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Hannity falsely claims Bush did not play golf while country was at war

February 04, 2010 12:41 am ET — 30 Comments

During a segment in which Sean Hannity and his guests declared that President Obama was "out of touch" with the American people, Hannity stated that former President Bush "did not play golf while this country was at war" and that Bush "seemed to be far more in touch" with the country than Obama. In fact, Bush did play golf while the country was at war, as evidenced by 2002 video of him denouncing a terrorist attack, then telling reporters, "watch this drive," before swinging at a golf ball; additionally, although Bush later declared that he gave up golf in 2003, he took up the hobby of biking.

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Hannity: Bush "did not play golf while this country was at war"

During a panel discussion on the February 3 edition of Fox News' Hannity, Bush White House communications director Nicolle Wallace asserted that Obama is "out of touch with what's going on, on the streets of this country." At the end of the segment, Hannity stated: "George Bush, who you worked for, did not play golf while this country was at war. ... [H]e didn't want the families of loved ones serving -- or that may have lost a loved one -- seeing him on a golf course. He seemed to be far more in touch."

Video captured Bush playing golf in 2002

Bush: "Now watch this drive." On August 4, 2002 -- several months after the United States began bombing Afghanistan -- Bush was filmed speaking to reporters on the golf course. Immediately after denouncing a suicide bombing in Israel, Bush said: "Now watch this drive," then took a swing.

Bush gave up golf; took up biking. On May 13, 2008, Politico reported that Bush said he gave up golf in August 2003, quoting him saying: "I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf. ... 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." However, as The Washington Post reported, "Although Bush says he has given up golf, he is a mountain-biking enthusiast who has been photographed taking part in rides. He took up biking after an injury sidelined him from running." Bush was also seen playing golf in October 2003, as a video MSNBC aired shows.

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    • Author by Bad News (February 04, 2010 1:23 am ET)
      1 2
      Poor Sean, "Pants on the Ground"


      Mr. News
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Bad News (February 04, 2010 1:39 am ET)
        3 2
        "Pants on the Ground"
        "Pants on the Ground"
        "Looking like Fox News with your Pants on the Ground"

        "Pants on the Ground"
        "Pants on the Ground"
        "Looking like a Fool with your Pants on the Ground"
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Floyd (February 04, 2010 8:07 am ET)
          2 14
          Ever notice ... the only ones who wear their pants on the ground are liberals? Hmmmmm ... must be a connection, because no one else would consider Bush playing golf and someone saying so would be headlines at a liberal web site. I guess there just isn't enough going on for them to report.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by Dradeeus (February 04, 2010 9:06 am ET)
            10 1
            I think.. you're missing the point of this website, it's not dedicated to pointing out things that happened over 5 years ago.

            It's dedicated to correcting factual errors of the right-wing mainstream media. No matter how you feel about President Bush playing golf during war, the point of this video's posting is... Hannity is mistaken at best, and full-out lying at worst.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by jediknight65 (February 04, 2010 9:31 am ET)
            8  
            nice try but this article is about hannity flat out lying. and him getting caught and called out for it.

            sorry you don't like having facts shown to you but thats the breaks. deal with it.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by billienellie (February 04, 2010 5:20 pm ET)
              2  
              Obama is accused of playing golf "in the heat of the moment".
              Bush never played golf "in the heat of the mement"
              Report Abuse
          • Author by bintx (February 04, 2010 10:04 am ET)
            3 1
            Really? Around my neck of the woods, most folks who wear their "pants on the ground" are teen-aged boys. Are you saying that all teen-aged boys are "liberals"? Wow! I didn't know.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by bintx (February 04, 2010 10:05 am ET)
            8  
            Hannity told a bald-faced lie, you dolt. Had nothing to do with whether Bush played golf . . . which he did until October 2003. While he said it was out of respect for the UN employees who died in Iraq, it was actually because his doctors told him it was bad for his knees. He took up mountain bike riding.

            Hannity is a liar. That's the point of this piece.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by political_left-religious_right (February 04, 2010 11:37 am ET)
            2  
            I guess there just isn't enough going on for them to report.

            Ever notice ... the only ones who claim that there must not be enough to report on when there are many new items here every day are neocons? Hmmmmm ... must be a disconnection to reality, as evidenced by our friend Flawed.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by New Frontier (February 04, 2010 11:38 am ET)
            2  
            I guess there just isn't enough going on for them to report.
            By "them", you must mean Hannity. Because Hannity is who reported about who was playing golf and when.
            Report Abuse
    • Author by Bad Wolf (February 04, 2010 6:58 am ET)
      3  
      Bush may not have played MUCH golf during his time in office, however, he DID spend more than 1/2 of his time on vacation. To which I can only say "Thank God" Can you imagine how badly he would have screwed up the country had he been on the job as much as Obama?

      It appears that objective facts are unimportant to Hannity et.al., as long as they have an opportunity to bash Obama.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by magnolialover (February 04, 2010 7:59 am ET)
      3  
      See, I would never begrudge anyone with a tough, and highly stressful job (such as President) a little R and R, regardless of what is going on with the country. Everyone needs some down time, and I think that most reasonable people in the country, realize this, as evidenced by the cries of TGIF I hear every single week.

      Bush deserved a little downtime (although he took more than everyone else), and so does Obama. Playing golf is a good outlet for stress, so is biking (I know because I'm a cyclist myself).
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Floyd (February 04, 2010 8:28 am ET)
        2 12
        I guess we won't have to worry about Obama taking 'down time' while being a president at war. He doesn't care about that we are at war, he will play whatever sport he wants whenever he wants. It's not like there's a right-wing website that really cares if he plays golf or goes bowling while America is at war. And, there isn't a right-wing website that cares whether anyone says he did or didn't play golf while at war.
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        • Author by zellyman (February 04, 2010 8:35 am ET)
          1  
          I think you've completely missed the point of this article, which isn't getting on to Bush for anything... its a media website talking about someone in the media who said something outlandish.

          Your White Knighting is sweet, and I'm sure Shrub appreciates it, but really, stop being so dense.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by jediknight65 (February 04, 2010 9:32 am ET)
          9 1
          i seem to recall certain blogs, sites and people of the right wing echo chamber screaming about the president vacationing in Mass. and then again when he was in Hawaii.

          wanna try again?
          Report Abuse
          • Author by whatIthink (February 04, 2010 10:02 am ET)
            9 1
            I agree. Not too mention the countless right wing bloggers and news sites (WND, CNS, Newsmax) that somehow consider diplomatic trips as "vacations". And another thing that righties always point out when Bush on vacation is brought up, is "well,they were 'working' vacations, he was always in touch and received briefings everyday" yet somehow refuse to admit that the same goes for every President, including Obama. And these are the SAME people that crticized Obama as being "elitist" and "foreign" because he was in Hawaii during Christmas as if Hawaii was not part of US and the Presidents home state, yet were strangely quiet when the RNC decided to hold their annual shindig in...Hawaii.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by jediknight65 (February 04, 2010 10:23 am ET)
              8  
              funny how they forget to mention that bush was on vacation for an entire 1/3 of his presidency
              Report Abuse
              • Author by foghornleghorn (February 04, 2010 10:35 am ET)
                8  
                Including many, many, many days leading up to 9/11. By the way, anybody got photo evidence of his "ranch"?
                Report Abuse
                • Author by bintx (February 04, 2010 2:21 pm ET)
                  5  
                  It's no ranch. That rustic farm house was there as a backdrop for photo ops. The same round bales of hay were strategically placed in the same place for all 8 years. He bought the land in 1999 prior to the 2000 election on the recommendation of Rove. It was strictly political theater, as was the phony West Texas accent, to make Bush appear to be an "aw, shucks" kinda guy. He wasn't and he's not. He's an East Coast preppy, not a cowboy.

                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by temphandle tearfully55timetable (February 04, 2010 6:22 pm ET)
                       
                    He also bought that "Ranch" right before the 2000 election. Rancher my a**....
                    Report Abuse
        • Author by bintx (February 04, 2010 10:11 am ET)
          7  
          Is there a right-wing website which cared that Bush spent over 1/3 of his presidency "on vacation"? He spent 96 of the first 233 days of his presidency "on vacation." Then Sept. 11 happened. He stopped with the vacations for a bit, but ever the party boy, started right up again. Pay attention, Floyd.

          Bush is the one who took us into the just war in Afghanistan and then pulled our troops and resources from that just war to the unjust and unnecessary invasion of Iraq. Bush is the REASON for the problems in Iraq and Afghanistan. One should never have happened and the other one was ignored by Bush. Keep up, Floyd, keep up.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by jarossiter (February 04, 2010 11:29 am ET)
          8  
          "He doesn't care about that we are at war,"

          Do you have any evidence that this is true? Can you give us ONE word or deed as evidence of this inflammatory statement?


          Report Abuse
        • Author by peebs755 (February 04, 2010 1:31 pm ET)
          6  
          Floyd is doing his best to wind people up. Too bad its so transparent. Also Floyd, you need to stick to facts. Your mistaken narrative doesn't work here.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by magnolialover (February 04, 2010 4:44 pm ET)
          1  
          He doesn't care?

          Hmm, seems as though, he has OK'd 25,000 additional troops into Afghanistan. Also, he's authorized another 30,000 to be deployed soon. Also, he's upped the defense budget to equip our armed forces for the fight that they are now facing.

          Not to mention, that according to estimates, Obama has killed off more terrorist leaders in the year that he has been in office than Bush did in his 8 years.

          Yeah, he does't care at all....
          Report Abuse
    • Author by Ination (February 04, 2010 2:18 pm ET)
      5  
      Seriously?! "NOW WATCH THIS DRIVE!"

      That line is so ridiculously infamous. Come on!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by DellDolly (February 04, 2010 2:54 pm ET)
      5  
      Bush seemed more in touch with the nation?

      God, how out of touch can Hannity be if he thinks that Bush was ever "in touch"?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by txthinker (February 04, 2010 4:46 pm ET)
         
      And we all know about Dubya's Segway encounter.....

      [http://images.usatoday.com/money/_photos/2003/06-18-bush-segway.jpg]
      Report Abuse
    • Author by billienellie (February 04, 2010 5:17 pm ET)
         
      I have never seen so many falsely accused posts about obama.
      Guess mr obama is falsely accused of everything he is accused of.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by hurricaneyankee52983 (February 04, 2010 6:55 pm ET)
      3  
      ED SHULZ had a good clip on this showing W playing golf on4 different dates while we were at war in both AFGANISTAN and IRAQ.Hannity=liar and hypocrate.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Cal-el (February 05, 2010 12:09 am ET)
         
      Oh? How does he explain this?

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3p9y_OEAdc
      Report Abuse

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