AP: BOO!

By TOM RAUM, Associated Press Writer

VATICAN CITY - President Bush joined throngs of the faithful on Friday in paying final respects to Pope John Paul II, the pontiff whose stands on abortion and other social issues meshed with his but who criticized both him and his father for waging war with Iraq.

Not only was Bush the first U.S. president to attend a papal funeral; he also was headed a delegation to the three-hour funeral Mass that included the first President Bush and President Clinton.

Bush was close to the front of the section reserved for world leaders, who are being seated in alphabetical order — in French. The United States in French is Etats-Unis. A parallel section will seat Catholic leaders.

Bush sat on the aisle in the second row, next to his wife, Laura. Beside them were French President Jacques Chirac and his wife, Bernadette. The two presidents shook hands.

When Bush's face appeared on giant screen TVs showing the ceremony, many in the crowds outside St. Peter's Square booed and whistled.
_________________________________

FLASHBACK to September 3, 2004:

The Associated Press has retracted its Friday afternoon report that a crowd at a Bush rally in West Allis, Wisconsin booed when President Bush offered ex-President Clinton best wishes for a speedy recovery from coronary bypass surgery scheduled for next week.

In a report that moved on the AP wire at 9:27 a.m. Saturday, the AP said: "This is a correction to an incorrect story posted by AP on Friday stating the crowd booed the President when he sent his good wishes. The crowd, in fact, did NOT boo."

A transcript of Bush's remarks released by the White House noted applause after Bush's offered Clinton "best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery."

ABC Radio Network news also confirmed that the Clinton reference was applauded, not jeered.

In its original version of the story, the AP had reported: "Bush's audience of thousands in West Allis, Wis., booed. Bush did nothing to stop them."

The erroneous report prompted a firestorm of outrage on interactive news web sites like FreeRepublic.com, where posters complained of media bias and circulated contact numbers to protest the AP's false claim.

In a revised version of the story that moved on the wire late Friday, the AP said: "The crowd reacted with applause and with some 'ooohs,' apparently surprised by the news that Clinton was ill."
________________________________

Another AP story involving the President and booing-------

Is it possible people booed when Bush's face was shown?

Sure, although it certainly would have been a very inappropriate time for political protest and exceedingly boorish to do when the world was uniting to remember the greatness of John Paul II.

Personally, I don't have a lot of faith in AP reporting when it comes to booing.

I guess you had to be there.