(2004-11-30) — A White House spokesman today denied reports than President George Bush will defect or seek asylum in Canada as a way to protest what some experts see as a right-wing takeover of the U.S. government.
The initial report apparently came from an unnamed Canadian immigration official who said, “Mr. Bush is a celebrity who is outspoken about his political views. Usually, when someone like that crosses the border, we just automatically start the asylum paperwork.”
The White House immediately denied the report, noting that while the president is disappointed that conservative lawmakers have blocked the intelligence reform bill, he loves his country and will remain and fight for change no matter who currently controls things in Washington.
The spokesman quoted Mr. Bush as saying, “My Canadian trip is just a diplomatic visit to our faithful neighbors whose partnership with the U.S. over the years has been inconsequential in so many ways.”
