Fact-checking Bush’s ‘transparent’ claims
At a joint press conference at Constitution Hall in Bratislava, Slovakia yesterday, Bush and Putin did something they rarely do at home — answer reporters’ questions.
One stood out. Andrey Kolesnikov, a correspondent for the Russian business newspaper Kommersant, effectively argued that Bush and Putin “have nothing to disagree about” because neither take democracy and freedom seriously.
The Washington Post’s incomparable Dan Froomkin noted Bush’s response to the question, with a little fact-checking along the way, all of which suggests the Russian reporter is on to something.
“I live in a transparent country.”
True? Well, aside from the White House’s tight control on government information, habit for putting pundits on the payroll, and penchant for habitual classification, sure, it’s true.
“I live in a country where decisions made by government are wide open and people are able to call people to — me to account, which many out here do on a regular basis.”
True? Well, aside from the fact that Dick “Go F— Yourself” Cheney believes he can operate with total secrecy, the president doesn’t believe in answering questions from a free press, and Bush believes he’s free from responsibility with the passing of “an accountability moment,” sure, it’s true.
“Our laws and the reasons why we have laws on the books are perfectly explained to people. Every decision we have made is within the Constitution of the United States. We have a constitution that we uphold.”
True? Well, aside from the fact that the Patriot Act was written in total secrecy, Cheney and his top lawyer steer the White House political operation to maximize presidential power, and the attorney general believes the president can ignore laws he doesn’t like, sure, it’s true.
“And if there’s a question as to whether or not a law meets that constitution, we have an independent court system through which that law is reviewed.”
True? Well, aside from voting rights decisions that undermine the court’s legitimacy, the fact that the Supreme Court justices hang out with defendants before hearing their cases, and a little court ruling from four years ago that some of us still remember, sure, it’s true.
“So I’m perfectly comfortable in telling you our country is one that safeguards human rights and human dignity, and we resolve our disputes in a peaceful way.”
True? Well, so long as you ignore all of the systemic torture we’ve engaged in, and the war we started under false pretenses, sure, it’s true.
Come to think of it, maybe Bush shouldn’t lecture Putin on democratic reforms. He may not appreciate the irony.