saddam and other top Iraqi leaders might be assassinated if GW gives the executive decree.

Then one tidbit floated up. A reporter asked about a French report that says Bush is offering a bundle of concessions (and I think she actually said 'buying votes') to Mexico and Colombia, granting worker amnesty and so on. Ari tap-danced. Then she (the reporter) started to press the issue by saying "they (the French) are quoting two US State Dept. Diplomats that Bush intends to give work permits to Colombia and Mexico."

WOW. WOW.... Ari just drew himself up with imperious indignation and said something like "you're implying that the President is buying the votes of other nations and that's just not a consideration" or words to that effect.

And guess what happened? The whole press corps, normally sheep, broke out in laughter... sweet, derisive laughter. They kept on laughing as Ari turned on his heels and strode out. Sheesh.

Go down to White House Press Briefing (02/25/2003) and click on the video. After it buffers, play from about 28 minutes forward for context, 30 minutes forward to watch Press laugh at Ari's BIG FAT GOP LIE.

http://www.c-span.org/
http://video.c-span.org:8080/ramgen/edrive/iraq022503_whpb.rm

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Addtional Reader Note:

Here is the excerpt from today's WH Press Briefing transcript posted at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030225-9.html#18 to add to the discussion about him being laughed out of the room.

Dana Briggs
Bellingham, WA

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

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