The WaPo's Dana Milbank has a hissy fit over President Bush giving an exclusive interview to the (U.K.) Sun - Prez in Topless Tabloid: London Paper Nabs Rare Bush Exclusive.
Word on Fleet Street is it's an obvious payoff to the Sun's owner, Rupert Murdoch, the conservative publisher behind many Bush-friendly news outlets such as Fox News. Officials at the White House acknowledge that it was a reward to the Sun for its unstinting support of the United States regarding the war in Iraq. (The Sun's pro-Bush stance also got it an interview with Vice President Cheney in late 2001.)Ruh Oh! It must be the VRWC at work!
But Bush aides also said it was done on the recommendation of Tony Blair, Britain's Labor Party prime minister, who has worked hard to bring the Sun away from its Tory Party roots.Or something like that.
Bush, meanwhile, has given no solo interviews this year to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Time or Newsweek. And he hasn't given an exclusive interview in his entire presidency to the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe and dozens of other major publications.Do I detect a bit of envy? In any case, most US papers don't need interviews. It's easier to make stuff up.
