Laura Bush defends Obama school speech

[jefferson_dem]

Laura Bush defends Obama school speech
Posted: September 7th, 2009 03:13 PM ET

From CNN Political Producer Rebecca Sinderbrand


Former first lady Laura Bush is defending President Obama's decision to address the nation's school children.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former first lady Laura Bush is defending President Obama's decision to address the nation's school children, telling CNN Monday that it is "really important for everyone to respect the President of the United States."

"I think that there is a place for the President of the United States to talk to school children and encourage school children, and I think there are a lot of people that should do the same," she told CNN's Zain Verjee, in an interview set to air Monday on The Situation Room. "And that is encourage their own children to stay in school and to study hard and to try to achieve the dream that they have."

The former first lady said she believed criticism of the speech had arisen because of the accompanying lesson plans. If parents are opposed to the address, said Bush, "That's their right. You know that certainly is the right of parents to choose what they want their children to hear in school… (But) I think it's also really important for everyone to respect the President of the United States."

<SNIP>

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/07/laura-bush-defends-obama-school-speech/

[Phx_Dem]

1. It's unfortunate she even has to address this absurdity.

And the haters won't listen because if you're not spouting hate, they ain't listening.

[Cha]

2. Oh boy, I guess we should be

grateful that laura and ginrich are speaking out to the brainwashed masses.

I can't even imagine what their agenda on this.

[Posteritatis]

3. It's kinda hard to stick an agenda on "sure, he should encourage kids to stay in school." (nt)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. what they are doing is damage control.

this wave of temporary insanity, driven by the drivel created by the most rabid and irrational, will come to an end. And when it does, those behind the effort, the Rushes, the Glenns, the Micheles, and others, will suffer the most. The crimes of which they will eventually be convicted?

Irrelevancy, stupidity, inanity and worse.

[Hippo_Tron]

7. Repairing her husband's legacy perhaps?

[lillypaddle]

14. Call me crazy

but I think Laura is all right. Sure, she's married to one of the biggest failures of all time, but I think, in spite of everything, she has served with some class and sanity.

Hey, I'm speaking as someone who was involved (years ago) with a sociapathic, one-legged motorcyle racer, so I know about BAD choices! :)

[Lilyeye]

31. I agree. Laura Bush has shown a lot of class.

Esp when she didn't hop on the "Bash Michelle Obama" train like Cindy McCain did. I don't like her husband, but she seems like a good hearted woman.

[Captain Hilts]

45. She was put in a 'time out' chair for 6 months shortly after GWB was inaugurated for saying

that she probably would have voted for Gore if she hadn't been married to GWB because her family are Democrats.

[Beacool]

47. I also have nothing against Laura.

My problem was with Bush, not his wife.

;)

[quantass]

4. If this can become a fake controversey by the Right the Left has some SERIOUS work cut out for them

This stupid non-controversy made into one is really something. It shows you the power of the right to take control over anything at anytime and have the country, and the left take cover in fear. Can you imagine when the right goes back onto their list of things they want to do next and select: "Sleepovers at the white house -- If Obama is willing to allow his kids to have sleepovers this surely means he is, in the same way, willing to let the country be open for attack by foreign terrorists via open for all borders...Call Fox News! And lets get out there on all shows and repeat this". The rest of the media will pick up on this and repeat same attack. Democrats will scury away and have to release and appologize for leaving the country open for terorist attacks and white house officials will be fired.

[scheming daemons]

6. I still think... deep down.... that Pickles is a pro-choice closet liberal

Just the vibe she gives off.

[secondwind]

8. She and Babs are also pro-choice..........

[Faygo Kid]

11. I'm OK with Laura, but Babs is the Ma Barker of politics.

Barbara Bush is one twisted sister.

[Adelante]

26. I agree

She's the only FLOTUS I can say I absolutely couldn't stand.

[burning rain]

18. Every First Lady since Roe v. Wade has been pro-choice.

An interesting fact.

[tammywammy]

19. That is interesting, I did not know that. n/t

[tammywammy]

9. It definitely wouldn't surprise me in the least n/t

[burning rain]

25. Pro-choice, yeah.

But liberal? You HAVE to be kidding.

[Faygo Kid]

10. FReepers absolutely ripping her to shreds, as you might expect.

Which figures, of course. I only went over there after viewing this thread, out of curiosity, and sure enough, there they were in high dudgeon in all their hate-filled glory. Really ugly comments, but I love this one about the "libaryian." Plenty more like it and worse in FReeperland:

To: dandiegirl

She has turned out to be just what I have always thought. Poor George He just had to much to contend with,
Remember she is a libaryian. She is so liberated.
I have wittnesed many first ladies and there are only a couple that I have trusted.

31 posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 3:28:08 PM by americanmother (2nd Tim chapter 3)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2334102/posts?q=1&;page=1

[Posteritatis]

16. "libaryian?" Ha! (nt)

[Cha]

17. "poor george"..

:rofl: Yeah, george was always the victim in this..even when he bombed Iraq and sent thousands of Soldiers and millions of Iraqis to a needless death..it was always Poor widdle george sittin' in a corner suckin' on his thumb.

[AspenRose]

34. Well, traditionally, "libaryians" are staunch defenders of the Constitution

so I can see where they wouldn't trust her :freak:

[treestar]

37. I guess freeper thinks that libaryians are all liberated

Feminists. :rofl:

[cleveramerican]

43. "its all that-there book learning"

[Common Sense Party]

12. Who cares what a manslaughtering wench that married a cokehead

thinks? Like we want HER defending OUR President.




{/typical anti-Laura Bush DU rant}

[MichiganVote]

15. I hope that was sarcasm.

[Cass]

13. After reading the speech how could anyone in their right mind object to it?

There is no way to criticize that speech without looking like a fool.

[Solomon]

21. Because the speech has secret codes in it and

subliminal messages. His hand gestures and body movement are secret symbols.

[Posteritatis]

24. It's true! I read some excerpts and have killed two czars today. (nt)

[AspenRose]

35. I heard if you record it and play it backwards it says "Paul is dead."

:rofl:

[Hav]

20. .

I'm glad I'm not the only one who apparantly doesn't and never had a problem with her.
She acted graciously in cases where she could have politicized attacks on her and I think she talked respectfully about Michelle Obama (for comparison, think about the Cheneys...).
And no, I don't think there is any hidden agenda here. Just common sense.

[tammywammy]

22. Yeah, I've never had a problem with her

:shrug:

[Posteritatis]

23. Also some pleasant consistency there

Does she think it's fair to criticize Obama, as some have, by labeling him a socialist? "I'd have no idea whether it's fair, do you think I thought it was fair when President Bush was criticized — not really. So, I guess not," she responded.

I obviously disagree with her questioning the fairness of going after Bush, or else I wouldn't really be around here, but I'm always happy to see anyone holding presidents of both parties to the same standards (or using the same standards to defend them).

[Adelante]

27. That was nice of her nt

[phleshdef]

28. I'd bet even George Bush (pick one) would defend it as well, because THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.

This particular attack is so batshit crazy that most people with even an iota of reasoning ability would want no part of it. Its stupid.

[and-justice-for-all]

29. Thank You Laura Bush, I appreciate your comments

and words of support on President Obama's speech on how important ones education is.

[Hansel]

36. +1

[question everything]

30. There is something wrong that we praise Gingrich and Bush

for supporting the speech. Everyone with a little bit of commons sense in him or her, anyone who is not a rabid conservative knows that it is stupid to criticize the idea.

Except, some "strategists" - on CNN - who say that the speech WAS going to be political, supporting the President "agenda" until the noise went up and "the White House retreated."

:puke:

[Jennicut]

32. I honestly have nothing against Pickles. After all, she tortures herself by staying with that man.

Thank you Laura for using common sense. If only there was more to go around with other conservatives.

[AspenRose]

33. Damn, Laura....

You've defended Michelle....you're defending President Obama....what gives?

:wow:

[liquid diamond]

38. Why is she called pickles? Would it be cool to call Michelle something

similar? Humor me.

[Captain Hilts]

40. It's stupid, isn't it? nt

[liquid diamond]

41. Yeah. The hypocrisy here is astounding.

[NYC Liberal]

42. It's a reference to Pickels Sorrell from the Dick Van Dyke Show.

It's not hypocritical either, since it isn't derogatory or racist.

[Captain Hilts]

44. It sure makes our message of treating the Prez with respect more weak. nt

[Jennicut]

48. You are right. I will stop calling her Pickles.

She has not bothered me at all in the last few months and she said some nice comments about Michelle and about Obama's speech to kids.

[Captain Hilts]

49. She said she would not have voted for GWB had she not been married to him.

And was put in a 'time out' chair for about six months right at the beginning of his first term.

[Jennicut]

50. Really?! I never knew that. I suspected she was always more liberal.

Why on earth did she marry that man? She always seemed to nice for him.

[NYC Liberal]

54. Couple of things:

First, I don't think anyone is using the term 'respect' in the sense that there can be no criticism of any kind (ok, some here maybe, but the vast, vast majority, no). What IS being said is that people ought to respect the fact that it's the president speaking about the importance of education. Not really a controversial subject, and these kinds of things never have been until this president. I wonder what makes THIS president different. Hmm, tough one.

Second, I don't think people here at DU ever complained about Bush making a speech to kids. We've certainly mocked what he said, if it was stupid (or outrageous). But I've never seen GDP (or wherever) filled with threads about a one Bush speech to schoolchildren saying how he was brainwashing them, etc. in the way the rw'ers are with Obama's speech.

The last thing is that Bush, of course, was never elected in the first place. So I don't think 'respecting the president' ought to apply to a man who stole his way into the office. But respect was given anyways, and at any rate, he's gone now.

[peekaloo]

46. her frat boy husband gave her that nickname.

or so legend has it.

[bushisanidiot]

51. Maybe it's because her brain would have to be pickled in order to

stay with AWOL Bush all those years. No doubt she has to take a nip 'o the sauce now and then just to put
up with his complete and total INCOMPETENCE year after year, month after month, week after week, day after day.

[Captain Hilts]

52. There's a logic there I cannot deny...nt

[Captain Hilts]

39. Good on her. nt

[kjackson227]

53. During this same interview, she also stated that she thought...

President Obama was doing a good job with the problems that were left to him.

[dancingme]

55. Laura can recognize racism

she knows what is motivating the wing nuts.