March 31, 2008

President Bush was roundly and resoundingly booed at Nationals Park last night, which is not surprising in a city that runs more than 80 percent Democrat.

But it wasn't his war in Iraq, his profligate spending, or his inability to dance. The 50,000 baseball fans who showed up on the cold (really cold) night had to endure long lines just to get into the stadium — all because the president decided to drop by.

Whenever Bush attends a baseball game, every single fan has to go through the mags — emptying their pockets of all metal, turning on their cameras and cell phones for nosy Secret Service officers.

Last night was no different, except that last night was the first game played at the new stadium and things didn't go so well. Just 15 minutes before the game, there were still lines hundreds of yards long of fans waiting to get inside.

Of course, the president knew full well he was going to get booed (that's why one year he went to St. Louis to throw out the first pitch — he was cheered there). But he braved the jeers and took the mound. He fired — a ball, high and well to the third-base side of the plate. But he did fire it, throwing pretty hard (not easy in a bulky jacket, which he kept on to mask the even bulkier bulletproof vest he wore underneath — the Secret Service doesn't like to take chances).

There are plenty of
videos, so you can decide for yourself if Jason Embry of the Austin-American-Statesman, who served as the print pooler for the event, was correct when he said that "it seemed there were more cheers than boos, but not by much." It may well have depended on where one was sitting — some sections no doubt had more booing, others more cheering (we're guessing the seats close to home plate, where the moneyboys sat, cheered for his tax cuts).

Your blogger, though, was out in right field (section 142, with the real people, where he belongs) and offers this opinion — waaay more jeers than cheers.

Below is Embry's pool report to other reporters not so lucky to tag along with POTUS to the game.

— Joseph Curl, senior White House correspondent, The Washington Times

Pool report 2, 3-30-08

Potus and motorcade arrived at Nationals Park about 7 p.m. He disappeared for more than an hour for clubhouse visits.

After both the Braves and Nationals were introduced on the field (Nats' starters came in from outfield), and after Denyce Graves sang the national anthem, the two teams cleared the field. Nationals manager Manny Acta, 3B Ryan Zimmerman and owner Ted Lerner came back on. Then Bush emerged from the Nationals' dugout to throw the first pitch. He wore a red Nationals jacket and dark slacks.

It seemed there were more cheers than boos, but not by much. He walked quickly to the mound and almost immediately, with a high delivery, threw a high fastball that would have been a ball to anyone other than Yao Ming. Acta rose to catch it, manager and president quickly shook hands and Bush was waving to the crowd as he walked back into the dugout. The crowd reaction after the pitch was decidedly mixed. Bush, back in the dugout, gave the ball to team President Stan Kasten and he went back up the tunnel. Bush smiled throughout, despite the boos.

We're told Potus is watching the game from the owner's box and will do ESPN commentary in the third inning. It is now bottom of first and pool is watching from what appears to be a press conference room.

Jason Embry
Austin-American-Statesman