RUMSFELD HAS NO JUDGEMENT ON DINNER JOKES
Thu Mar 25 2004 17:28:28 ET
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld was asked Thursday about jokes made by President Bush at the annual Radio and Television Correspondents' Dinner.
Joined in progress...
QUESTION: I want to go back for a minute, if I might, for both
of you, to the question of this seriousness of Iraq. I want to
stipulate fact, laughter and applause from the audience.
And then he showed another picture, "No weapons over there," laughter
and applause. Another picture, "Maybe under here," laughter.
So my question really, truly, in all seriousness is both for the
president, with respect, and for the news media, is it appropriate to
make a joke -- seriously, sirs -- about the hunt for weapons of mass
destruction when both of you, of course, were involved in the
difficult issue of sending troops to war for that hunt? And did the
news media also blow it by sitting there and laughing?
QUESTION: Did we blow it last night?
RUMSFELD: I wasn't there, and I think...
QUESTION: Which is why I'm reading the transcript very
accurately to you.
RUMSFELD: I think you would have to -- to know what I would
think, I would have had to be there. I think the context of those
evenings -- I wasn't there, as you said, but I think I've attended in
previous years on occasion and I just am not in a position to be
judgmental about that.
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