Bush Declines Obama’s Invitation to Ground Zero

The New York Times ^ | 5-3-11 | MARK LANDLER and PETER BAKER

[Justaham]

President Obama invited former President George W. Bush to join him at ground zero in New York City on Thursday to mark the killing of Osama bin Laden, but Mr. Bush declined, a spokesman for the former president confirmed on Tuesday.

“President Bush will not be in attendance on Thursday,” said his spokesman, David Sherzer. “He appreciated the invite, but has chosen in his post-presidency to remain largely out of the spotlight. He continues to celebrate with Americans this important victory in the war on terror.”

The White House did not confirm that the invitation had been made or comment on Mr. Bush’s decision.

Mr. Obama has talked this week of his hope that the successful raid on the compound where Bin Laden was hiding could serve as a unifying force in a country divided by battles over fiscal policy and many other issues. Many Republicans have praised Mr. Obama for the success of the operation.

On Monday, White House officials said Mr. Obama would go to Lower Manhattan to visit the site of the World Trade Center and meet with families of the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks, which were masterminded by Bin Laden.

Since leaving the White House, Mr. Bush has generally stayed out of the public eye, and avoided commenting on his successor. He made an exception last year when Mr. Obama asked him and former President Bill Clinton to travel to Haiti after the earthquake as his emissaries.

Mr. Bush spent much of his time in office presiding over the hunt for Bin Laden. A few days after Sept. 11, he made one of the most dramatic public appearances of his presidency, standing atop the smoldering ruins of the towers and speaking to rescue workers on a firefighter’s bullhorn.

[re_nortex]

"He [Bush] continues to celebrate with Americans this important victory in the war on terror."

The 't' should not be prefixed to the word after Americans.

[basil]

Gotcha!!..... and I agree.

[Michael.SF.]

He... has chosen in his post-presidency to remain largely out of the spotlight.

You mean just like Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton did?

/sarcasm

[re_nortex]

[rogue yam]

Good.

It is ridiculous to have this ceremony.

All decent people should avoid it.

[Lazlo in PA]

I am absolutely shocked that the Regime thought to even recognize Bush’s existence.

[expatguy]

LOL

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[I still care]

Good for him.

He’s not so desparate for attention he’ll let Obama use him as a prop.

Bush is class through and through. Unlike some other expresidents, who just can’t give up the spotlight.

Anyone want to bet after Obama is done he’ll run around just like Clinton, saying, “Look at me! Look at me!”

[caww]

Smart move on Bushes part. He’s not going to let Obama use him for his PR moment...and going there isn’t a good idea in my mind in the first place. If I had lost a family member or friend I wouldn’t go there for this kind of “celebration??????”.

[Uncle Slayton]

The only reason why George W. Bush would choose not to be seen with Obama is that he knows that Obama is not constitutionally qualified to be president and is therefore not a legitimate president.

[caww]

I wouldn’t go that far for his reasons not to go there. He’s just not going to be used in political ways and this is a PR move for Obama....besides he’s doing what he said. Not much in the way of anything with political overtones, thus it’s ALL on Obamas watch....

[SueRae]

To thine own self be true. A principled man. I miss him.

He’s keeping true to his word and the humility speaks volumes.

He appeared on one or two news shows last week to promote awareness of wounded warriors and his 100 km ride across the desert with many of them. How many saw that coverage?

[nathanbedford]

Bush has in the past revealed himself to be utterly indifferent, almost unconscious, to the slights directed at him by the Democrats and especially by Obama himself. Yet, it is also true that apart from his own election and reelection campaigns Bush has been equally indifferent to seeing his party prosper at the polls. In fact, one could point to his toadying after the likes of Teddy Kennedy as a pander to the media elite and the Washington establishment at the expense of his own party.

So it is not clear what motivates Bush to decline his invitation if it is not exactly as stated, a desire to avoid the spotlight. My own surmise is that Laura Bush pulled him aside and said "enough, enough do not go there and burnish the image of the man who has disparaged you up and down the country for the last decade."

I doubt if the consideration is that Bush ought not to burnish the image of the man who will be running against a Republican candidate for president.

[BobP]

I am absolutely shocked that the Regime thought to even recognize Bush’s existence.

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

Exactly right Lazlo in PA.

[Lazlo in PA]

LOL. I love that in the “smarter than Bush” crowd in the pic is good old Bob Gates. Worked for Bush I and Bush II. The regime is so much smarter that they needed Bushes Sec of Def to keep their heads above water with military issues. Just one more thing that Obummer needed to copy from the criminal Bush administration.

[FlyVet]

Well, who knows with the Bushes. I'll choose to have more respect for him, for not choosing to draw attention to himself at this time...even though they choose to sidle up to Billy Jeff Clintoon as son and brother. That, I will never understand....the Bush family is a strange combination of class, dignity, and...not so much.

Maybe any one of us who spent so much time within the sick, dysfunctional, evil world of politics, would end up the same way. Somebody's gotta do it.

[Cincinna]

I never doubted that George W is a class act.
NOBAMA is coming to Ground Zero Thursday do do his victory lap at a sacred site he cares nothing about. Cares more about the sensibilities of the Islamic terrorists that the Families whose loved ones were blown to Kingdom Come by this Muslim Death Cult.
For NOBAMA it is just another campaign rally,
For we NYers he is a pestilence that arrives with his huge motorcades like some African colonial dictator tying up traffic to toot his own born
His mother never raised him to know that braggadocio is a self indulgent infantile narcissism.

[BIGLOOK]

Let the fraud stand alone in the hour of his great victory. Bush needn't be there as a prop.

While interested in politics, the most detestable of sciences, and follow the daily changes like an addict, some things like this speak greater politically than showing face would ever do.

[napscoordinator]

Very nice that the White House invited the former President. He has decided to stay out of the public. Former Presidents always look out for each other. It is like a fraternity.