At campaign stop, Bush pokes fun at himselfHe charms Ohio crowdCOLUMBUS, Ohio -- Over the years, President Bush has mastered the art of self-deprecating humor on the public stage, routinely sympathizing with crying babies at crowded events and apologizing for showing up to speak instead of his wife.
But even by his standards, Bush took modest humor to new heights yesterday. In the course of a single event here, Bush compared himself to a hot-air salesman, a lawyer, and a talk-show host -- and hardly bothered to disguise the fact that audience members were there as political props, not as undecided voters trying to make up their minds or glean information about the candidate. "I've asked some citizens to come and help me make my points," Bush said, before introducing several guests at the "Ask President Bush" appearance in Columbus. Bush, who can sound exceptionally animated when he talks about combating terrorism or deposing Saddam Hussein, could barely bring himself to mention the domestic issue -- flexible hours for workers -- that was supposed to dominate the town-hall-style event, as a counter to criticism from Senator John F. Kerry that he lacks a second-term agenda for the economy. The Kerry campaign had anticipated such an intense push by Bush on flex time that it arranged a conference call by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on the subject before the president's appearance. But Bush brushed past the topic. When he did mention the flex-time proposal, Bush did so by putting words in the mouth of an invited guest, Phil Derrow, CEO of Ohio Transmission Corp. "He's got another interesting idea that I think is very important for the country to adopt -- flex time," Bush said as he wandered back and forth across the stage, microphone in hand. "I'm glad you told me what my interesting idea was," Derrow replied. "I'm not a lawyer, but it looks like I'm leading the witness," Bush cracked, breaking into a wry smile as he acknowledged he had been caught reading from the prepared script. At another point in the event, Bush asked Derrow to describe his company, which owns and operates air compressor stations. "And then we sell air to our customers," Derrow said. "You and I are in the same business," Bush retorted. "Is it hot air, by any chance?" As always, the crowd lapped up his self-deprecating touch, and Bush hunched his shoulders as he laughed at his own joke. But for all his impromptu humor on the stump, Bush had difficulty getting through a practiced text at the White House earlier in the day, as he signed a defense appropriations bill.
In trying to pump up Americans' confidence that the government is preparing for any form of attack, Bush risked doing the opposite, saying: "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." © Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.
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