The President as Average Joe

Excerpt from the Washington Post


By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 2, 2006; Page A04

"While thinking on his feet, Bush often plays the rube. When Melia got up last week, the president cut him off before his question. 'You're going to ask me if I read the book,' Bush said.

'I gave the president a copy of our annual report, 'Freedom in the World,' before he took the stage,' Melia explained to the audience.
The president gave his instant review: 'Little print, no pictures.'

Melia did not miss a beat and compared it to another book Bush likes to cite. 'It's the bible of freedom,' Melia said.

When the crowd laughed, Bush protested, ' I'm the funny guy.'"