Bush Lied About Giving Up Golf: Video Proof

President Bush said with a straight face this week that he gave up golf in honor of the fallen soldiers in Iraq, claiming that he quit after the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad in August 2003:

"I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf," he said. "I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal."

Bush said he made that decision after the August 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, which killed Sergio Vieira de Mello, the top U.N. official in Iraq and the organization's high commissioner for human rights.

"I remember when de Mello, who was at the U.N., got killed in Baghdad as a result of these murderers taking this good man's life," he said. "I was playing golf -- I think I was in central Texas -- and they pulled me off the golf course and I said, 'It's just not worth it anymore to do.'"

In fact, Bush went golfing two months after the bombing the UN headquarters, and Keith Olbermann found the video:

Comments

[ChicagoJohn]

I've noted that in all of the articles on this, the actual question that Bush was asked was ommitted.
Here it is:
"Q Mr. President, was there a particular moment or incident that brought you to that decision, or how did you come to that?"

"THE PRESIDENT: No, I remember when de Mello, who was at the U.N., got killed in Baghdad as a result of these murderers taking this good man's life. And I was playing golf -- I think I was in central Texas -- and they pulled me off the golf course and I said, it's just not worth it anymore to do."

Now from that, bloggers and commentators have taken away that Bush made a pledge *that day* to never play golf again.
To 'prove' that Bush had lied, they point out he was on the course 2 months later..... in 2003.

Note that in the 4 years since, neither Olbermann, the Huffington Post, or any other news outlet has evidence of Bush playing golf. To suggest that Bush walked off the golf course the day that deMello was killed and promised never to come back isn't reading the facts, nor the transcript.
Bush was asked if there was any moment or incident that helped bring him to that decision. He listed the assassination of deMello.

If you hate GWB, cool. But don't mislead what the question was, and what the answer was. It makes you look petty and dishonest.

-John

[Bdwyre]

And why is the fact that Bush lied considered news? The man has lied from day one and will continue to lie. There is no truth, no honor, no integrity to be found in this sorry administration.

[delsop]

I could perhaps live with his ascertion (even tho he lied about it) that he gave up golf in honor of the troops that he's put in harms way.
What I find more dispicable was when he appeared before the White House Press Photographers Ball or was it the White House Correspondents Dinner, in Washington and made fun of looking for the WMD. Over 4000 of our service people and countless thousands of Iraqis have died and the many thousands who have crippling injuries they will endure for life. And there he is making fun of the WMD that were not there.
Now that is nauseating. You don't have to be a liberal to be angry on this issue.

[escrow7]

News flash!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!
GW Bush always lies!
If he lied about the Iraq war, what makes you think he won't lie???

[FirstShirt]

Wow...stop the presses. This is really a story. Not, not the one about George Bush. The one about you caring whether he plays golf or not. Keep focusing on the lame duck. And also don't forget to break out the chanpagne and celebrate your victory in November. Do it now in May. Keep focusing on the inevitability of your win.

Then watch the last Super Bowl again.

[ibsteve2u]

It is quite possible that he didn't know he lied...he's not much on personal accountability, you know. Anytime he gets caught out in a lie, it is always someone else's fault - "bad intelligence" or some such.

No doubt some day in the future we'll be informed that his "Official Presidential Diary Keeper" erred when entering the date of his last game of golf.

[ibivi]

My question is what are they going to put in his library? He doesn't read, he lies, and he can't put two words together. The missing emails? God, he's pathetic.

[RGKahn]

What a surprise! This president and his spokesperson has lied, at one time or another on every possible occasion and on every possible topic from almost day of of his presidency. The have lied on such important national security items as to why the schrub fell off his bike, on several occasions. He broke a British Bobby's ankle on a recent trip to England, and lied as to what happened. There is nothing that this president and his people will not lie about. And the worst part is that have have no shame, they will look you in the eye and lie while smiling.

[BillKen]

This guy is a liar and a scumbag and as a former Marine I want to vomit every time
I see or hear him. I personally feel he is responsible for the death and mental destruction
of every Marine that has served in HIS WAR and not come home physically or mentally. I wish him nothing but misery and pain all the days of the rest of his life. I hope that someone will stand tall and see that he and his cronies are shipped to the Hague and tried for war crimes. I for one can't stand a coward and jorge is a poster boy for cowardice, what a sorry SOB. Semper Fi

[enoughalready13]

Congress owes this country an apology for not acting in trying this man for his crimes and treason. And every soldier, family of soldiers, and donors to military causes/charity is owed money from the oil companies, Bush family, Cheney family and other Republican cronies who have profitted shamelessly from this fake war at the expense of raping the good people of this country. My heart goes out to all those - including me - who ever gave this man and his corrupt administration the benefit of the doubt.

[SeriousBlack]

So lemme see if I've got this straight...

First, he makes the claim that he gave up golf as some kind of retarded (my apologies to mentally handicapped individuals) way to honor the fallen troops and their families.

Then, as screwed up as THAT is even if it WAS true, we find out he was lying about it anyway.

This man truly boggles the mind. (BTW, feel free to substitute any noun you care to for "man" in that sentence.)

[ChicagoJohn]

Serious,

No, you don't have it straight. Bush didn't make the claim. The interviewer asked him about it. Read the interview.
Secondly, it wasn't as a way to honor the families. That's only how its been portrayed in articles that have taken his words out of context. He said that he didn't want the families of someone who had recently died seeing the commander in chief playing golf.

Now that may be a tiny little thing, but to suggest it was a result of the president being insensitive is beyond the pale.

Finally, if you read the entire interview, you'll see that the president was asked:
"Q Mr. President, was there a particular moment or incident that brought you to that decision, or how did you come to that? "

Now keep in mind, he's been asked if there was a particular moment or incident that BOUGHT HIM TO THAT DECISION.
He answered the assassination of deMallo.
That doesn't mean that the day deMallo was assassinatied, as Bush walked off the golf course, he said "never again". It does mean that it sent him in that direction.

You'll note that because after golfing TWO MONTHS LATER he hasn't been golfing since.
The suggestion that he pledged on the day that deMallo was assassinated is the retarded thing. With that in mind, I'm not surprised that Olbermann came to that conclusion.

-John

[MBryant]

Come 'on guys

"I've given up golf" is like Obama's "I've given up smoking" lie - they are common white lies among all Americans and don't really mean anything. Bush has "substantially" given up golf and Obama has "substantially" given up smoking - but you are still going to catch them at it sometimes. People say "I love my spouse" and they mean it - it is substantially true - but still a lot of people cheat.

Lying in and of itself is not illegal - it's not even ALWAYS immoral. Forgiveness is a good thing...

It is silly to call this an impeachable thing. Bush has done things that are impeachable. Forget this and focus on something real...

[mydogshakespeare]

If Clinton could be impeached for lying about extramarital mischief, then Bush can be impeached for lying about extracurricular sports.

Bush: The WORST fucking American president ever.

[CaptainHowdy]

Not to defend the kangaroo trial of Clinton, but the catch was, that Clinton lied under oath.

[serialcoma]

I think it depends on what your definition of "golf" is.....

[tyrdofwaitin]

Yes, Leper that's no news! "

"Bush's rush-order of Emperor Clothes have arrived, 7 years and five months late in a size too small". That's news!

[FirstShirt]

Hey don't any of you liberals make any sharp moves further to the left or you will break the nose of the poster just behind you.

[Leper]

George W. Bush lied. That's news.

[Weeza]

Its amazing to listen to the things that come out of the mouth of this delusional idiot fool. I am sooo
incensed about this comment.
He knows nothing about sacrifice, patriotism or serving his country. He feels bad about nothing

My heart aches for our commander in thief . We should honor his sacrifice by putting a golf course up smack in the middle of Bagdad for this mentally unstable idiot and his neocon friends and insist he take up golf again.