19 August 2005
The difference between Abe Lincoln and W
¶ 12:20 PM 
Lincoln, in meeting a mortally wounded soldier in a field hospital:
W, in not meeting with grieving mother Cindy Sheehan:"Are you really the president?" he asked."Yes, I am," Lincoln replied quietly. Then he asked if there was anything else he could do.
"Would you please hold my hand?" the soldier asked. "It will help to see me through to the end."
In the hushed room, the tall, gaunt president took the boy's hand in his and spoke warm words of encouragement until death came.
President Bush, noting that lots of people want to talk to the president and "it's also important for me to go on with my life," on Saturday defended his decision not to meet with the grieving mom of a soldier killed in Iraq...."I think the people want the president to be in a position to make good, crisp decisions and to stay healthy," he said when asked about bike riding while a grieving mom wanted to speak with him. " And part of my being is to be outside exercising."
