Um, This Is Not How It's Supposed to Go

I'm sure you've seen the story about the Chinese protester at the White House ceremony with Chinese "President" Hu Jintao today. The problem here, of course, is not the protester herself. It's that the "incident" put the president and so-called leader of the Free World in the position of defending (or reassuring) this Communist party apparatchik:

Bush, standing next to Hu, leaned over and whispered to Hu, "You're OK," indicating the Chinese leader should proceed with his opening remarks. Hu, who had paused briefly when the shouting began, resumed speaking.

Yeah, "President" Hu, "You're OK."

This might actually cost Bush a few more points with his Republican base. And he can't afford that. Really. Because this is not how anti-Communist Republican presidents act.