Heath Ledger on Nov. 6, 2006 (AP Photo/Dima Gavrysh)
by Frank James
The death of actor Heath Ledger even had an impact on Washington. The White House cancelled a prescription-drug abuse event that had been President Bush's schedule today due to fears that Bush could've been accused of exploiting the actor's death.
Here's how the Associated Press reported the story:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The death of actor Heath Ledger prompted the White House to postpone President Bush's event on Wednesday promoting an ad campaign aimed at preventing prescription drug abuse.
Ledger, 28, who was nominated for an Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain," was found dead Tuesday in his New York apartment. There were sleeping pills near him, but the cause of his death remains under investigation.
The president was to make a statement in the Roosevelt Room on the Office of National Drug Control Policy's television advertisement about preventing prescription drug abuse. A federally financed study released in December at the White House showed illicit drug use by teens continued to gradually decline overall this year, but the use of prescription painkillers remained popular among young people.
White House press secretary Dana Perino said Bush's event had been scheduled for a while.
"We thought it would be better to postpone the event rather than run the risk of anyone thinking that we were being opportunistic in highlighting the issue," she said.
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Comments
Does the rightious right hate actors that "portray" a gay? Just wondering if they are sorry to hear this or rejoycing.
Posted by: bill r. | January 23, 2008 2:50 PM
"BUSH SPEAKS" STOP THE PRESS, STOP THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEACH"
WE NEED A BETTER DISTRACTION, WHERE IS OJ. WHO LET OJ GO. I WANT THE MSNBC CEO IN DICK CHENEY'S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
WE GOT WIRE TAPPING HEARINGS GOING ON.
WE GOT EAVESDROPPING HEARINGS GOING ON.
WE GOT PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS LOST FOR 570 DAYS OF MY PRESIDENCY THAT JUST VANISHED, LIKE MY MILITARY RECORDS DID.
WE GOT OUTSTANDING CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENAS OUT THERE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO STILL AVOID.
WE GOT KARL ROVE DEMANDING HILLARY CLINTON'S WHITE HOUSE EMAILS, HE SAVED PERSONALLY WHILE DESTROYING HIS.
WE GOT TOM DELAY STILL HOLDING ALL THE CARDS AND THE EMAILS AND THE JACK AMBRAHOFF EMAILS, AND CORRESPONDENCE. ALL OF DICK CHENEY'S EMAILS RELATING TO FERCK AND MERCK.
THIS SENSELESS DEATH JUST KILLED MY DAILY SPEECH IN THE ROSE GARDEN.
SO WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ME. GET LIVE SENATORIAL COVERAGE ON HEARINGS OTHER THAN THAT CLEAR STUFF HGH.
AND THE BEAT GOES ON.
Posted by: Roger Morris | January 23, 2008 4:48 PM
"IT'S STATE OF THE UNION TIME" AND THE DISTRACTIONS MUST GO ON.
WE'VE ALSO GOT A BIG CHORE TO MAKE THE WORLD'S WORST LEADER NEVER THREATEN, BLACKMAIL, OR HARM AMERICA WITH THE WORST WEAPONS. HIS LIES TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
HIS LIE ABOUT WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND THE 964 OTHER LIES TOLD TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THIS IS A MAN WHO CONTINUES TO DESTROY HIS OWN PEOPLE. US THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THIS IS A MAN WHO NEVER FOUND OUT WHO USED A CHEMICAL TO KILL AMERICANS (ANTHRAX)
BECAUSE HE HATES THE FACT ABOUT OUR LOVE FOR FREEDOM.
SO WE DO NEED TO DO EVERYTHING TO PROTECT THE HOMELAND.
IMPEACH, CENSOR, AND IMPEACH THE VP TOO, NOW THAT WE REALIZED THAT THE BATTLEFIELD BUSH HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS HERE AT HOME.
Posted by: Roger Morris | January 23, 2008 5:09 PM
bill, you're an idiot.
Posted by: Ken | January 23, 2008 5:36 PM
Well Westboro Fascist Church apparently plans to spew hate during the funeral. And since republitards are against gay marriage, it puts them in the same camp as freaky freddie felps, and so they must be rejoicing. (On a side note, doesn't ANYONE here in the Swamp know how to spell?)
Posted by: rncbs | January 23, 2008 6:33 PM
spelling is one thing...does any one know how to think might be more the point.
Posted by: bill r. | January 23, 2008 7:01 PM
"...doesn't ANYONE here in the Swamp know how to spell?)"
Posted by: rncbs | January 23, 2008 6:33 PM
Speling is overraited.
Posted by: MJ | January 23, 2008 7:51 PM
Here's your answer, Bill.
Fox News' John Gibson found a way to outdo MSNBC's Courtney Hazlett for the most inappropriate comment on Heath Ledger's death. ThinkProgress reports that, on his radio show yesterday (which opened with funeral music), Gibson called Ledger a "weirdo" with a "serious drug problem." Making fun of the famous "I wish I knew how to quit you" line from "Brokeback Mountain," Gibson said of his death, "Well, he found out how to quit you."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/23/fox-host-john-gibson-mock_n_82962.html
Posted by: Catherine | January 23, 2008 10:35 PM
While Bill R remembers Mr. Ledger for Bareback Mounting, I'll remember him for playing Mel Gibson's son in The Patriot
Posted by: Terry | January 23, 2008 11:06 PM
It's being reported that Ledger took ambien and xanax at the same time while he had pneumonia. Looking more and more like an accidental overdose.
Posted by: Jeff | January 24, 2008 11:39 AM
:( i am very sad of the death of him
"BUSH SPEAKS" STOP THE PRESS, STOP THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEACH"
WE NEED A BETTER DISTRACTION, WHERE IS OJ. WHO LET OJ GO. I WANT THE MSNBC CEO IN DICK CHENEY'S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
WE GOT WIRE TAPPING HEARINGS GOING ON.
WE GOT EAVESDROPPING HEARINGS GOING ON.
WE GOT PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS LOST FOR 570 DAYS OF MY PRESIDENCY THAT JUST VANISHED, LIKE MY MILITARY RECORDS DID.
WE GOT OUTSTANDING CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENAS OUT THERE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO STILL AVOID.
WE GOT KARL ROVE DEMANDING HILLARY CLINTON'S WHITE HOUSE EMAILS, HE SAVED PERSONALLY WHILE DESTROYING HIS.
WE GOT TOM DELAY STILL HOLDING ALL THE CARDS AND THE EMAILS AND THE JACK AMBRAHOFF EMAILS, AND CORRESPONDENCE. ALL OF DICK CHENEY'S EMAILS RELATING TO FERCK AND MERCK.
THIS SENSELESS DEATH JUST KILLED MY DAILY SPEECH IN THE ROSE GARDEN.
SO WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ME. GET LIVE SENATORIAL COVERAGE ON HEARINGS OTHER THAN THAT CLEAR STUFF HGH.
AND THE BEAT GOES ON.
-aurora
Posted by: aurora doron | February 7, 2008 7:32 AM