CINXE.COM

<html xmlns:tvservices="http://www.msnbc.com"><head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://msnbc.msn.com:80/id/13335238/","20060619211755","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1150751875"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"><meta http-equiv="pics-label" content="(pics-1.1 "http://www.icra.org/ratingsv02.html" l gen true for "http://www.msnbc.msn.com" r (nz 1 vz 1 lz 1 oz 1 cz 1 ) "http://www.rsac.org/ratingsv01.html" l gen true for "http://www.msnbc.msn.com" r (l 0 n 0 s 0 v 0 ))"><meta name="description" content="President Bush, who often teases members of the White House press corps, apologized Wednesday after he poked fun at a reporter for wearing sunglasses without realizing they were needed for vision loss."><meta name="Search.Document" content="story"><meta name="Search.Title" content="Bush apologizes for mocking reporter's ‘shades’"><meta name="Search.Image" content="/msnbc/Components/Photos/060615/060615_reporter7.jpg"><meta name="Search.Source" content="The Associated Press"><meta name="Search.Updated" content="Thu, 15 Jun 2006 15:46:46 GMT"><meta name="Search.Section" content="Politics"><meta name="Search.ImageSource" content="NBC News"><title>Bush apologizes for glasses faux pas - Politics - MSNBC.com</title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20060619211755cs_/http://msnbc.msn.com/css/html40.css"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20060619211755cs_/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7181924/"><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="MSNBC - Politics" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://rss.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032552/device/rss/rss.xml" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"/><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="MSNBC - Top Stories" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://rss.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032091/device/rss/rss.xml"><script src="/web/20060619211755js_/http://msnbc.msn.com/js/std.js"></script><script type="text/javascript">gEnabled=false;</script></head><body leftmargin="0" topmargin="0"><script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755js_/http://ads1.msn.com/library/dap.js"></script><span id="URholder" style="display:none"><script language="javascript" src="/web/20060619211755js_/http://msnbc.msn.com/js/msnrrua.js"></script><img src="/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnrrua/b30.gif" border="0" id="Rating" usemap="#RatingMap" originalimg="/images/msnrrua/b30.gif" style="cursor:hand;"/><map name="RatingMap" hp="/rate.ashx" ct="0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs" ii="zEaaZrbsYdcrQ0TyPlq%2f%2bA%3d%3d" it="long" ai="7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938" key="rrM+TOb%257f%2503%2500GTE0L%2508a4C%2512%2515U" hc="846134862" rtxt="You rated this item %userrating%"><area shape="RECT" coords="0,0,6,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y05.gif', 'Rating', 'qDJ24OIluo0uNvMZzfzC3w%3d%3d', 0, this)" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=zEaaZrbsYdcrQ0TyPlq%2f%2bA%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=qDJ24OIluo0uNvMZzfzC3w%3d%3d&c=0&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d13335238%26uart%3d1%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 0.5" i="/images/msnrrua/y05.gif" v="0.5"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="6,0,12,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y10.gif', 'Rating', '9%2fTJSrLQDXiXR9OZROM9LA%3d%3d', 1, this)" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=zEaaZrbsYdcrQ0TyPlq%2f%2bA%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=9%2fTJSrLQDXiXR9OZROM9LA%3d%3d&c=1&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d13335238%26uart%3d2%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 1" i="/images/msnrrua/y10.gif" v="1"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="12,0,18,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y15.gif', 'Rating', 'k92S7sVtHc8u0%2fJKodduVw%3d%3d', 2, this)" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=zEaaZrbsYdcrQ0TyPlq%2f%2bA%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=k92S7sVtHc8u0%2fJKodduVw%3d%3d&c=2&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d13335238%26uart%3d3%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 1.5" i="/images/msnrrua/y15.gif" v="1.5"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="18,0,25,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y20.gif', 'Rating', 'wwNi6qfWZpNNnOz2tgE46g%3d%3d', 3, this)" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=zEaaZrbsYdcrQ0TyPlq%2f%2bA%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=wwNi6qfWZpNNnOz2tgE46g%3d%3d&c=3&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d13335238%26uart%3d4%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 2" i="/images/msnrrua/y20.gif" v="2"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="25,0,31,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y25.gif', 'Rating', 'r3s%2b5SQDdCdotQw7uJEJVQ%3d%3d', 4, this)" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=zEaaZrbsYdcrQ0TyPlq%2f%2bA%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=r3s%2b5SQDdCdotQw7uJEJVQ%3d%3d&c=4&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d13335238%26uart%3d5%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 2.5" i="/images/msnrrua/y25.gif" v="2.5"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="31,0,38,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y30.gif', 'Rating', 'IbHTP9fC3P9%2fywHsyauAAg%3d%3d', 5, this)" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=zEaaZrbsYdcrQ0TyPlq%2f%2bA%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=IbHTP9fC3P9%2fywHsyauAAg%3d%3d&c=5&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d13335238%26uart%3d6%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 3" i="/images/msnrrua/y30.gif" v="3"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="38,0,45,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y35.gif', 'Rating', 'niwCSfEotF%2bKRW6oA50nVA%3d%3d', 6, this)" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=zEaaZrbsYdcrQ0TyPlq%2f%2bA%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=niwCSfEotF%2bKRW6oA50nVA%3d%3d&c=6&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d13335238%26uart%3d7%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 3.5" i="/images/msnrrua/y35.gif" v="3.5"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="45,0,51,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y40.gif', 'Rating', 'j1T1HxWbYOVE2C44AzhqXg%3d%3d', 7, this)" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=zEaaZrbsYdcrQ0TyPlq%2f%2bA%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=j1T1HxWbYOVE2C44AzhqXg%3d%3d&c=7&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d13335238%26uart%3d8%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 4" i="/images/msnrrua/y40.gif" v="4"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="51,0,58,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y45.gif', 'Rating', 'x4WuGm2685%2bLziBqv3%2byPA%3d%3d', 8, this)" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=zEaaZrbsYdcrQ0TyPlq%2f%2bA%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=x4WuGm2685%2bLziBqv3%2byPA%3d%3d&c=8&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d13335238%26uart%3d9%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 4.5" i="/images/msnrrua/y45.gif" v="4.5"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="58,0,63,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y50.gif', 'Rating', 'Ago95skFtW7Wfr1ywNZ6RQ%3d%3d', 9, this)" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=zEaaZrbsYdcrQ0TyPlq%2f%2bA%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=Ago95skFtW7Wfr1ywNZ6RQ%3d%3d&c=9&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d13335238%26uart%3d10%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 5" i="/images/msnrrua/y50.gif" v="5"></area></map><img id="rrir_Rating" src="/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnrrua/1x1.gif" width="1" height="1" style="position:absolute;"><input type="hidden" id="rrur_Rating" style="behavior:url(/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13335238/#default#userData)"><script language="javascript" defer="true">UGR('Rating')</script><script>var usrRating=3;var totalUsers=612</script></span><script type="text/javascript">s_prop41=usrRating+"|"+totalUsers;</script><div id="wrapper" class="w779"><div><a href="#skipnav" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">Skip navigation</a><script>pd_top('Story','html40','13335238','Bush apologizes for mocking reporter\'s ‘shades’','President Bush, who often teases members of the White House press corps, apologized Wednesday after he poked fun at a reporter for wearing sunglasses without realizing they were needed for vision loss.','U.S. News','Politics','','','1','11:46, 15/06/06','','hmedium','','','3032552','69718','', '1',0);pd_om('msnbcom','100');</script><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755im_/http://c.msn.com/c.gif?NC=1255&NA=1154&PS=69718&PI=7329&DI=305&TP=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fid%2f13335238%2f" width="0" height="0" border="0" alt=""/><script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755js_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/js/s_code_remote.js"></script><div id="nm_c1" class="nmX"></div><div id="nm_c2" class="nmX"></div><div id="nm_c3" class="nmX"></div><div id="nm_c4" class="nmX"></div></div><div id="head" class="w779"><table width="779" height="105" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="adbar"><tr><td align="center" valign="top"><script>ad_dap(90,728,'&PG=NBC9DW&AP=1390');</script></td></tr></table><div class="dMSNME_1"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="w779 pb9"><tr><td class="container" nowrap="true"><form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/" id="search" method="get" onsubmit="return sr_DoSearch()"><fieldset><input type="radio" class="ml0t10" name="search" value="Web"/> <label class="v4" accesskey="s" for="q">Web</label><input class="ml0t10" type="radio" name="search" value="MSNBC" checked="true"/> <label class="v4" accesskey="s" for="q">MSNBC</label><input type="text" id="q" name="q" size="14" maxlength="150"/><input type="submit" class="button" name="submit" value="Search"/><input type="hidden" name="id" value="11881780"/><input name="FORM" value="AE" type="hidden"/><input type="hidden" name="os" value="0"/><input type="hidden" name="gs" value="1"/><input type="hidden" name="p" value="1"/></fieldset></form></td><td width="10px"></td><td class="container netnav pt9" nowrap="true"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://alerts.msnbc.com/" rel="nofollow">Alerts</a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7422001/" rel="nofollow">Newsletters</a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5216556/" rel="nofollow">RSS</a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3303511/" rel="nofollow">Help</a>  </td><td align="right"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td class="container netnav pt9"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/00" rel="nofollow">MSN Home</a></td><td width="10px"></td><td class="container netnav pt9"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/02?SU=http://msnbc.msn.com/" rel="nofollow">Hotmail</a></td><td width="10px"></td><td class="container netnav pt9"></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/14" rel="nofollow"><noscript><img alt="MSN.com" id="logo" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755im_/http://sc.msn.com/global/c/lgpos/MSFT_pos.gif" height="35" width="118"/></noscript><script type="text/javascript">sr_UpdHead();</script></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="page" class="fL"><div id="mbody" class="fL"><div id="nav" class="w130 fL"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#EEEEEE"><tr><td><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/"><img width="130" height="90" border="0" alt="MSNBC News" src="/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnbc/logo01.gif"></a></td></tr><tr><td align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="122" class="nmTB"><tr><td height="20" class="nmIBD" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032524" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLBD" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032525/">U.S. News</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032552" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553/">Politics</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032479" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4327893/">Crime & Punishment</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="9107339" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9107338/">Hurricane Watch</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032571" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032572/">U.S. Security</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="8884853" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8884857/">U.S. Life</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3225098" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6462358/">Education</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032492" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032493/">Environment</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032560" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032561/">Race in America</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="5498024" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5498022/">Only on MSNBC.com</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032585" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032586/">WP.com Highlights</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="4429950" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4429957/">Peculiar Postings</a></td></tr></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="130" class="nmTS"><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="4001724" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8004316/">Video</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032524" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032525/">U.S. News</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032506" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507/">World News</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032071" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072/">Business</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032112" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032113/">Sports</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032083" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032084/">Entertainment</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032117" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032118/">Tech / Science</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3088327" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032076/">Health</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032127" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3362034/">Weather</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032122" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032123/">Travel</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032104" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032105/">Blogs Etc.</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3104486" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3948437/">Local News</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032541" nm_suf="/site/newsweek" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032542/site/newsweek/">Newsweek</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="5183445" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4999736/">Multimedia</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="7956945" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7468311/">Most Popular</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIP">NBC NEWS</td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3096433" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/">MSNBC TV</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032632" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/">Today Show</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032618" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/">Nightly News</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032607" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/">Meet the Press</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032599" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/">Dateline NBC</a></td></tr></table><script>nm_init('/id/', '1', 'useropt', '');</script></td></tr><script>nm_st('1');</script></table><div style="padding-bottom:15;"><map name="map10641979"><area coords="0,0,130,22" shape="rect" alt="MSNBC Classifieds" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5289372/" id="gted" ce="1-1-1"><area coords="0,23,130,42" shape="rect" alt="Shopping" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://shopping.msn.com/partnercategory.aspx?catId=646&ptnrId=1&ptnrdata=134&0dm=C102P"><area coords="0,43,130,62" shape="rect" alt="Jobs" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://msn.careerbuilder.com/PLI/R/FindJobs.htm?siteid=CBMSNBC017"><area coords="0,63,130,91" shape="rect" alt="Dating with Perfectmatch.com" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://www.perfectmatch.com/trk.asp?CID=6172"><area coords="0,92,130,112" shape="rect" alt="Autos" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://www.cars.com/go/index.jsp?aff=msnbc"><area coords="0,112,129,142" shape="rect" alt="Real Estate with HomePages.com" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://clk.atdmt.com/USE/go/msnnkhpg0040000006use/direct/01/"></map><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/zClassifieds/newsmenu_classifieds4b.gif,standard.jpg" vspace="0" hspace="0" usemap="#map10641979"></div><div style="padding-bottom:15;"><div class="textSmallgrey" style="text-align:center;width:122">Advertisement</div> <table width="122" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr><td><script language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755js_/http://shopping.msn.com/i/ptnrContent.aspx?ptnrId=1&ptnrData=10033&mapKey=NEWSACOL"></SCRIPT </td></tr> </table></div><div style="text-align:center;padding-top:15;"></div><div style="text-align:center;padding-top:15;"><div style="padding-bottom:20;"><link href="/css/html40.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"><script src="/js/std.js"></script><script>var cssList = new Array();</script><script>getCSS("3054039")</script><div class="box_3054039" style="width:122;"><script></script><table width="122" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3054039"><tr><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3054039"><div class="textSmallBold"> RESOURCE GUIDE</div></td></tr></table><table width="122" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3054039"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3054039"><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textSmall"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://g.msn.com/0AD00026/801313.1??HCType=1&CID=801313&PG=NBCRG2" target="_blank">Dating with Perfectmatch.com</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textSmall"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://clk.atdmt.com/USE/go/msnnkhpg0040000008use/direct/01/" target="_blank">Find your dream home today!</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textSmall"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://shopping.msn.com/content/shp/?ctid=196">Shopping</a></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="text-align:left;width:122;background-color:#EEEEEE;padding:10 0 5 0;border-left:solid 1px #CCCCCC;border-right:solid 1px #CCCCCC;border-bottom:solid 1px #CCCCCC;"><div class="textSmallBlackBold">Sponsors:</div><div class="ff1 f9" style="padding-top:5;"><script>ad_dap(30,120,'&PG=NBCLB1&AP=1071');</script></div><div class="ff1 f9" style="padding-top:5;"><script>ad_dap(30,120,'&PG=NBCNB1&AP=1071');</script></div></div></div></div><div id="content" class="w649 fL clrR"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="649"><tr><td height="36" bgcolor="#26386B" class="ff1 cDEF p12"><span class="f65"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/" class="lk1">MSNBC Home</a></span><span class="cFC0 b f70"> » </span><span class="f65"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032525/" class="lk1">U.S. News</a></span><span class="cFC0 b f70"> » </span><span class="f65"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553/" class="lk1">Politics</a></span></td></tr></table><div class="clr"></div><a name="skipnav"></a><h1>Bush apologizes for mocking reporter's ‘shades’</h1><h2>Reporter, who wears sunglasses for vision loss, tells Bush to ‘needle away’</h2><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="padding:25 0 0 15;"><a id="linkImgRelatedPhotos"><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060615/060615_reporter7.hmedium.jpg" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></a></td><td valign="bottom" width="99%"><div class="caption" style="padding:25 10 0 15;">Los Angeles Times reporter Peter Wallsten laughs as President Bush pokes fun at his sunglasses during the Rose Garden press briefing on Wednesday. </div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="" id="viewRelatedPhotosLink" style="display:none;padding:0 10 0 15;"><a id="linkRelatedPhotos" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13337572/displaymode/1176/rstry/13335238/"><img src="/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/icons/slideshow.gif" width="20" height="14" vspace="0" border="0" style="margin-bottom:-2px"></a> <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13337572/displaymode/1176/rstry/13335238/" class="textMedBlackBold">View related photos</a></div><script>var hasRelatedPhotos = 'false';if (hasRelatedPhotos=='true'){var vRPL = document.getElementById("viewRelatedPhotosLink");if (vRPL!=undefined) vRPL.style.display = "";var vLRPG = document.getElementById("linkRelatedPhotos");var vLIRPG = document.getElementById("linkImgRelatedPhotos");if (vLRPG) {if(vLIRPG) vLIRPG.href=vLRPG.href;}}</script></td></tr><tr><td><div class="credit aR">NBC News</div></td><td></td></tr></table><div class="p14"><div id="finalPos"></div><div class="WCCol w300 fR clrR"><div style="padding-bottom:20px"><script>getCSS("3088867")</script><div class="box_3088867" style="width:300;"><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3088867"><tr><td width="1%" class="boxHI_3088867"><img src="/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/icons/video.gif" width="20" height="14"></td><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3088867"><div class="textSmallBold">FREE VIDEO</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3088867"><tr valign="top"><td height="100%"><div style="text-align:middle;height:100%;width:100%;background-color:#cccccc;background-image:url('/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/backgrounds/component_dkgrey.gif');text-align:center;"><a href="javascript:msnvDwd('00','432dab24-fcde-4011-848f-abdc7a90a3a5','us','News_Comment - Analysis','','msnbc','','13340547','Bush \u2018shades\u2018 faux pas')"><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Video/060615/n_shade_reporter_060615.vsmall.jpg" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></a><div><a href="javascript:msnvDwd('00','432dab24-fcde-4011-848f-abdc7a90a3a5','us','News_Comment - Analysis','','msnbc','','13340547','Bush \u2018shades\u2018 faux pas')" onmouseout="VT_launchMouseOut('EAAAEA')" onmouseover="VT_launchMouseOver('EAAAEA')" onmousedown="VT_launchMouseDown('EAAAEA')" onmouseup="VT_launchMouseUp('EAAAEA')"><img src="/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/buttons/launch/buttonsLaunch_02.gif" alt="Launch" name="launch10" width="77" height="25" border="0" id="EAAAEA" hspace="20"></a></div></div></td><td class="boxBI_3088867"><div class="textHang"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMedBlackBold"><a href="javascript:msnvDwd('00','432dab24-fcde-4011-848f-abdc7a90a3a5','us','News_Comment - Analysis','','msnbc','','13340547','Bush \u2018shades\u2018 faux pas')">Bush 'shades' faux pas</a></span><br><span class="textMed">June 14: President Bush teased a reporter about his "shades" and later apologized because the journalist is legally blind. MSNBC'S Countdown discusses. </span></div><p class="credit">Countdown</p></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="padding-bottom:20;"><link href="/web/20060619211755cs_/http://msnbc.msn.com/css/html40.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"><script src="/web/20060619211755js_/http://msnbc.msn.com/js/std.js"></script><script>var cssList = new Array();</script><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div class="box_3053751" style="width:300;"><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="textSmallBold"> EXCLUSIVELY ON MSNBC.COM</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr valign="top"><td height="100%"></td><td class="boxBI_3053751"><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://cagle.msnbc.com/politicalcartoons/">Click here for Daryl Cagle political cartoons</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032105/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Click here for the best political blogs</a></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="padding-bottom:20;"><link href="/web/20060619211755cs_/http://msnbc.msn.com/css/html40.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"><script src="/web/20060619211755js_/http://msnbc.msn.com/js/std.js"></script><script>var cssList = new Array();</script><script>getCSS("3053751")</script></div><div style="padding-bottom:20;"><link href="/web/20060619211755cs_/http://msnbc.msn.com/css/html40.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"><script src="/web/20060619211755js_/http://msnbc.msn.com/js/std.js"></script><script>var cssList = new Array();</script><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div class="box_3053751" style="width:300;"><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="textSmallBold"> Most Popular</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr><td><table cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" class="headlineList2"><tr><td id="boxB_3053751_tab1" align="center"><span class="bulletRed" id="boxB_3053751_tab1_bt">• </span>Most Viewed</td><td><img scr="/images/cleardot.gif" width="2" height="1"></td><td id="boxB_3053751_tab2" align="center"><span class="bulletRed" id="boxB_3053751_tab2_bt">• </span>Top Rated</td><td><img scr="/images/cleardot.gif" width="2" height="1"></td><td id="boxB_3053751_tab3" align="center"><span class="bulletRed" id="boxB_3053751_tab3_bt">• </span>Most E-mailed</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr valign="top" id="boxB_3053751_tab1_c"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13302109/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">11 cousins give up stomachs after genetic testing</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13380881/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Al-Qaida-linked group claims GIs’ abduction</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13361343/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">U.S.: North Korean missile fueling complete</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13418885/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Torrential rain brings deluge to Houston</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13423764/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">U.S. Army charges 3 soldiers in Iraq deaths</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><b><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7468311/">Most viewed on MSNBC.com</a></b></span></div></div></td></tr><tr valign="top" id="boxB_3053751_tab2_c" style="display:none;"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13355796/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Disaster relief firm's 9/11 fraud not prosecuted</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13402160/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Barbaro looking up month after breakdown</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13409401/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Illegal hiring rarely penalized</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13370762/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Dirty rats prove a little grime is good for health</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13378156/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Navy thinks it’s found long-lost WWII sub</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><b><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7468311/">Most viewed on MSNBC.com</a></b></span></div></div></td></tr><tr valign="top" id="boxB_3053751_tab3_c" style="display:none;"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13302109/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">11 cousins give up stomachs after genetic testing</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13418885/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Torrential rain brings deluge to Houston</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13416353/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Record sale for recovered Klimt painting</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13322751/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Will you ever be able to retire?</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13414006/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Fire threatens 500 Arizona homes, businesses</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><b><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7468311/">Most viewed on MSNBC.com</a></b></span></div></div></td></tr></table><script>pop_pushTabBox('boxB_3053751');</script></div></div><div style="padding-bottom:20;"><link href="/web/20060619211755cs_/http://msnbc.msn.com/css/html40.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"><script src="/web/20060619211755js_/http://msnbc.msn.com/js/std.js"></script><script>var cssList = new Array();</script><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div class="box_3053751" style="width:300;"><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="textSmallBold"> RSS FEEDS ON MSNBC.COM</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><p class="textMed">Add these headlines to your news reader</p><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><strong>Political News</strong> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://rss.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032552/device/rss/rss.xml" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Sections/zNews Tools/Newstools/RSS/rss_icon.gif" height="11" width="29" vspace="0" hspace="0"></a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5216556/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Learn more about RSS</a></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div class="CCol w160 fR clrR"></div><div class="mR165"><div><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755im_/http://media.msnbc.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Sources/sourceAP.gif" height="20" width="140" vspace="0" hspace="0"><div class="textTimestamp"><div id="udtD">Updated: 11:46 a.m. ET June 15, 2006</div><script language="javascript"> function UpdateTimeStamp(pdt) { var n = document.getElementById("udtD"); if(pdt != '' && n && window.DateTime) { var dt = new DateTime(); pdt = dt.T2D(pdt); if(dt.GetTZ(pdt)) {n.innerHTML = dt.D2S(pdt,((''.toLowerCase()=='false')?false:true));} } } UpdateTimeStamp('632859832068630000'); </script></div></div><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>WASHINGTON - President Bush, who often teases members of the White House press corps, apologized Wednesday after he poked fun at a reporter for wearing sunglasses without realizing they were needed for vision loss.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>The exchange occurred at a news conference in the Rose Garden.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Bush called on Los Angeles Times reporter Peter Wallsten and asked if he was going to ask his question with his “shades” on.</p><div class="aC"><div class="textSmallGrey w320"><a href="#storyContinued">Story continues below ↓</a><hr noshade size="1"> advertisement <div style="padding:0 10 10 10;"><script>ad_dap(250,300,'&PG=NBCMSN&AP=1089');</script></div><hr noshade size="1"></div></div><a name="storyContinued"></a><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>“For the viewers, there’s no sun,” Bush said to the television cameras.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>But even though the sun was behind the clouds, Wallsten still needs the sunglasses because he has Stargardt’s disease, a form of macular degeneration that causes progressive vision loss. The condition causes Wallsten to be sensitive to glare and even on a cloudy day, can cause pain and increase the loss of sight.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span><b><strong>'Needle away'<br></strong></b>Wallsten said Bush called his cell phone later in the day to apologize and tell him that he didn’t know he had the disease. Wallsten said he interrupted and told the president that no apology was necessary and that he didn’t feel offended since he hadn’t told anyone at the White House about his condition.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>“He said, ‘I needle you guys out of affection,”’ Wallsten said. “I said, ’I understand that, but I don’t want you to treat me any differently because of this.”’</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Wallsten said the president said he would not treat him differently, so Wallsten encouraged him to “needle away.”</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>“He said, ‘I will. Next time I’ll just use a different needle,”’ Wallsten said.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span><b><strong>Still didn't answer the question</strong></b><br>Wallsten said he thought that was a pretty good line. And his only complaint is that the president didn’t answer his question <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13018899/">at the news conference</a>.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Wallsten, who is also author of a book coming out next month titled “One Party Country: The Republican Plan for Dominance in the 21st Century,” had asked about White House credibility now in the aftermath of top aide Karl Rove having been cleared in the CIA leak investigation. But Bush said he wouldn’t comment with another top White House aide still facing prosecution in the case.</p><div class="textBodyBlack"><i><em>© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</em></i></div><div class="userRating t1 b f11 c000" style="margin-top:20px;"><nobr> Rate this story </nobr><span style="white-space:wrap;"></span><nobr> Low <span id="URplace"></span> High </nobr></div><span class="t1 f11 c000" style="display:none" id="userRatingTotal"></span><span> </span><span class="bulletRedSmall"> • </span><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7468311/" class="t1 b f11 c000">View Top Rated stories</a><br><script>moveURCode();</script><br><div class="textMedBlack doThis" style="text-align:center"><span class="dSp"><a href="javascript:printThis('13335238')"><img border="0" class="dIc" src="/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnbc/print02.gif"></a> <a href="javascript:printThis('13335238')">Print this</a></span><span class="dSp"><a href="javascript:emThis('13335238')"><img border="0" class="dIc" src="/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnbc/email02.gif"></a> <a href="javascript:emThis('13335238')">Email this</a></span><span class="dSp" id="blogThis" style="display:none"> <a href="javascript:blogThis('13335238')" title="Add to your blog on MSN Spaces"><img border="0" class="dIc" src="/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnbc/blog02.gif"></a> <a href="javascript:blogThis('13335238')" title="Add to your blog on MSN Spaces">Blog this</a></span><span class="dSp" id="imThis"> <a href="javascript:IMThis('13335238')" title="Send this story with MSN Messenger"><img border="0" class="dIc" src="/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnbc/icon_IM.gif"></a> <a href="javascript:IMThis('13335238')" title="Send this story with MSN Messenger">IM this</a></span></div><script>blogCheck();</script><img width="100%" height="0"><div style="padding-top:20px"><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div class="box_3053751" style="width:100%;"><script></script><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="textSmallBold"> MORE FROM POLITICS </div></td><td width="80%" class="boxH2C_3053751"><div class="textSmall"> </div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr valign="top"><td><div style="width:100%;background-color:#ffffff;height:100%;"><div style="padding:10px;width:16%;height:100%;float:left;"><span id="StoryNextButton" cm="StoryNextButton"><a id="gted" ce="Politics" onmouseover="swapImage('next_links','/images/buttons/next/buttonNextOver.gif')" onmouseout="swapImage('next_links','/images/buttons/next/buttonNext.gif')" onmousedown="swapImage('next_links','/images/buttons/next/buttonNextDown.gif')" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553/"><img src="/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/buttons/next/buttonNext.gif" border="0" width="53" height="19" id="next_links"></a></span></div><div id="nextText" class="textMedBlackBold fL p11">Politics Section Front</div></div></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><span cm="StoryNextLink"><div id="nxtStry1" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13361343/" id="gted" ce="1">U.S.: N. Korea fuels missile</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry2" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13424657/" id="gted" ce="2">Immigration enforcement lacking at work</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry3" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13424372/" id="gted" ce="3">Bill Maher takes politics to the Internet</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry4" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13423888/" id="gted" ce="4">Bloomberg goes out of his way for Bush</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry5" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13423284/" id="gted" ce="5">Under Bush, National Park needs up</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry6" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13418760/" id="gted" ce="6">Supreme Court to hear 2nd abortion appeal</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry7" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13419279/" id="gted" ce="7">Bush addresses Iran nuclear issue</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry8" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13419805/" id="gted" ce="8">Justices split in wetlands case</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry9" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13416533/" id="gted" ce="9">Zoellick resigning from State</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry10" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13405963/" id="gted" ce="10">Spokesman: Bush won’t rely on polls</a></span></div></div></span><div style="width:100%;height:16;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553/">Politics Section Front</a></span></div></div><span class="textSmall"> </span></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxF_3053751"><tr><td class="boxFI_3053751"><div class="textSmall"></div></td></tr></table></div><script>nextStory("/id/13361343/^U.S.: N. Korea fuels missile|/id/13424657/^Immigration enforcement lacking at work|/id/13424372/^Bill Maher takes politics to the Internet|/id/13423888/^Bloomberg goes out of his way for Bush|/id/13423284/^Under Bush, National Park needs up|/id/13418760/^Supreme Court to hear 2nd abortion appeal|/id/13419279/^Bush addresses Iran nuclear issue|/id/13419805/^Justices split in wetlands case|/id/13416533/^Zoellick resigning from State|/id/13405963/^Spokesman: Bush won’t rely on polls|");</script></div><div class="clr fL w464"><div class="fL w225 p15"><span cm=""><script>getCSS("3182775")</script><div class="box_3182775" style="width:100%;"><script></script><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3182775"><tr><td width="1%" class="boxHI_3182775"><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/Launch images/top_msnbc.gif,standard.jpg" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3182775"><div class="textSmallBold"></div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3182775"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3182775"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13322751/" id="gted" ce="1">Will you ever be able to retire?</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13423764/" id="gted" ce="2">3 soldiers charged in Iraq deaths</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13361343/" id="gted" ce="3">N. Korea closer to missile test?</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13380881/" id="gted" ce="4">Terror group claims GIs' kidnapping</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13418885/" id="gted" ce="5">Houston flooded by heavy rain</a></span></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div><div class="fR w225 p15"><span cm=""><script>getCSS("3182775")</script><div class="box_3182775" style="width:100%;"><script></script><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3182775"><tr><td width="1%" class="boxHI_3182775"><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/Launch images/tv_highlights.gif,standard.jpg" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3182775"><div class="textSmallBold"></div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3182775"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3182775"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3080261/" id="gted" ce="1">MSNBC-TV Question of the Day</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:msnvDwd('00','9bf5d23a-ae15-4efe-ac61-e979ea67b119','us','News_Comment - Analysis','','msnbc','','13375127','Murtha on the Iraq vote')">‘Countdown’: Murtha on Iraq debate</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:msnvDwd('00','060bdabd-fb68-40e1-a476-2acadca35e34','us','News_Comment - Analysis','','msnbc','','13371886','A father\u2018s day')">‘Most’: Military mom, dad reunited</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:msnvDwd('00','51f53e0a-fdba-4ea8-874f-438ad5f3f57a','us','News_Comment - Analysis','','msnbc','','13371873','Dan Abrams says farewell')">‘Abrams Report’: Dan Abrams signs off</a></span></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div></div><div class="textSmallGrey p2">advertisement</div><div class="eshopStory"><script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755js_/http://shopping.msn.com/i/ptnrContent.aspx?ptnrId=1&ptnrData=100060&mapKey=Businessbottom"></script></div><div class="w460 clr"></div><div class="w460 clr"><div style="font-family : Verdana, Arial, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-top:15px;"><script language="javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755js_/http://context3.kanoodle.com/cgi-bin/context.cgi?id=78053631&db=context&query=*general_network&cgroup=newspolitics&format=table&numresults=5&width=459&bordercolor=7788AA&fillcolor=FFFFFF&title=1&signup=1&newtarget=1&fontsize=10px"></script></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="banbot" class="w779 p5 aC clr"><div style="padding-bottom:20;"><hr id="foothr" width="758" color="#000000" noshade="true" size="1"/><div class="bb" style="padding: 10 0 8 0;"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/">Cover</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032525/">U.S. News</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507/">World News</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072/">Business</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032113/">Sports</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032118/">Tech/Science</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032084/">Entertainment</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032123/">Travel</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032076/">Health</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032105/">Blogs Etc.</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3362034/">Weather</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3098358/">Local News</a></div><div class="bb"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032542/site/newsweek/">Newsweek</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/">Today Show</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/">Nightly News</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/">Dateline NBC</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/">Meet the Press</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/">MSNBC TV</a></div><div class="bb" style="padding: 22 0 8 0;"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3303510/">About MSNBC.com </a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7422001/">Newsletters</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5216556/">RSS</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8132577/">Podcasts</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3303511/">Help</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3152772/">News Tools</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3303596/">Jobs at MSNBC.com</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10285339/">Contact Us</a> | <a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3303540/">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://privacy.msn.com/">Privacy</a></div><div class="bb" style="padding=0 0 8 0;"><a href="/web/20060619211755/http://msnbc.msn.com/">© 2006 MSNBC.com</a></div></div></div><div class="container" id="foot"><ul id="legal"><li>© 2006 Microsoft</li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/20?SU=http://msnbc.msn.com/" rel="nofollow">MSN Privacy</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/18?SU=http://msnbc.msn.com/" rel="nofollow">Legal</a></li><li class="last"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/19?SU=http://msnbc.msn.com/" rel="nofollow">Advertise</a></li></ul><ul id="support"><li><script language="javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755js_/http://hp.msn.com/scr/op/ol-fdbkv3_r1.js"></script><a href="javascript:O_LC();">Feedback</a></li><li class="last"><span class="bar">|</span>    <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3303511/">Help</a></li></ul></div></div><div id="DCol" class="DCol"><div><div style="width:152;overflow:hidden;"><div style="text-align:center;width:160;" class="textSmallGrey">advertisement</div><div class="AdEShopHead">Shopping on MSN</div><div class="AdEShopMain"><script language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619211755js_/http://shopping.msn.com/i/ptnrContent.aspx?ptnrId=1&ptnrData=10006&mapKey=Business"></script></div></div></div><div><br></div><script>msnSideBar();</script></div><div id="AdOverThePageDiv"></div></div></body></html>