I’m shocked, shocked at this difference in interpretation!!

The New York Times, in a small sidebar on the California election, reports that President Bush is not taking the loss of media attention well:

President Bush is used to being America’s most important politician and the center of attention wherever he goes. So today, when a reporter told Mr. Bush that the California governor’s race was “the biggest political story in the country,” the president got cranky. “Oh, I think there’s maybe other political stories,” Mr. Bush said at his ranch here. “Isn’t there, like, a presidential race coming up?” He added that calling the California race the biggest story “speaks volumes, if you know what I mean.”

The Chicago Tribune, meanwhile, has a slightly different interpretation of his comments:

Even President Bush, who holds a vested interest in finding out which Democrat will win the nomination and ultimately challenge him, admitted Wednesday that he was more captivated by the California story, which he called “a fascinating bit of political drama.” “Isn’t there, like, a presidential race coming up?” Bush said, joking with reporters at his ranch in Texas. “Maybe that says something, you know, speaks volumes, if you know what I mean.”

This is a minor story, and maybe the Times reporters had their tongues in their cheeks. Still, the differences in the framing of the same quote are pretty revealing. UPDATE: Courtesy of Tom Maguire, here’s the relevant section of the White House transcript:

Q It’s also the biggest political story in the country. Is it hard to go in there and say nothing about it? THE PRESIDENT: It is the biggest political story in the country? That’s interesting. That says a lot. That speaks volumes. Q You don’t agree? THE PRESIDENT: It’s up to — I don’t get to decide the biggest political story. You decide the biggest political story. But I find it interesting that that is the biggest political story in the country, as you just said. Q You don’t think it should be? THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I think there’s maybe other political stories. Isn’t there, like, a presidential race coming up? (Laughter.) Maybe that says something. It speaks volumes, if you know what I mean. But, yes, it’s an interesting story, it really is. And I’m looking forward, like you are, to seeing the outcome of the interesting story. But, no, I’m going to go, I’m going to talk about — now that you’ve asked, are you going on the trip? Q Yes, sir. THE PRESIDENT: Good. Well, you’ll see me speak to Marines and their families, thanking them for their service to our country, reminding them that what’s taking place in Iraq is essential to U.S. security. Then I’m going to go to a national park, talking about the fact that we believe parks ought to be revitalized, and talk about the initiatives that I’ve laid out to do that. And then, of course, I’ll be doing a little spade work for the ’04 campaign. (Laughter.) One of the most important political — (laughter.)