The leader of the free world, George W. Bush, has made yet another gaff. The man is a slave to 'foot in mouth' disease!

At a recent press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House, Peter Wallsten (a journalist with the Los Angeles Times) entered into an exchange with the President that went a little like this:


PRESIDENT BUSH: Yeah, Peter. You're going to ask that question with those shades on?

PETER WALLSTEN: I can take them off --

BUSH: No, I'm interested in the shade look, seriously here.

WALLSTEN: All right. I'll keep it then.

BUSH: For the viewers there's no sun. (Scattered laughter.)

WALLSTEN: I guess it depends on your perspective.

BUSH: (Laughs, laughter.) Touche. (Laughter.)

It turns out that Peter Wallsten is legally blind and that's why he was wearing sunglasses. President Bush later apologised to Wallsten. He called him on his mobile phone and told him that he didn’t know he [Wallsten] had Stargardt’s disease. Wallsten replied 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. Bush has made many blunders in the past. In March 2002, Stevie Wonder performed at a Presidential Gala at Washington's Ford Theatre. President Bush is reported to have waved at Stevie Wonder and then dropped his hand as he realised his gaff - that Stevie Wonder is blind and couldn't see him waving.