Kanye West's Katrina outburst was 'worst moment' of Bush's presidency?

[Simply Madeline]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/com...utburst_w.html

"I faced a lot of criticism as president. I didn't like hearing people claim that I lied about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction or cut taxes to benefit the rich. But the suggestion that I was racist because of the response to Katrina represented an all-time low."
-- Excerpt from George W. Bush's new memoir, Decision Points

Bush defended the statements during an interview with Matt Lauer, quoted by EW, saying, "He called me a racist. And I didn't appreciate it then. I don't appreciate it now. It's one thing to say, 'I don't appreciate the way he's handled his business.' It's another thing to say, 'This man's a racist.' I resent it; it's not true."

[Lainie]

So he doesn't care what millions of people reading his book might think, but he cares what Kanye West said on TV one time?

Apparently the "racist" accusation holds some particular sting, but I doubt very much that Kanye West is the only person who ever called George W. Bush a racist, especially in the aftermath of Katrina.

[Simply Madeline]

Yo, George Bush, I'm happy for you and Ima let you finish, but failing to "connect the dots" prior to 9/11, starting 2 wars, torturing prisoners, spying on US citizens, allowing an American city to be decimated, and presiding over the collapse of our financial system were the worst presidential moments of all time.

[Admiraldinty]

I'm confused. The passage quoted says nothing about the "worst moment", only that it was "an all time low," which I interpreted as "the most scurrilous criticism." Then, Matt Lauer inserts "worst moment" into it. Bush answers back that it was a "disgusting moment," but then he seems to agree with Lauer's phrasing, only to finally go back to "disgusting moment." There seems to be a little bit of ambiguity here. Does Bush ever actually say it was the "worst moment"? If the question had been a little more pointed, I wonder if Bush would have given a less ambiguous answer.

[snopes]

There's nothing like recycling two-year-old news to pump up the circulation:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...-feelings.html

[DesertRat]

Apparently the "racist" accusation holds some particular sting, but I doubt very much that Kanye West is the only person who ever called George W. Bush a racist, especially in the aftermath of Katrina.

Oh come on. Really?

George W. Bush gave us plenty of quite legitimate reasons to hold his presidency in very low regard, but there's zero credible evidence to support any accusations of racism. I know some people who passionately hate Bush, but even among them racism is an accusation that has never been leveled.

Kanye West, on the other hand, has given me at least two very well-publicized reasons to think he's an idiot.

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by DesertRat

George W. Bush gave us plenty of quite legitimate reasons to hold his presidency in very low regard, but there's zero credible evidence to support any accusations of racism.

Have you mistaken me for Kanye West?

Please re-read my post. I didn't accuse GWB of racism, and I didn't say accusations of racism were justified.

ETA: Also, if you're going to quote me, please attribute the quote.

[DesertRat]

I may have misunderstood part of your post. When you referenced the "particular sting" of the accusation, I inferred you meant that it was deserved. My apologies if I was mistaken.

[Lainie]

I meant that that particular charge seemed to bother him more than others. I don't know that for a fact, it's just an assumption -- why else would he care so much about something Kanye West said?

Apology accepted, thank you.

Wasn't Mike Myers in that special? His reaction was priceless.

[Lainie]

I don't personally recall anyone but West accusing GWB of being racist during and immediately after Katrina, but accusations of a more institutionalized racism were certainly common (and had some merit, IMO).

[snopes]

Indeed. Back during the build-up to the 2000 presidential campaign, much hay was made over the fact that Governor George W. Bush had once owned a home with a whites-only sales covenant attached to it.

[snopes]

Kanye West now says he "didn't have the grounds" to call George W. Bush a racist, and the former president said that he appreciates the rapper's regret.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_bush_book_tour

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by Nate B.

Wasn't Mike Myers in that special? His reaction was priceless.

It's one of my favorite live TV moments ever. Right up there with David Niven and the Academy Awards streaker.

[Assilem Brandywine]

Yo yo yo, Bush, Imma let you finish, but Abraham Lincoln was the best president of all time. OF ALL TIME!

[Avril]

I looked it up on YouTube because I hadn't seen it. You don't really see Mike Myers react--they cut to something else very quickly. All you see is Myers turn to West and open his mouth as if he's about to say something to him.

[Lainie]

Avril, look at the still that's included in the OP link -- that's the reaction I'm talking about, the expression on Myers' face.