When President Bush said the following, why didn't a big controversy follow?

Question

"The truth of that matter is, if you listen carefully, Saddam would still be in power if he were the president of the United States, and the world would be a lot better off." --George W. Bush, second presidential debate, St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 8, 2004

If Kerry's bungled joke shows he's anti - military.

Doesn't this Bush slip of the tongue show the war against Iraq was a war of choice?

Answer 1

I find it curious that Republicans overlook all of the 'botched' remarks Bush has made in these past six years, yet make a big deal out of Kerry's 'botched' remarks about Iraq.
Seems to be a double standard at work here.... -RKO-

Answer 2

Maybe, just maybe, (I'm not being sarcastic, just typing as I'm thinking) the gaffe doesn't comport with some underlying perception of him. He clearly misspoke. The reason people know he did is because he has always said that Saddam was bad, and we're all better off without him. It was clearly not a "secret signal" to his supporters, or a Freudian slip.

Other Bush quotes - like some of the other ones you and others mentioned (I just discoverd the comments section, and I go back when I can) - DO seem to confirm people's fears about Bush's alleged autocratic and warlike nature and his purported disregard for Constitutional rights. THOSE gaffes "play into type," or his perceived type. I would tell Democrats to pick and choose from the many Bushisms and focus on those.

Also, to beat a dead horse, Clinton made very complimentary comments about Senator William Fulbright, his political mentor and a VietNam war opponent, but also a segregationist. I think it was at his retirement. People didn't attack Clinton for doing so - first, because unlike others, he can speak English fluently, and second, because Clinton was NOT known to be, or even remotely suspected of being, anti-black in ANY way.

I tend to get long winded. I'll quit while I'm ahead!!! :)

Answer 3

becuase of a republican majority everywhere, and a republican driven media. Notice to difference with different presidents. If it is a republican pres, they find the media that support them the most. Dem, same thing. People blow things up for no reason. If you really listen to what Kerry said, it isn't that big of a deal. I was in the army and i don't care that he said that. i WAS stuck in Iraq, due to Bush.

Answer 4

Even if Saddam was still in power today north Korea would still have a weapons program more advanced then Iraq's.

Answer 5

Just another Bushism. BIG difference in this and what Kerry said. Then...his behavior afterward...refusing to apologize, then being forced to apologize by his own party, THEN his lousy excuse for an apology. Kerry is finished.

Answer 6

That's becaue of WHO owns the media. You think they don't edit it to suit their needs and benefits? Do you think that propagnada is something that only exists in other countries and Hollywood movies? Think again.
Who the people in America follow will be determined by who is in charge and/or owns the media.

Answer 7

Because it just got lost in the shuffle of the myriad other Bushisms.

Answer 8

Uh, no it doesn't. Everybody knows that Bush mangles speeches, and frequently misspeaks, omitting words, and everybody also knows that that is not what Bush meant, even his most demented detractor.

Get real.

Answer 9

You never mispoke?

I'm not nearly as charmed with the man as I once was, but this sort of attack is just silly.

Answer 10

The statement makes no sense at all, and so it was discarded