He may be president, but is he a contender?
President Bush and Sugar Ray ‘fought’ on the White House lawn Friday.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - After a week of political fights in Washington, President Bush looked ready for one more as he headed to Camp David Friday.
Boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard brought his family to the White House, and stood in the VIP guest area to greet the president as he walked to the helicopter.
CNN White House Producer Erika Dimmler reported the President walked out onto the South Lawn alone, and upon seeing Leonard standing near the path that leads to the helicopter, put his two fists up in a mock boxing stance. Sugar Ray responded with a similar pose, and for a few moments they looked locked in battle.
It was a rare time Marine One wasn’t the center of attention on the South Lawn.
Afterward, Sugar Ray toured the new press office and briefing room with his family, even venturing beneath the podium to view what remains of the old White House swimming pool. There, he took the time to sign his name one of the faded old blue tiles, Sugar Ray Leonard, and the date.
–CNN's Erika Dimmler and Steve Brusk
HooRay for Sugar Ray!!
Bush needs Vick's dogs for Democrats.
Just another 'photo-op' to make the CIC look tough! CNN, I'm surprised you would waste your time and effort on something like this that amounts to basicly nothing! Guess it may amuse some people? lol
Wow. The stupidest news item I've seen in a while. Seriously, Bush holding a fist to a boxer warrants coverage on the CNN Website?
You guys disgust me. The toadiness and the deference to power shown here is shameful. Bush lies to the American people about the level of al-Qaeda involvement in the Iraq Civil War (it's really 5% of attacks, not the overwhelming majority as he leads us to believe) and you report on a mock boxing match on the South Lawn. Apparently, that's more important.
Where is your integrity? Bush has lied to the American people about Iraq, weapons of mass destruction, the budget, and still you act as his stenographers.
Sugar Ray should have jabbed him in the head a couple of times.
President and contender? Actually, neither. The confirmation of the practice of voter caging as revealed during the Gonzales hearings indicates that this Bush fella was never elected but rather named the winner by a Republican kangaroo court in 2000. Massive voting irregularities in Ohio in 2004 kept the fool in office. Why doesn't CNN finally cover this story? It won't hurt your bottom line, I promise.
Fluff and stuff. Never any real, hard-hitting news... But at least you give us a chance to comment on the fluff and stuff. Thanks for doing your civic duty, kinda.
@Mike
Funny how we see things differently...I don't think it makes him look tough at all, but rather slightly awkward... while ol' Sugar Ray looks tough. I would have said CNN was trying to make the Pres look silly. Your opinion of such things greatly depends on which side of the isle you stand on I guess.
Here's a thought...
...Every month, our politicians/government officials get in the ring for 3-2 minute rounds of boxing as a pay-per-view event with either a pro-boxer or a fellow worker.
What a great idea to fundraise for things/people the government says they need money for, while satisfying the public's thirst for entertainment.
Well Steve, you can take my comment any way you want to, but I made the comment standing on the 'blue' side of the isle, not the 'red' one. I'll stand by my comment, and reiterate that I don't know why CNN would even go to the trouble of covering this side show. As to Sugar Ray, I'm sorry that he was put in this awkard situation, seeing that he worked himself up the hard way and the honest way in life, unlike his WH counterpart. I have no problem at all, if CNN would strictly do a segment on Sugar Ray only.
To Barry:
Sorry Barry, I just noticed that I had posted Steve's name instead of yours. And yes, I will agree that the photo does make Bush look silly. The 'tough guy' comment was not really meant to imlpy that Bush was tough looking, but rather he always comes across with this macho man image. I'm just tired of seeing his photo-ops. Maybe a better phrase would be-"burned out".