I take this as a final, definitive word on the back and forth about whether there was booing at the Bush rally.
This comes from a reporter on the scene whose judgment <$NoAd$>and honesty I completely trust …
They didn’t boo. More accurately, the overwhelming number of people didn’t boo (I heard maybe one or two, and even those died with “hospitalized.”) AP got it wrong.
When Bush said “En route here we just received news that President Clinton has been hospitalized in New York,” there was a big intake of breath and some loud “oohs” in the crowd. It was unmistakably shock. No boos.
Bush then followed up, and the official transcript has it right: “He is in our thoughts and prayers. We send him our best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery. (Applause.)”
End of story. I give Bush and the crowd their due.
