Laura Bush On Giving Michelle Obama A White House Tour: "I Showed Her The Closets, I Showed Her All The Things That Women Are Interested In"

First Lady Laura Bush talked for the first time about her private meeting with Michelle Obama on Monday. When asked if she shared any White House parenting advice with the future First Lady, Laura Bush responded, "Not really. I think I showed her the closets, I showed her all the things that women are interested in. But I didn't try to give her a lot of advice."

Read on for the rest of the interview with CNN:

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The role of the First Lady is certainly something that I'm sure you discussed with Mrs. Obama earlier this week. How did that visit go? And could you tell us any anecdotes?

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: Well it went great. It was very private, really. It was really much more, I think, two mothers talking about home more in this visit, because of course I showed her the rooms that are our girls' rooms now that I think are the perfect rooms for her girls when they move there.

We talked more about really making the White House a home for a family. And what I know from having lived here and from visiting my mother-in-law when she made this family a home and from reading about all the other families that have lived here is this house really can be a home. And I know that they'll make it that way for their little girls.

QUIJANO: Certainly, there must be some increased pressure, a lot of scrutiny, of course, living in the White House. I was wondering, did you share any advice with her as a mother who has been through it, having had two daughters spending some formative years?

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L. BUSH: Not really. I think I showed her the closets, I showed her all the things that women are interested in. But I didn't try to give her a lot of advice. I know she knows that she can make it home.

And that's what she wants to do.

QUIJANO: Last question then. Your husband, the day after the election, talked about it being a stirring sight to see the Obamas because of the historic nature of having the nation's first African-American president. I wonder if you could share your thoughts on that, as well?

L. BUSH: Well I also think it's very, very important. I think it's important for American history. I think it's a message to everybody in the United States of what's possible. But it's also a message around the world because I know, because I heard from them, that there were leaders in the -- around the world who didn't think the United States would elect an African-American man. And so, I think it's a really important message about our own democracy to people around the world.

QUIJANO: Mrs. Bush, thank you so much.

L. BUSH: Thanks a lot. Thanks a lot.

Comments

[spriggig]

I have a feeling Michelle is going to be more like Hillary Clinton on steroids--she's no Yale wallflower.

[chicagomike]

Hillary Clinton on steroids?

Is that a dream, or a nightmare?

[DaisyDooks]

*In the voice of Lloyd Bentsen* I know Michelle Obama, and she's a mighty fine lady. Michelle Obama is NOTHING like Hillary Clinton!

[yorkie]

IF ONLY GREAT WOMEN WITH GRIT AND GIFT OF ZINGERS LIKE LATE GOV ANNE RICHARDS OF TX AND SCRIBE MOLLY IVINS WERE HERE TO AD THEIR THOUGHTS !!!!!! I THINK GOOD EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW AS FIRST LADY IS LADY BIRD JOHNSON,,,SHE HAD 2 DAUGHTERS AS WELL...AND CRISIS TO HELP THE PRES DEAL WITH ETC,,,,,,SHE NEVER SOUGHT THE LIME LIGHT OR WANTING TO BE IN WHT HSE ,,HER BEAUTIFICATION OF AMERICA PROJECT IS A GREAT LASTING TESTIMONY TO HER AND HER IDEALS TO FOLLOW !!!! SO IN 2008 IT'S BACK TO THE FUTURE IN SOME WAYS,,,, NEW FRONTIERS AND GREAT SOCIETIES TO RESHAPE AMERICA AND THE WORLD !

[Cybersquirt]

Not to nit but if you're gonna yell, check your post for typo's first.

[octo]

Can't read capitals dude.

[DaisyDooks]

I know, right?

[chicagomike]

You know, if anything can destroy the euphoria I've been feeling for the last ten days about the Obama victory and the people's repudiation of Bushism, it's the UTTERLY MEAN-SPIRITED & IMMATURE comments being made on this thread about Laura Bush. Shame on you all. It's not like she was "The Decider" who plunged us into a disastrous set of wars, sank the economy and divided the nation with hate. She's a decent woman who happens to love -- yes, love -- a guy we all know to be a creep and a disaster for our country. That's her cross to bear, but she's done nothing to deserve the childish vituperation being heaped on her here..

[gi]

Don't agree a woman is a man back bone she sat there and let this little man destroy the WORLD.

[chicagomike]

What a stupid comment.

Despite his best efforts, the world is hanging on...and HOW MUCH WORSE might it have been without Laura?

[RockySoldier]

i'm a hardcore, HARDCORE Obama supporter from pre-'04. that said, it makes me sick to see people disrespecting Laura Bush. The woman is not her husband. Yes, she supports him. She loves him. I'm sure there are parts of his personal life (including his overcoming alcoholism) that even those of us who DESPISE him can applaud and commend him for. She is by all accounts a decent and loyal woman who not only has a graduate degree, but is also by most accounts very intelligent. She was and is very liberal on certain issues and remains quiet on them because of her loyalty to her husband. As one of the 76% who absolutely cannot wait for President Elect Obama to eject King George from his high chair, please get off his wife's back. The disrespectful garbage many here are tempted to take cheap shots at are unwarranted. Laura Bush was being decent in showing Michelle around. If it were Hillary's husband, she would have been just as courteous. Don't insult the reputation of your fellow President Elect Obama supporters by being disrespectful to a woman who never entered public life on a ballot.

Think of how we would act were Michelle to be spoken of this way in 8 years.

[happycat]

Very nicely said RockySoldier!

[gi]

Michelle knows better. I'm sure Michelle is not going to show closets to the next First Lady.

[chicagomike]

I suspect that you are wrong about that.

[hopefullee]

Who says the next first is going to be a "Lady"? ;-)

[Rosarita]

When anyone buys or rents a house or apartment, they are very concerned with closet space. This is true of presidents and the rest of us. There is nothing wrong with what Laura Bush did, which was show the closets to the new occupant. I'm sure Michelle Obama wanted an idea of how much storage space her family would have in the living quarters. That was the purpose of the tour; to allow the new occupant to envision where they would hang their clothes, etc. As far as her comment about "things that interest women" it is nitpicking to criticize the way she phrased it. I'm sure they discussed more than closet space, but Mrs. Bush just described the practical purpose of the tour. This is nonsense to read anything into her remarks. And I've never been a big fan of Laura Bush, but this is really petty.

[MuseScavenger]

So, like, now she knows where all the bathrooms are?

[mjustin]

Pitiful and sad.

[mypov123]

Maybe she was just being sarcastic.­...you know like, 'of course women are only supposed to be interested in superficial things like closet space' lol....yea­h, she was being sarcastic, that's it ;)

[LemonMeringue]

Laura Bush completely wasted an opportunity to do something good with the power of First Lady.

You will not be missed Laura. You and your mother in law were worthless.

[RockySoldier]

no, YOU'RE worthless. laura bush is nothing like her mother-in-law. you're being disrespectful and you should just quiet that mouth.

[gi]

RockySoldier get a LIFE!

[VOTER]

I agree.

Laura did nothing with a smile while her mother-in-law did nothing with a sneer.

[KOisGod]

Republican women, deep thinking not allowed.

[TLV]

Lara Bush made a statement today. After 8 years she's finally allowed to.

[TLV]

It went something like this:

"Bad men should stop throwing acid on the faces of young, Afghan girls."

[RockySoldier]

she's not supposed to say that? i'm a soldier. i don't like the bushes. AT ALL. but i am PROUD that american soldiers and marines are in afghanistan doing their best to get at the people who would do this thing to young girls. the fact that laura bush spoke out on it is a decent mark in her corner. she could have said nothing. get off her back. she's not president.

[mnkors]

A maternity ward in an Afghanistan's hospital had been renamed "The Maternity Ward named after Laura Bush." Then the promised US help ($250.000) was delayed for almost a year –while women and babies in this ward were dying because of the lack of medicine, instruments, and because of terrible conditions like absence of hot water. The numerous letters were sent to Washington. To no avail. As for Laura Bush, she simply did not care (I bet that Bush family fortune had substantially increased during last 8 years).
There is a documentary that follows this ward’s sad story week after week.
If you want to know who Laura Bush is, just watch this documentary.

[VOTER]

Laura Bush, the sweet, gentle and WORTHLESS First Lady.

[chronic]

Thanks for finding those words because I was speechless.

[BuzzingAlong]

"I showed her the closets, I showed her all the things that women are interested in."

Yeah, closets are just what interests me. Can't get enough of closets.

Oh yeah, closets.

[SColbert]

haha I know right! As a woman, the last thing I care about is closets. Oh Laura.

[TLV]

I would want to know where they hide the good chocolate.

[RockySoldier]

uh, ok- so i'll bite. so what is the FIRST LADY supposed to see? the situation room? she's the first lady. it's not a sexist thing- if it were first gentleman, he would be shown the same thing. get off the victimhood-feminist thing for a few minutes, take a step back , collect your thoughts, and re-think your approach.

[happycat]

Maybe you don't, but I do. As a mother of two young kids myself, I would need to know where I would be putting everything.

[ImagesAndAdjectives]

Closets, celebrity magazines, kitchens and the laundry room. That's all we women care about.

Ugh...no wonder we can't elect a female president.

[applecider10]

It's not like I'd want to discuss international crises, our position in the U.N., trade deficits..­.you know...all those things that are of inestimable importance for world leaders to know?

This teenage girl is disgusteddddddd.

[NWBrunette]

Hey, I like closets. And I bet the WH has really big walk-ins.

[DoctorWhoDat]

When do you think Laura will drop George like a bad habit?

[DaBluAce]

she stayed with him this long....sh­e ain't going no where! She completes him...for all that is worth

[TLV]

But The Enquirer said they divorced long ago.

Now I'm confused about the John Edwards story. Somebody help me here!

[gi]

NOT A DAME THING!

[BethinIllinois]

payos-- couldn't agree with you more! I think women should be able to earn whatever degree they want and then, if it fits into their family's lifestyle, either work outside the home, or not, as their interests and family circumstances dictate. I am beyond irritated at the assumption here, after a very twisted article (I won't dignify it by the term "news story") that Laura Bush was somehow insulting Michelle Obama or that Laura Bush is not interested in the wider problems of teh world. I did not vote for George Bush -- cannot stand the man -- but I think Laura Bush is a graceful, intelligent woman who has tried hard to raise two daughters. I did not vote for Obama, and think Michelle Obama is a shrill, dissatisifed woman, but also think she is working hard to raise two daughters and would do anything for them. Give them both a break.

And just becuase probably some GUY is writing this story, well, happy twisting.

[willwallace]

says a woman wrote this, it just fits the mold of angry l i b s to discuss, again this is not even worth reading...­another reason to whine about something bush fam/co. did...whic­h is usually taken out of context

[DaBluAce]

then why did you read it?....tak­e chill pill

[TLV]

Did I read that you need a list of Bush crimes to read before you get to sleep tonight?

http://www.motherearth.org/bushwanted/laws.php

Will this do? Sweet dreams.

[Bongborg]

Oh, she did SUCH a great job raising them girls, they is SUCH ladies...

[TLV]

They don't talk like you. She must have done a REALLY good job.

[mypov123]

What??

[applecider10]

LOL?!

[TLV]

Michelle Obama is shrill and dissatisfied? Please explain.

[gi]

Yeah! What do you mean by SHRILL AND DISSATISFIED????? And I mean especially DISSATISFI­ED?????!!!­!??

[bobbysgurl]

Here's something you can be proud of: Laura Bush committed vehicular homicide and never served a day.

You didn't vote for Obama, and Michelle is shrill. Give me a freaking break. Oh, I'm sorry. I assumed you don't know the Obamas personally, but maybe you do. Right?

[twokidsonecat]

Everyone has an opinion on Laura, but what I want to know is Does Anyone Really Know Laura?

[willwallace]

your point do you have a theory too? was she behind the iraq war or more war profiteering, got some conspiracies for us found on google?

[LemonMeringue]

Laura Bush only plays a role. She took the lessons and knows how to act in official public appearances. It isn't real.