Dana Perino: "Helen, the president went to war to remove Saddam Hussein"

[sabra]

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/03/white-house-say.html#more

<snip>

Unidentified reporter: So at what point -- I mean, I guess I just -- there is the impression that the vice president doesn't care about what the American people think in policy like that. Is that a wrong impression? And does the president share that impression?

Perino: I think that is the wrong impression. I think that the vice president and the president both, together, all of us across the administration, would like for people to support the president's decisions. We realize that that's unrealistic, especially in a time of war -- and in particular this war. And while we're not able to change public opinion, we also have to follow a principle and stand on principle. And you have to ask yourself, what kind of a person do you want in the Oval Office? And America will have this choice to make in November of 2008 -- before I get ahead of myself.

So we believe that the president stood on his principle. He hasn't chased public opinion polls. He's aware of them, but he hasn't made decisions because of them, and I think there's a distinction. Just because you don't make decisions based on opinion polls doesn't mean you don't care what people think. We are all Americans. We care deeply about what people think.

Helen.

Reporter Helen Thomas: The American people are being asked to die and pay for this, and you're saying they have no say in this war?

Perino: I didn't say that, Helen. But, Helen, this president was elected --

Thomas: Well, what it amounts to is you saying we have no input at all.

Perino: You had input. The American people have input every four years, and that's the way our system is set up.

Thomas: Every four years.

Perino: And we listen to --

Thomas: It sounds familiar.

Perino: -- different points of view. The president, in fact, had many meetings with members of Congress leading up to his decision about the surge.

Thomas: Supposed to be a government for the people, of the people, by the people?

Perino: I would submit to you that people across America, if asked what type of a president do you want: one that stands on principle or that one that chases polls? And I think that they would want --

Thomas: What's the principle of going to war against the people who did nothing to us?

Perino: Helen, the president went to war to remove Saddam Hussein. He talked all about this yesterday in his speech. I'll refer you to that.

[Supersedeas]

1. Peppy Perino's pom-poms are old and ragged

[malaise]

2. Bravo Helen Thomas

I love you sis. :yourock:



Add pix

[trof]

11. BOOM-A-LACKA, BOOM-A-LACKA, BOOM BOOM BOOM!

PLEASE HELP ME GET OUTTA THIS ROOM!
Poor Dana.
:evilgrin:

[malaise]

19. LOL

:rofl:

[rurallib]

3. So when Hussein was removed, why didn't we leave?

We are in a 'war' with no enemy. If we were to sign a peace treaty tomorrow, who would be the other signatory.
How will we know we win when there is no opponent? If we lose who will be the victor?
Inquiring minds are curious.

[Initech]

24. Exactly my question. What are we still doing there?

Once Saddam was removed and executed, we should've got the the hell out of there and focused all our efforts on moving our troops to Afghanistan, finding Bin Laden, and ending this god forsaken war.

[SpiralHawk]

4. The BFEE-enabled Boogeyman Saddam's has been "gotten" for how long?

All that remains in Iraq is fear and oil profits...

[JDPriestly]

5. And here I thought the war was about Al Qaeda and WMDs.

I question whether Congress would have entertained the thought of supporting even threatening war had they known that the real goal was just to get rid of Hussein. I don't believe that it is legal under international law to invade a country just to depose its leader. Is Dana Perino admitting that Bush committed a war crime?

[Gman]

6. Helen is having entirely too much fun!

Helen just keeps it up and won't back down. Helen knows that just calling on her raises Perino's blood pressure 10 points because she knows Helen'll make Perino talk about something she doesn't want to talk about. Gotta love Helen!

[malaise]

8. I agree 100%

Helen is the greatest :D

[Elspeth]

7. We only have input "every four years?"

What definition of democracy is she working from?

[Triana]

9. We really don't have it then, either...

...see M$M and Diebold, Ohio and Florida...corprat-owned media and obviously-jerryrigged corprat-owned voting machines choose our candidates and our "leaders" FOR us.

[Johonny]

10. My input every 4 years

gets ignored:(

[hifalutin]

20. It certainly is if

you live in Fla or Michigan.

[lpbk2713]

12. BushCo only pretends to listen every four years.

That explains it. NOLA wasn't in that four year cycle.


You go, Helen.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

13. When Perino was recently on TDS, she said that Helen's questions weren't based on fact.

I couldn't believe that Jon just let that go.

:grr:

[alarimer]

14. I would prefer a President that chases polls to on who stands on the WRONG principles.

And I don't think listening to the American people is "chasing polls".

Dick Cheney is an asshole.

I want these people jailed immediately. And send that idiot Perino with them. Some people are too stupid to live.

[burythehatchet]

15. Best nickname ever

Spinderella

[Elidor]

16. When the history of this era's journalism is written

I think that exchange from Helen will be one of the rare jewels of it all. The most perfect framing of the whole situation with Bush, from the only person in that room who is unafraid of the Bushies.

[warrior1]

17. how can dani

even speak with her mouth full of bush?

[jtrockville]

18. Doesn't "regime change" violate international law? (nt)

[Solly Mack]

22. It sure does

[DCKit]

21. Helen is a National Treasure. n/t

[Solly Mack]

23. Perino said Bush committed a crime. Regime change is a violation of international law

Not that America honors international law...or does anything about it when government violates international law.

Still...

sigh

[GreenPartyVoter]

25. How can anyone not love Helen?

[dajoki]

26. Oh, Really?

the president went to war to remove Saddam Hussein. He talked all about this yesterday in his speech. I'll refer you to that.

I thought it was about WMD and fighting them "over there".

[earthboundmisfit]

27. Why does Dana EVER begin a sentence with "I think"?

If she ever DOES think - who gives a shit what SHE thinks?

[opihimoimoi]

28. Hele was talking to a Pub Air head..In France..peeps scare the Gov't..in USA, Gov't scares the peeps

Its been changed....from Gov't for the people, of the People, By the People...

Now its..Gov't FOR the Corps, BY the Corps, and FOR the Corporations..

Fascism in our de facto Faces...

[RichardRay]

29. My father died last December.

He was a journalist, a newspaperman, and proud of it. He hated what has happened to his profession.

He held Helen Thomas in the highest regard, as he did Molly Ivins.

When we choose the bash the Main Stream Media, please remember that there are some committed folks out there who still remember what it means to be a journalist, maybe not very many, but some.

[L. Coyote]

30. The PEOPLE know Bush went to war to steal Iraq for BIG OIL!

[L. Coyote]

31. Is that why the fledgling USA invaded Ohio and committed genocide, to overthrow a bad leader?

[kevinbgoode]

32. I love Helen Thomas. . .

and I think it is a slap in the face to the bullsh*t generation when an experienced, REAL journalist who has lived through many wars can so directly call the Administration on their crap.