TV-Friendly Bush Visit Caused Few Changes Fri May 2, 4:40 PM ET Add White House - AP to My Yahoo! By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer ABOARD THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN - President Bush (news - web sites) didn't have to make a dramatic tailhook landing on this aircraft carrier. He could have flown here on a helicopter as presidents normally would, the White House said Friday. Officials also acknowledged positioning the massive ship to provide the best TV angle for Bush's speech, with the vast sea as his background instead of the very visible San Diego coastline. Bush's aides were delighted by the saturation television coverage and front-page pictures of Bush's visit Thursday to this ship homebound from the Persian Gulf. Press secretary Ari Fleischer (news - web sites) dismissed any suggestion that the overnight trip was custom-ordered to provide campaign footage for Bush's re-election campaign. "This is not about the president. This is about thanking the men and women who won a war," he said. Fleischer had said last week that Bush would have to fly out to the carrier by plane because the Lincoln would be hundreds of miles offshore, making helicopter travel impractical. As it turned out, the ship was just 39 miles from the coast when Bush scored a presidential first by landing on the flight deck in a small S-3B Viking jet that was snared by a restraining wire. He climbed out of the cockpit wearing a flight suit and carrying a helmet under his arm, and was swarmed by crew members. The scene was captured on live television and replayed again and again. "He could have helicoptered, but the plan was already in place," Fleischer said. "Plus, he wanted to see a landing the way aviators see a landing." Navy officials said they made minor changes to the Lincoln's route home to accommodate the president. The changes did not keep personnel at sea longer than they otherwise would have been, said John Daniels, a ship spokesman. In fact, the Abraham Lincoln was scheduled at one time to arrive in San Diego on Saturday, but that was moved up to accommodate Bush's schedule, said Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Bender. The carrier arrived Friday. There was no denying the ship's movements were carefully choreographed to benefit Bush. Commanders gauged the wind and glided along at precisely that speed so that sea breezes would not blow across the ship during Bush's speech. That could create unwanted noise, Daniels said. When the wind shifted during the speech, the ship changed course to minimize the breeze, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Terrance Rice. The camera angle also was arranged by the White House to ensure it did not show the nearby coastline. A huge banner reading "Mission Accomplished" was strung along the bridge and loomed behind Bush. The Navy sent all but a couple of fighter jets off the plane Wednesday and Thursday. Those left behind were left on the flight deck as props for Bush's speech. The 1,100-foot-long carrier steamed near the San Diego coast all night to come in at its appointed time Friday morning.
So? Is the only way this would have meant something to these people or Scott Lindlaw is if he were just hanging out in a jet and saw a carrier and decided to land? Presidents get out and walk during the Inauguration Parade and though it seems so spontaneous, they actually get out of the car at a predetermined point which has the highest concentration of Secret Service Agents. So? If a President is so passionate about it or if they have such a strong opinion why do they need a speech written at every stop they go to many times just briefly reading through it? Every speech of the President, and most from past Presidents is written. So? Presidents do not just show up at schools, manufacturing facilities, and other functions as they are driving down the highway. Each location will have its own “TV Friendly” setup as well as changes that are made to make whichever President is there look and sound better. If this is some sort of shock, or news to anyone that things of this nature are staged then you have been under a rock. Look at every public speech by the President and you will see many things that show the entire event is staged.
Sorry Glynch, but that "controversey" was started from an unnamed Pentagon source, flamed by ex-Generals in TV news studios, and then widely denounced by the current Military leaders. The proof that this criticism was dead wrong, by the way, lies in the result of the attack on Iraq. Donald Rumsfeld is the Secretary of Defense, and he also commands great respect from the troops. I am sure that he is involved in the decision making, and I am also sure the our troops are comfortable with this reality.
