She is best known for a probing television interview of President George W. Bush just before his official visit to Ireland in the summer of 2004. The interview, for which questions were approved by the White House press office, led to complaints by President Bush and his press officers for the "disrespectful" manner of Coleman, who interrupted the President several times, and the cancellation of Laura Bush interview for RTE.
The White House complained to the Irish Embassy about the interview. An Irish government spokesman commented that "within Government, there was an acknowledgment that the interview lacked respect." RTE, however, stated it "totally stands over the conduct of the interview and Carole's journalism.
Coleman stated that she resorted to interrupting the President because she was afraid his stock answers would eat up all time she had for interview: "It was a filibuster of sorts. If I didn’t challenge him, the interview would be a wasted opportunity". She also said she was surprised by the White House staff's reaction to the interview, but that she had no regrets:
In October 2005, Coleman published Alleluia America!. The book begins with an account of her interview with Bush and its aftermath. It goes on to describe Coleman's travels through the parts of the United States which voted for Bush in the 2004 election and the people she met in those places.
References
- Carole Coleman, Alleluia America!: An Irish Journalist in Bush Country, ISBN 190414876X
External links
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Last updated on Tuesday July 22, 2008 at 10:48:39 PDT (GMT -0700)
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