Press Prods Bush to Tell Why Grandson Gets Fishing Trips

President Bush fielded questions on China, abortion and flag-burning with ease today but was hard-pressed to explain why his grandson gets to go on the presidential fishing trips but not his granddaughters.

“When they get older than about 3 I will do that,” Bush replied with a tone of consternation about why 13-year-old first grandson George P. Bush was getting all the perks.

The President said George P. “plays ball and . . . does stuff” that his younger sister, brother and cousins can’t yet handle. “We’re going to the Orioles game tomorrow, I think it is, but it is not discriminatory. It is not discriminatory.”

Actually, four of Bush’s seven granddaughters are older than 3, including George P.’s 11-year-old sister, Noelle, and 7-year-old twin cousins, Jenna and Barbara.

The subject came up when a reporter challenged Bush on his speech Monday when he said it was “unthinkable” that his granddaughter should not have the same opportunities as his grandson.