Blitzer claimed Bush's statement that U.S. "among the most religious" countries "sounded almost like a veiled rebuke" of Obama

Summary: Discussing Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the White House, CNN's Wolf Blitzer stated that President Bush's comment that the United States is "among the most religious" countries in the world "sounded almost like a veiled rebuke of the controversial words that Barack Obama made." Ed Gillespie, counselor to the president, responded: "I think you're reading way too much into it," adding later, "[I]t's not a veiled anything."

During the April 16 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, after airing a clip of President Bush's comment during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the White House that the United States is "among the most religious" countries in the world, host Wolf Blitzer asserted: "Now, it may just be me and I may be reading way too much in what the president was saying, but it sounded almost like a veiled rebuke of the controversial words that Barack Obama made out in San Francisco several days ago that he's been very criticized over." Blitzer's guest, counselor to the president Ed Gillespie, responded by saying, "I think you're reading way too much into it, Wolf." Gillespie added: "I can tell you, having been involved in the preparation of the president's remarks and conversations surrounding them, that at no time in that process did the name Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton or John McCain come up. So it's not -- it's not a veiled anything. I think it was pretty explicit, and the words should be taken on face value." Blitzer responded: "It was in marked contrast to what Barack Obama said, but all right -- we'll leave it at that."

Blitzer made similar comments on CNN's Political Ticker blog, asking: "Was President Bush deliberating taking a veiled swipe at Obama? As I said, I don't know, but it was curious -- at least to me."

From the April 16 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:

BLITZER: I want to play a little clip of what the president said in welcoming the pope to the White House earlier today. Listen to these words.

BUSH [video clip]: The United States is the most innovative, creative, and dynamic country on Earth. It is also among the most religious.

BLITZER: All right. Now, it may just be me and I may be reading way too much in what the president was saying, but it sounded almost like a veiled rebuke of the controversial words that Barack Obama made out in San Francisco several days ago that he's been very criticized over.

Was that any response to Barack Obama? Or am I reading way too much into that?

GILLESPIE: I think you're reading way too much into it, Wolf. But that's, you know, that's the nature of the business that you're in. I don't quarrel with it, but I can tell you, having been involved in the preparation of the president's remarks and conversations surrounding them, that at no time in that process did the name Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton or John McCain come up.

So it's not -- it's not a veiled anything. I think it was pretty explicit, and the words should be taken on face value.

BLITZER: It was in marked contrast to what Barack Obama said, but all right -- we'll leave it at that.

Ed Gillespie, thanks very much for coming in.

From the CNN Political Ticker blog post headlined "Blitzer: Bush, the pope -- and politics?"

President Bush delivered a carefully-written address touching several sensitive issues. But I was especially struck by these words: "The United States is the most innovative, creative and dynamic country on earth. It is also among the most religious."

I may be reading way too much into those words, but I was struck by the contrast to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's controversial words about those people in small towns in Pennsylvania who've lost their jobs. "And it's not surprising then they get bitter," Obama said, "They cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Was President Bush deliberating taking a veiled swipe at Obama? As I said, I don't know, but it was curious - at least to me.

What I do know is that the Pope's words very uplifting, especially when he blessed the United States with his "fervent prayers that Almighty God will confirm this nation and this people in the ways of justice, prosperity and peace."

—A.I.