2004 Carole Coleman and George Bush Interview for RTE

Carole Coleman's probing TV interview of President Bush led to complaints by Bush and his press officers for the disrespectful manner of Coleman who interrupted the President several times. Even though the questions were approved by The Whitehouse press office beforehand, The Whitehouse made a complaint to the Irish Embassy.RTE stood by the conduct of the interview and Carole's journalism.
Carole's account of the interview is documented in her book America Alleluia. In it, she explains how the press office corps informed her that "The President leads the interview". She replied "I don't agree, it's the journalists job to lead the interview".It was also suggested that perhaps Carole could edit the tapes to take out the interruptions-but she made it clear that this would not be possible.Further co-operation with The Whitehouse proved difficult, with a promised Laura Bush interview being suspended.
Carole's questions were honest, well thought out and simple, what the ordinary Irish people wanted answered. I admire her tenacity to pursue with the questions and search for answers to the dismay and fustration of Bush, while maintaining control.
This interview was never aired in the US.