Bush To Hold Prime Time Press Conference Tonight
President George Bush will hold his first prime time press conference in over a year, raising the question: what took him so long?
The press conference will be at 8:30 EDT (does that stand for End DeLay Term? Well, probably not…) tonight. According to reports the prime purpose is to give more details on Social Security reform.
The irony is: George Bush has usually done quite well with his press conferences. True, his performances may have been uneven, but in general he makes his case quite well if he’s done his prep and he increasingly shows the kind of humor that many Americans find appealing. Perhaps the decision was made to put him out there because of the political context. Reuters notes:
The 8:30 p.m. EDT East Room press conference comes at a time when Bush is facing some of the lowest job approval ratings of his presidency.
Recent polls show he has been losing support for adding private retirement accounts to the Social Security system — his top domestic priority — and that the public is increasingly concerned about the direction of the economy and soaring gas prices.
Bush could also face tough questions on Iraq after the top American general acknowledged this week that the insurgency remains undiminished in its capabilities in the past year despite landmark elections and U.S.-led efforts to crush the rebels.
“This is an important period in the national debate over strengthening Social Security,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in announcing the press conference. “The president will talk in more specific ways about his ideas for advancing a bipartisan solution.”
However, Democrats have complained that so far the White House’s idea of a bipartisan solution is to say it must be done its way. Democrats have solidly opposed Bush’s proposal.
But it’s unlikely that’ll be the only other subject. The press conference comes after a tempestuous period crammed with huge controveries over the Congress and President’s intervention in the case of the late Terri Shiavo, the furor surrounding House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a controversy over whether the administration was trying to bottle up statistics showing an increase in terrorism plus the looming prospect that Republicans may use the “nuclear option” to eliminate the filibuster on judicial nominees.
So three key questions now linger regarding this press conference:
- Will the press ask the President tough questions? Reporters are supposed to set the question agenda and ask tough ones. Those are often questions the subject (a Democrat or Republican) may not want to get.
- Will reporters INSIST on doing follow up questions? Even if the President picks someone to avoid a follow up, the next person should then ask a follow up to make sure that question has been fully answered. Follow up questions are a vital part of the interviewing process. It doesn’t matter if someone is a liberal or conservative — they should get solid questions and, if necessary, follow up questions for more details.
- Will Jeff Gannon be there? Or will he be busy (or booked)?
