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Wednesday, April 3, 2002
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Oprah and the President
It was the kiss many thought saved his campaign, but now two years after the George Bush love fest on the Oprah Winfrey show, Winfrey is blasting the White House.
It all started after Oprah declined Bush's offer to go to Afghanistan as part of a delegation. Star Jones of “The View” said an upset Oprah called her about the controversy. Star says, “She did say, ‘Star, I felt extremely used by the Bush administration.”
That's because Oprah, well known for her charity work, reportedly only turned down the trip because she was committed to other fundraisers. Star says, “She says, ‘So imagine my surprise when I wake up and read in the newspaper that I’m being cavalier. I'm too busy. That's just not true.’”
The Chicago Tribune was the first to write about the supposed rebuff. Now People magazine, in its issue out Friday, reports on the controversy. Associate Editor Larry Sutton says, “I think Oprah's just worried that it looked bad that she turned down the president.”
Today Winfrey's camp told “Extra” that Star Jones' version of events is accurate.
White House officials are doing some tap dancing, afraid to alienate fans of Oprah.
On “The View,” Barbara Walters said the Bush camp told her “they understood that Oprah couldn't make it. The delegation was not cancelled because of her, but because it just seemed to be even more dangerous.”
Now the real danger for Bush may lie in this political minefield.
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