Lessons On Democracy

Here’s an interesting exchange that occurred during the press conference featuring President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bratislava, Slovakia.

(For context, here is the last paragraph of the POTUS’ opening remarks.)

This meeting also gave me an opportunity to share my belief that it's in my country's interest that Russia be a strong and viable partner with the United States. It's very important that we establish not only a working relationship, but that we understand that in the 21st century strong countries are built by developing strong democracies. And so we talked about democracy. Democracies always reflect a country's customs and culture, and I know that. Yet democracies have certain things in common; they have a rule of law, and protection of minorities, a free press, and a viable political opposition.

(The exchange starts here.)

Q (Through interpreter.) Alex Amishkov (ph), Interfax. To follow up on the issue of democratic institutions, President Bush recently stated that the press in Russia is not free. What is this lack of freedom all about? Your aides probably mentioned to you that our media, both electronic and our printed media, provide full coverage of the manifestations and protests in our country. Regional and national media often criticize the government institutions.

What about -- why don't you talk a lot about violation of the rights of journalists in the United States, about the fact that some journalists have been fired? Or do you prefer to discuss this in private with your American colleague?

Do I detect the smell of snark?

PRESIDENT BUSH: I don't know what journalists you're referring to. Any of you all still have your jobs?

No, I -- look, I think it's important any viable democracy has got a free and active press. Obviously, if you're a member of the Russian press you feel like the press is free, and that's -- feel that way?

Q (Off mike.)

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, that's good. (Chuckles; laughter.) But I -- I talked to Vladimir about that, and he wanted to know about our press. Said a nice bunch of folks. [ed note: Heh.] And he wanted to know about, you know, as you mentioned, the subject of somebody getting fired. People do get fired in American press. They don't get fired by government, however, they get fired by their editors or they get fired by their producers or they get fired by the owners of a particular outlet or network.

(All emphasis mine.)

No doubt, Mr. Amishkov’s line of questioning was in reference the "resignation" of CNN’s Eason Jordan—and possibly to the early retirement of CBS’s Dan Rather. I do wish that Mr. Amishkov had been honest enough to spell out the specifics of what he meant, however. But, in spite of the sarcasm, I liked that fact that he asked. He presented an opportunity for the president to give a lesson to on-lookers on how a free press operates.

CNN didn’t have to invite Mr. Jordan to resign following his remarks about the US military—and there’s still no public access to the transcript—but it did, likely because of the bottom line. And that bottom line had no relation to government intervention or pressure.