Barbara Bush: 'We Took a Vow' Not to Criticize Clintons

NewsMax.com ^ | 11/06/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

For the first time since she and her husband left the White House on Jan. 20, 1993, former first lady Barbara Bush explained on Wednesday why they never spoke ill of their successors, Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Asked why she and President Bush 41 never criticized the Arkansas couple during their eight years in the White House, Mrs. Bush told radio host Sean Hannity, "We took a vow we would not speak badly."

Asked about the nearly constant criticism by both Clintons leveled over the last three years against her son, George W. Bush, the former first lady at first hesitated, as if worried about keeping her word, then said only, "That's too bad."

In the next breath she added, "I appreciate you're saying what a lot of people think."

The full exchange went like this:

HANNITY: I've watched your husband from a distance and I'm sure during those eight years while the Clintons were in office that there were times he was very tempted to come out and say something. But he pretty much remained quiet.

MRS. BUSH: And he should have.

HANNITY; Well, and even your son. The worst that he ever said about the Clintons was "We're going to restore honor and dignity to the White House." But yet Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton are out there almost daily as monitors of almost every single decision that your son is making.

MRS. BUSH: Well.

HANNITY: What do you make of that?

MRS. BUSH: I can't say. We took a vow that we would not speak badly. But that's just - that's just too bad. And it's, well ...

HANNITY: Look, I don't want to push you in a direction you don't want to go. I'm not - I'm not - we're just glad you're here with us.

MRS. BUSH: Well, it is - I appreciate you're saying what a lot of people think. [End of Excerpt]

Mrs. Bush was on hand to talk about her new book, "Reflections: Life After the White House."

[Fledermaus]

Class the Clinton's didn't deserve.

[DeuceTraveler]

But refreshing in contrast, nonetheless.

[gridlock]

The people are seeing things the way they are. Bush and the Republicans have won every major election for the last three years, and the Clintons are electoral poison. People are beginning to see through the Clintons' lies, and are repulsed by them.

If the Democrats ever want to win anything again outside of the major urban areas, they are going to have to publicly and repeatedly repudiate the Clintons. That is the only way the people will ever trust them again.

[Fawnn]

Barbara Bush herself is, and always has been, refreshing. I have a great deal of respect for that lady. I met her husband while he was Vice President. I'd certainly welcome the chance to meet her as well!

[malia]

I saved a speech President Bush gave recently and can't find it right now (but will).

President Bush, said something like-- I will not leave a problem for the next administration to solve.

I loved it!!!

[WaterDragon]

She certainly has an iron grip on her tongue! LOL!

[Hank Rearden]

Surrendering before the battle is joined.

No wonder the damned Big Stupid Republican Government isn't getting even a tiny bit smaller. Republicans don't want to achieve their stated goals - they just want to be in power.

[RLK]

"We took a vow we would not speak badly."

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That's effete nice-speak for saying we didn't have the guts to confront the Clintons and have left this nation abandoned by any accountability or moral authority.

[RLK]

"We took a vow we would not speak badly."

-----------------------

That's effete nice-speak for saying we didn't have the guts to confront the Clintons and have left this nation abandoned by any accountability or moral authority.

[Terridan]

Please tell me it is just plain class, and repect for the office of the Presidency, or not wanting to air dirty laundry for the world to see. I know the Klintoons did enough of that, but just once, just once, I wish she would slam them both.

[RLK]

"We took a vow we would not speak badly."

-----------------------

That's effete nice-speak for saying we didn't have the guts to confront the Clintons and have left this nation abandoned by any accountability or moral authority. It's not class. It's refusal to undertake resonsibility that goes with the office of president.

[donmeaker]

I submit that they are students enough of history that they know what happened to Rome when a prorogued consul disagreed with the newly elected consul. Civil War is what happened.

Some people are bad examples. We are better off with a bad president, for a limited period of time (or even a series of bad presidents that are bad in different ways) than we are going through another Civil War. What ever our enemies want to do to us, that pales in comparison to what we can do to ourselves.

[RLK]

So confronting the Clintons would produce a civil war, while the Clintons trashing this nation won't. At interesting line of thought.

We are in a civil war, but my side is losing.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

I can't think of a better way to put this, but Barbara Bush is one of those women who, if she kicks your ass, you know you deserved it and are better off for it.

[WaterDragon]

Hooboy! I think if she ever got started.....could there ever be an end? The Clintons are pure trash. And as my momma always told me, you just don't lower yourself to the level of white trash by responding to their trashy whines.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

What the Bush family is doing is letting the liberals, esp. the Crintons, become their own worst enemy. I love it.

[whereasandsoforth]

Up until the Clintons set new standards, every former president left office with grace and dignity. The Bush's vow is not unique nor unwise. To say the Clintons "lower the bar" for new former presidents would be a kind way of saying both Bill and Hillary are not and were not worthy of the offices to which they were elected/appointed. IOW, The Clintons didn't give a damn about dignity while there and they damn sure don't care now. Class will tell everytime.

[trebb]

That's effete nice-speak for saying we didn't have the guts to confront the Clintons and have left this nation abandoned by any accountability or moral authority.

Au contraire - that shows real class and does more good than harm. Who do you know, that is worth paying attention to, that admires the Klintons and Carter for making public petty stabs at the President? It takes more guts to do what's right than to lower yourself into the slime.

Besides, most people realize the truth, even though some don't want to admit it - you can align yourself with back-stabbing, whining, lying slime -or- you can align yourself with strength and dignity and honor.

If someone doesn't act like the latter, then there is no choice anymore and we would be doomed to suffer a nation mired in a nation abandoned by any accountability or moral authority...

[CWOJackson]

A class act.