White House: Mrs. Bush Comment 'Personal' (Barbara)

[sabra]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/07/AR2005090701515.html

White House: Mrs. Bush Comment 'Personal'

WASHINGTON -- Barbara Bush was making "a personal observation" when she said poor people at a relocation center in Houston were faring better than before Hurricane Katrina struck, President Bush's spokesman said Wednesday.

Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, did not answer directly when asked if the president agreed with his mother's remarks.

Mrs. Bush, after touring the Astrodome complex in Houston on Monday, said: "What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them." She commented during a radio interview with the American Public Media program "Marketplace."

McClellan, at the White House briefing, said: "I think she was making a personal observation on some of the comments that people were making that she was running into. ... But what we're focused on is helping these people who are in need."

[stevedeshazer]

1. BWAAAHAAAAAAAA!!!

[sabra]

2. my reaction too! :-)

[bleedingheart]

3. Insert Silver Foot in Mouth Disease...hereditary Bush disorder

[Spinzonner]

9. Except that she's not a hereditary Bush

She's a Bush by insemination - as my aunt used to say.

[acmejack]

20. She's a Pierce

A patrician nonetheless.

[meganmonkey]

48. A Pierce, as in the 14th (?) president?

Apparently my 5th grade teacher was related to President Pierce. He had 6 toes on one of his feet. My teacher, that is - I don't know about the former President.

(Honestly, that's probably the only thing I remember learning in 5th grade ;) )

[acmejack]

82. Yes indeed!

Here is the . Her Dad was president of McCalls.

edit to add link

[TheCentepedeShoes]

97. That sixth toe

probably contained all of Bab's brain cells. BTW, someone I used to deal with at a bank was descended from Martin Van Buren.

[Carolab]

102. Big deal. I'm descended from Abe Lincoln and Daniel Boone.

Does that give me a right to look down at others, too?

[Spinzonner]

115. No, but we'll give you a pass on wearing buckskin

[Carolab]

116. And a coonskin hat?

Or perhaps a stovepipe?

:D

[gorekerrydreamticket]

122. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

n/t

[glitch]

65. Patrician implies class - find a better word, cuz this one won't cut it

for this family, no matter who their ancestors are.

[chalky]

69. Klass with a capital "K(KK)"

n/t

[Delphinus]

40. You sure about that? Inbreeding and all,

one wonders if their "blue blood" isn't from the same family line.

[mitchum]

101. LOL!!!

:)
I'm sorry that I never knew your aunt. She was evidently a woman of great wit.

[defiant1]

126. LoL....

:rofl:

[MADem]

98. Governor Richards, is that YOU????

Heh, heh

Poor George, he CAIN'T HEP IT!!!

Love that woman!!

[htuttle]

4. BREAKING: President distances himself from mother

[stevedeshazer]

13. Brutal

:)

[KansDem]

14. "Say, Ma? Do you have any scissors for these apron strings?" (eom)

[China_cat]

30. The apron strings are the only thing

keeping him upright at any time. He'd never be able to get up off his face if he cut them.

[callous taoboy]

92. Claims he was doing everything he could before his mother spoke.

[miss_kitty]

5. Wellllllll,

We ARE all about free speech in the USA.

:spray:

[rodeodance]

16. as Jr. keeps reminding us (regarding protestors).

[David__77]

6. Where's her top-hat and monicle?

She's acting out the ultimate evil capitalist stereotype.

[UpInArms]

7. yeah, I took it "personal", too

that hag is a battleaxe that needs to go to a corner and shut her "lovely" mouth.

Barbara Bush: It's Good Enough for the Poor

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2281&e=1&u=/thenation/20050906/cm_thenation/120080

excerpt:

Commenting on the facilities that have been set up for the evacuees -- cots crammed side-by-side in a huge stadium where the lights never go out and the sound of sobbing children never completely ceases -- former First Lady Barbara Bush concluded that the poor people of New Orleans had lucked out.

"Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this, this is working very well for them," Mrs. Bush told American Public Media's "Marketplace" program, before returning to her multi-million dollar Houston home.

On the tape of the interview, Mrs. Bush chuckles audibly as she observes just how great things are going for families that are separated from loved ones, people who have been forced to abandon their homes and the only community where they have ever lived, and parents who are explaining to children that their pets, their toys and in some cases their friends may be lost forever. Perhaps the former first lady was amusing herself with the notion that evacuees without bread could eat cake.

...more...

[pokercat999]

87. If there was a god she would meet the same fate as Marie A.

[mitchum]

103. It would merely take a populace who are tired of these twits

And I long for the day

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rugger]

10. The new Leona Helmsley.."LET THEM EATCAKE"

Can you believe how out of touch with every day life the whole Bush family is?

The "little people" are suffering, how quaint.

Who says we don't have royalty in the US?

[goforit]

75. Yet 1000Xs worse.

[calimary]

83. Welcome to DU! Well, that's compassionate conservatism for ya.

We know where georgie got it, don't we. Suckled it straight out of mama's teat.

...but don't bother her "beautiful mind" while you help us work for...

IMPEACHMENT!!!

NOW!!!

[The Icon Painter]

117. Royalty?

Those who are bred from birth to a position of hereditary royalty are generally taught to at least pretend to give a damn about those they rule. Such teaching was obviously absent in the Pierce/Bush menage. They are jumped-up pretenders, every last one of them. Noblesse oblige has no place in their universe.

[MissMarple]

11. "Personal" is privately over cocktails with friends, who may not tell.

She was speaking in a quite public interview as a former first lady. She owns that statement and however much it reveals her "personal" views of the disadvantaged.

[livetohike]

12. Well, what I am "focused on "is

impeaching this fool President and his family.

Thank you Scotty for sharpening my focus.

[DrZeeLit]

15. Oh, yeah, right, Scottie. "Forget that... we're focused on helping"...now

[leftofcool]

17. Shut Up Babsy.........

Yer makin' yer son look bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (heavy sarcasm)

Left of Cool

[ArbustoBuster]

18. Backwards reasoning

So they say her comments are personal. Don't they realize this makes her comments WORSE? If they're personal, it means that's what she really believes.

News Flash: White House says Barbara Bush is a horrible monster without a soul. Film at 11.

[calimary]

85. Welcome to DU! But that's old news. Everybody knew about it already!

Har-de-har-har.

Glad you're here to help us work toward IMPEACHMENT of her evil spawn. Yeah, I think, judging from what I have seen of this woman over the years, that this really is personal because it's what she truly believes. The world, to these lovely "patricians" is made up of two kinds of people: the bushes and their inner circle, and "the help." Guess which we are? And guess which category, to her, would cover the evacuees she's seeing? :grr:

Also, it might be interesting to learn what she meant by it being "sort of scary" that so many of those same evacuees want to stay in Texas. What, babs, you worried that too many of 'em will settle around Crawford and disturb your son's pristine view?

[bassman79]

19. They did get $2,000 debit cards

hell, they probably will be doing a lot better here in Houston than back in New Orleans. I grew up all my life in New Orleans and moved here to Houston 9 months ago for better opportunities and I'm already doing WAY BETTER here than I was there doing the same occupation.

[htuttle]

22. Oh, give it up

You know, most of those people currently stuck in the Astrodome used to HAVE jobs. Not to mention homes, neighbors, friends, and a community.

Don't EVEN act like they are going to be 'better off'. Just bullshit.

[VolcanoJen]

23. Did Houston make your mind more beautiful?

Just kinda wonderin'.

[arcos]

39. lol!

:rofl:

[Ms. Clio]

26. tick tock tick tock

:puke:

[Bumblebee]

27. don't you think there is a slight difference between the situations

here? I hope you are kidding...

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

31. For a family of four....

The poverty level is 18,000 per year. That comes to $1,500 per month. So the Bush Administration is basically giving them the equivalent of six weeks wages to rebuild their lives after having lost everything they own, including the means to earn more money.

A huge-huge-huge portion of the people left behind in New Orleans were service sector workers -- the people who wait your tables and clean your hotel rooms. Since New Orleans isn't likely to be seeing much convention business in the next, oh, two or three years, these folks don't even have the option of holding a job.

[snippy]

32. How very republican.

I agree with the Chairman of the republican party that it is the party of bigotry and racism. Bush's mother is just being a good republican by being a bigot and a racist.

[UpInArms]

36. Wow! You would trade your family, friends, life, history

and every material (clothing, etc) or sentimental (pictures, nicknacks, gifts from deceased family members) possession for $2,000?

[geniph]

38. You know, you're right!

I never thought of it that way, but when you get right down to it, $2000 COULD replace my dead relatives, my dead and lost pets, my family mementoes, my house, my job...

:sarcasm:

There's gonna be just a BIT more competition for jobs in Houston in the days to come than there were when you moved 9 months ago. These are going to become a permanent underclass of displaced persons unless we figure out how to get them real help.

[Delphinus]

45. She said this BEFORE the $2,000 debit cards

was public knowledge.

[Theres-a]

51. $2,000 won't even cover the years of therapy

they're gonna need to recover emotionally from the horrors of it all.Horrors that COULD have been prevented if not for gross negligence of those at the highest levels of authority.:grr:

[stanwyck]

58. so, losing your loved ones,

home, possessions, livelihood, and pets is "doing a lot better"? You're in the shallow end of the pool. Try going a little deeper. This is DU. Not Freeperville.

[Scout1071]

60. I'm going to self-delete this comment.

And give you a chance to re-think your comment.

[Spazito]

73. ....

:popcorn:

[mac56]

88. Good God, I hope you're kidding.

Comparing your freely-chosen move with theirs.

[rucky]

90. Maybe you'd like to join them.

2000 bucks, maaaaan.

[stickdog]

107. Since you come from NO and are doing so well in Houston,

what are you personally doing for your recently evacuated New Orleans brethren?

Also, I hear Las Vegas is doing even better than Houston. So I've got a great deal for you. I'll take your place in Houston and all your worldly possessions off your hands for $2000 cash and a nice cot in Vegas' Thomas Mack Arena.

Do we have a deal, bassman?

[bassman79]

114. I currently have my mother, my sister, and my grandfather

living with me in my one bedroom apartment.

All I was saying was that with a $2,000 start in a town with way more opportunity and economy that NO it could be worse. I'm glad to see some good things finally happening for these people.

[stickdog]

127. Three generations sharing a single bedroom?

Houston truly is the land of milk and honey.

[Laurab]

109. Oh, yeah, they can live YEARS on that $2000 in Houston

and who needs a home or a job, anyway? Yeah, they'll probably be WAY BETTER off, but I just don't have the kind of beautiful mind that sees that....

WTF???????????????????????????????

[bassman79]

113. Deep breath...

Yeah, I wasn't belittling the intense trauma they've suffered. All I was saying is that the economy here in Houston is way better than New Orleans, especially post-Katrina. These people, once they get out and get jobs many of them will likely stay, and will have better lives here. That's all I was saying. And I know these people, and saw for years what their living conditions were in New Orleans up close and personal, and I know what kind of opportunities are here.
Just trying to point out the silver lining if there is one, not defending Barbara Bush, her comment just got me thinking about this.

[stickdog]

128. You said you currently share a one bedroom apartment with

your sister, mother and grandfather in Houston.

So what was it like for y'all in New Orleans? Eight family members in a studio? Just curious ...

[Bridget Burke]

120. No, they didn't.

Although bassman79 is no longer with us, this was reported on TV HERE IN HOUSTON.

The people lined up to begin the paperwork process towards getting debit cards. Some will be worth $2000, but not all. And the ones in line were not all processed--some will have to wait again.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KansDem]

24. You have to hand it to the GOP...

"Personal" and "private" meant NOTHING during the Clinton years, but now these words do?????

No wonder they're called the "Grand Old hyPocrisy"

[antonialee839]

25. Oh, that makes a big difference Scott (you idiot)

thanks for clearing things up.

[Totally Committed]

28. Puhleeeeze...

These people are not the type to get blindsided by this old bag! She was out there floating a meme for them. They told her what to say, and she said it. If the meme had been accepted well, that little "underprivileged... working well for them" meme would have been a Republican talking point today. If it didn't go well, they planned to disavow her ("The poor dotty old woman... it's just her personal view"), and pretend her remarks were a surprise. They used her. She knew it. And, my guess is, she doesn't give a fig.

TC

[zbdent]

29. What is the quote that repukes use when it's a liberal "public figure"

that makes a minor gaffe that's blown out of proportion?

Something to the effect of "You have to deal with being a public figure"?

[cliss]

33. At this point, Barbara will retreat,

try to figure out why people are so pissed, and dismissed it as "jealousy". She'll complain that the Ruling Class is misunderstood, all the time.

She will argue that she MEANT WELL. "My heart is in the right place", she'll insist. If she were to read this thread, she would be sobbing, in tears.

It's because she truly feels that she IS different from ordinary folks.

[The Icon Painter]

119. Ugh

"she truly feels that she IS different from ordinary folks."

Oh, she's different all right. She is not human. She is a soulless, heartless, brainless member of our ruling family. I wish her a very, very long and pain filled life.

[Danmel]

34. It's "Sort of Scary" that people want to stay????

Scary Barbara? All those poor black folk? Do they make you nervous? Can you believe the shit that comes out of these people's mouths? It's bad enough they think it- they have no reservations against SAYING it? What sorry excuses for human beings they are. It just burns me up that they have everything and those "lucky " ones at the Astrodome have nothing.

[AngryOldDem]

62. That quote screamed out at me too ---

Just what, exactly, is Babs scared of?

Never mind. I know the answer.

This is when everyone who is there just to be seen should be told to get the hell out and stay out if they are not going to do their fair share and help. And, no, picking up orphans and ladling out a few bowls of soup or whatever else these people are doing down there DO NOT suffice.

[LisaM]

35. Bullshit. Was she touring the Astrodome as a private citizen?

Unless they are parading the public through, I think not.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

46. What it the Astrodome now some kind of a circus sideshow for the curious?

[sattahipdeep]

37. Weren't they given the 2000 buck debit cards

so they could purchase what they needed?

So who is it they r going to purchase from?

The businesses in Texas is who and pay texas sales tax too.

And that doesn't count the fed moneys "rushing" to assist texas.

[NYC]

44. I guess that's why they won't leave them in Louisiana.

Additional consumers for Texas.

[geniph]

41. Babs, honey, let me clear somethin' up for you

since you seem Unclear On The Concept:

A private sex act between consenting adults - even if one of them is the President - is Personal.

A remark you make on the record in an interview with the press is Public.

Hope that helps, darlin'. Now pull that size 11 pump out of that overlarge, overpainted mouth of yours, and, to use a Southernism that you ought to understand: "well, bless your heart."

[bee]

47. haaaahahahahahahaha!!!

:rofl:
thats beautiful.

[TalkingDog]

94. Well, bless her heart, indeed....

I always laugh at the looks on the faces of transplants when I tell them what that phrase can mean (and often does).

[barb162]

108. Exactly. If it's private, why did she say it publicly.

I hope that's the last time they drag that sicko battleaxe out

[fortyfeetunder]

112. Because she thought she can get away with it.

After all, she is the President's mother!!!

[barb162]

129. Ol' Bar is Queen of the Sociopaths

How anyone can have any respect for that mean, sick bitch is way beyond me.

[myrna minx]

125. Like Krusty the clown sez...

Lisa: Didn't Barney's film move you?
Krusty: yeah, it moved me TO A BIGGER HOUSE! Oops, I said the quiet part loud and the loud part quiet.

[blue sky at night]

42. lying bastard.....

what they are concentrating on is called COVER Your ASS. I almost hate simple scotty as much as bu$h himself. They make a great team don't they?

ToO bad Simple Barbara didn't keep her bigoted views to herself while raising those loving children of hers.

[NYC]

43. An insult heard round the world.

Actions speak louder than words.

Barbara Bush's words were loud and clear.
George W. Bush's actions were loud and clear.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BlueJac]

50. Typical Bush league comments

[opihimoimoi]

52. If that is what we can expect from her beautiful mind, then, Piss on her

[arwalden]

55. Ooo! Ooo! Me me me me! I'm Next! I Want To Piss On Her!

[opihimoimoi]

76. We make a Group PISSING THING and piss 586978736451525364

Tons on her and Family

[BlueJac]

79. I want in on that...pissin

[calimary]

86. So do I - and I can't even aim.

:D

[AlCzervik]

53. LOL!! he has to do damage control for idiot son and the one who spawned

him!!! I love it!

[Betty]

54. "rhymes with witch"

didn't she say that about Geraldine Ferraro? I have a personal oberservation about what she rhymes with, but I have more class than to post it.

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mikimouse]

64. Perhaps you mean something that rhymes with...

this situation: It's 4th and 20; you're on your own 15 yard line. Do you go for it or _____________? (Insert word that rhymes with Barbara Bush description here):hippie:

[shanti]

56. yes, very personal, and i'm glad she did

that's when people show their a**. :eyes: she's getting REAMED on this, just like the "beautiful mind" quote!

[donheld]

59. Now we know how she "personally" thinks

Stupid old biddy. We know the heart of darkness.

[Arkana]

61. Of course Snotty Scotty didn't answer directly!

It's what he's paid for! To stonewall while the criminals get away with the loot! :mad:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

63. Well I have a few "personal" observations for her

Her image consultant is going to have a tough time repairing her reputation as a hateful racist douchebag.

...just a personal observation.

[graywarrior]

66. Send her to the gulf to clean up the mess.

She's a crazy old bat.

[ima_sinnic]

67. affuent trailer trash with no class at all

you are a pathetic shriveled up empty bag with no soul, no concept of humanity, beauty, or giving. what goes around comes around, you phony pearl-wearing heartless sow, and the pain and suffering you have inflicted on the world will come back to bite your boil-covered fat ass, big time.

[SoCalDem]

68. When junior trots her out to "wipe his ass", she's ON THE RECORD

:)

[goforit]

74. LOL!!!....So true.

[neuvocat]

70. She's a public figure.

Her comments were carried by the news waves and everyone heard them.

Take that, ya bunch of lurking freepers. Nyah!!!!

[Thtwudbeme]

71. Yeah, Scotty...you dipshit....we KNOW it was personal.....maybe you

could call Ari for some advice on how to make these people look better?

[texpatriot2004]

72. NO IT WAS PUBLIC! n/t

[GoldenOldie]

78. They ought to muzzle that hag and never let her out amongst decent people

Those now homeless victims of the NO floods have shown more dignity and class than this classless woman has had during her entire greedy lifetime. No wonder Herbert got himself another woman or two.

[Jose Diablo]

77. I love it

Please, please Babs, stay in the public light so everyone can get a good look at you and the other Republicans.

No, no, step right-up to that microphone. You deserve ALL the credit you have coming.

[pinniped]

80. It doesn't matter if the POS* agrees with this POS* witch.

Members of that sick family tend to try and think the same way.

They always drag out the hag when things go bad. Somehow things always tend to get worse.

[Octafish]

81. Ma Barker Corleone.

"Now that woman (Bar Bush) really knows how to hate." -- Richard M. Nixon.

[Ericmaxey]

84. i dunno

I worked as a physical therapist doing home care in rural eastern NC when hurricane Floyd flooded the whole area. They placed many of the people that lost their homes in small trailer homes, about 400 square feet, i can tell you from personal experience, those trailers were much better then where they lived before, and i believe to this day, many of them still live there. I'm not sure about the current situation, but it does happen.

[calimary]

91. Welcome to DU!

Frankly, it's not just this comment.

Perhaps, by itself, if this woman had no prior record of haughty statements, it might be excused. Might. But she's hardly the benign, sweet, little old white-haired granny whose specialty is cute pet dogs that write books, as the handlers would like her portrayed. As my mom would say, she's "got a heart like a BB."

I understand, and appreciate your point of view, AND your service as a home care specialist. My mom also did public health work in rural areas of the southeast way back in the day. She's talked about the horrid poverty the people there endured. But the Astrodome - open cots lined up side by side for the equivalent of a few city blocks, no privacy, bright lights and noise all the time, around the clock, and you're sharing a "dorm room" with 14,999 other people.

Glad you're here. Roll up yer sleeves and get to work.

We need you to help us

Visualize IMPEACHMENT!!!!!!
And then go DO something about it.

[mitchum]

104. Well, I guess you're now buried behind one of those luxurious trailers

[WinkyDink]

89. Scary, scary

She caught herself. The sentence following "scary" is a non sequitur cover-up.

[callous taoboy]

93. You couldn't buy publicity that awful. Well done, Mrs. "Beautiful mind"

[arwalden]

95. And George W. Bush Is A Son Of A Bitch!

[cyr330]

96. Fuck Her

Just think about how the media treated Hillary Clinton when she made "personal" comments like she did about Tammie Wynette. One would have thought that Hillary had performed obscene sex acts on the steps of the Capitol. . . .

Although we all know about the proclivities of our dear ex-First Lady, Barbara fucking Bush, she'll get a free pass like the rest of her goddamned litter that she squeezed out.

[Rex]

99. Ari the Liar should be proud of Simple Scotty!

He really can spin well now! A real toady.

[mitchum]

100. Well, I'm personally telling that cow to go fuck herself

[stickdog]

105. So she PERSONALLY "ran into" scary people who she

"observed" to be better off living on cots in a domed arena with NOTHING to their names but the clothes on the backs than their often lifelong homes?

[ecoflame]

106. Uh...like - to whom!

The voices in her head? Com'on - ya just got caught - AGAIN.

[NJCher]

110. Babs Bush

Ugly on the outside, ugly on the inside.




Cher

[drm604]

111. How would that make it better?

Even if we assume that this was just a "personal observation", how the hell does that make it any less obnoxious? Geeze, even their spin is incompetent these days!

[Solly Mack]

118. Nixon said No one could hate like Barbara and I think that says it all

[dave123williams]

121. Yes; it was how she PERSONALLY thinks - that's correct.

[researchok]

123. Throwing stones?

Throwing stones is a risky business.

http://sigcarlfred.blogspot.com/2005/09/update-pigs-arent-very-pretty-are-they.html

[Bridget Burke]

130. Gosh, someone was offended by a DU'er!!!

So we must shut up & allow the old cow to speak without criticism.

Since you're into psychoanalysisis, what would Sigmund have said about Ma Bush's relationship with her Son? The absent father, etc...

[researchok]

132. You missed the point

how language is used works both ways.

[Bridget Burke]

133. Gosh, I didn't know that!

How interesting.

[Seabiscuit]

124. Here's a "personal comment" to Babs:

Why have you kept that brain-dead idiot son abortion of yours alive on life-support systems for 59 years after he should have been long gone???

[Sarojin]

131. Like anyone got anywhere near her

"...some of the comments that people were making that she was running into..."

They close off sections of relief centers so they can set up props that look like a relief center (/boggle) and selectively filter who can walk by the royal family members, and one of them said, "You know, thank you so much, kind of scary, but I want to stay in Houston Forever! I am so underprivileged anyway that this is working well for me!"

[SomewhereOutThere424]

134. It IS personal

She just made this whole ordeal a personal insult to the whole of the united states. Take your baby, mrs bush, and go move to your precious middle eastern countries. Get the hell out of our country, you slime. :grr: