7/18/2005, 1:50 pm
"After a long process of selection, aimed at satisfying all parties and groups," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, "The President has finalized a list that he hopes everybody will love."
In his deliberations over potential nominees, George W. Bush considered advice from Sen. Patrick Leahy, senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee who urged the President to find somebody to unite the country, not divide it.
"You can certainly easily find somebody who you'd have every Republican and every Democrat voting for and the country would breathe a sigh of relief," the Vermont Democrat had said. "The President could easily nominate somebody and you'd see Sen. Specter and me walking out of the Oval Office grinning ear to ear. It doesn't have to be a battle."
The first on the list of nominees is Ray Romano, who for the past nine years has brought one of America 's most-loved characters to life on the hit CBS show "Everybody Loves Raymond."
Sen. Ted Kennedy can't hide the look of panic.
Sen. Clinton: "I am sick and tired of Raymond!"
Sen. Patrick Leahy: "Do you see me grinning ear to ear? No. The country is divided more than ever."
Spontaneous protests erupted in several American cities with protesters burning effigies of Ray, Debra, Robert, Frank, and Marie - their signs reading "Everybody Hates Raymond" and "Raymond Go Home."
Prompted by the controversy, the Pew Research Centre examined public opinion in ten predominantly blue states. "Anti-Raymond feelings in most parts of the country we surveyed seem pretty entrenched," said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Center.
"Only 2% of Americans surveyed admitted they loved Raymond. 1% respected him, 5% found him bearable, and 67% had no feelings towards him whatsoever."
"Only 2% of Americans surveyed admitted they loved Raymond. 1% respected him, 5% found him bearable, and 67% had no feelings towards him whatsoever."
Pew Research Centre Questions:
- Who do you love better, Raymond or your own mother?
- Would you say you love Raymond enough to donate him your liver?
- If Raymond were a woman, would you still say you love him?