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Bush's kisses for fairer sex raise eyebrows
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-22 13:06

President George W. Bush sent tongues wagging this week, planting kisses that to many Americans looked more personal than professional on his two women cabinet nominees.

US President George W. Bush kissed National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice after nominating her for US Secretary of State, 16 November 2004. Bush sent tongues wagging this week, planting kisses that too many Americans looked more personal than professional on his two women cabinet nominees. [AFP]

Condoleezza Rice was given two affectionate kisses on the cheek when Bush introduced her at the White House on Tuesday as the new secretary of state.

Margaret Spellings, the new education secretary, was congratulated rather uniquely on a corner of the lips when she was presented the next day.

"Is there too much kissing going on at the White House?" said USA Today.

President Bush (L), kisses his nominee for Education Secretary Margaret Spellings in the Roosevelt Room of the White House Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2004. If confirmed by the Senate, Spellings would replace departing secretary Rod Paige in the Cabinet-level job of overseeing the Education Department. [AP]

Could it be that the born-again Methodist president is adopting "continental" habits, newspapers questioned.

"It was such a ... European gesture for the aw-shucks-I'm-jes-a-Texan president," said USA Today.

The Washington Post cast doubt on this theory however.

"He did not execute the double buss that is used as a greeting throughout much of Europe, organised crime and the fashion industry," said the Post. "There was nothing international about Bush's kisses," it concluded.

But the Post did say that the kisses have become "much discussed".

"While it is common for politicians to hug and kiss indiscriminately on the campaign trail, it is another thing altogether to see the president planting his lips on potential -- or current -- members of his Cabinet."

New male representatives in the administration have to make do with a handshake and a presidential slap on the back.

But commentators highlighted how Bush may have been in a difficult position as he has known Rice and Spelling a long time.

Rice is a family friend as well as Bush's national security advisor in his first administration.

Spellings moved to the White House as domestic policy advisor after helping Bush when he was governor of Texas in the 1990s.

Agriculture Secretary Anne Veneman is also expected to stand down before Bush's new inauguration on January 20 and the chattering classes are now waiting to see whether the president puckers his lips for her too, the Post said.

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