Bush Pushes Back Against Limbaugh's Obama-Haiti Remark

Former President George W. Bush pushed back Sunday against criticism -- levied most prominently by talk radio host Rush Limbaugh -- that his successor, President Barack Obama, was somehow politicizing the disastrous earthquake in Haiti.

"I don't know if -- what they're talking about," Bush declared during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press." "I've been briefed by the President about the response. And as I said in my opening comment, I appreciate the president's quick response to this disaster."

This past week, Limbaugh insisted that the Obama White House would use the catastrophe in Haiti to "burnish" the president's standing and credibility "with the black community, in the both light-skinned and dark-skinned black community, in this country."

"It's made-to-order for 'em," Limbaugh said. "That's why he couldn't wait to get out there. Could not wait to get out there."

Joined by former President Bill Clinton during a series of interviews on the Sunday shows, Bush also touted the need to get relief to the Haitian people, in both a streamlined and responsible way. Asked by host David Gregory if he drew any lessons from the recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina (widely regarded as tragically bungled), Bush replied:

"First of all, it takes time to get the supplies in place. That shouldn't deter them. In other words, there's an expectation-- amongst people that things are going to happen quickly. And sometimes it's hard to make things happen quickly. Secondly, there is a great reservoir of good will that wants to help. And that's why he asked us to help, and we're glad to do it."

Comments

[SamBerryCa]

07:31 PM on 03/17/2010

why should we be surprised? Its about time we put the rights of children ahead of the rights adults in this country. America should lead the world in this effort. Seeing cooperation with cuba should be the first step in helping cubans, hatians, and dominicans be free. Watch the movie "with no one to protect them" on youtube it is The most powerful, telling video you will ever watch on haiti or extreme poverty. seriously i bet you cant see this all 8 minutes through without crying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5P5Npb6NmM

[dotorfats]

02:24 PM on 01/21/2010

The alternitive to helping these people which of course we should do is a mass exodus to south florida and then on through out the nation,taking jobs for less money then were willing to take Please help rebuild the infrastructure of hati ,not that that i dont want them here just not all at once.

[irisheyes8806]

03:09 PM on 01/21/2010

There are a lot of Haitians being flown into Central Florida (I'm not sure about other places, though). I was driving near the Orlando/Sanford airport this morning and saw one of the planes bringing people in. I'm not sure how many this airport has received, but it's a nightly news story on the local stations.

[demogod]

12:55 PM on 01/21/2010

I think if Bush did a better job with Katrina it would have helped him in the eyes of all Americans. Rush scumball wants to hurt Obama any way he can which hinders the relief efforts by real Americans. Rush is un-american and a threat to our countries efforts around the globe aswell as here at home. He needs to be placed in GItmo with all the other people who want to hurt america.

[DrImranKhan]

02:27 AM on 01/21/2010

Is everyone on a one lane highway!

Same policy.................................

[elsa12]

03:59 PM on 01/20/2010

Also, I recall several year's ago that opinion of the French government being considerd as ¨wise¨ and ¨astute¨ in matters of American policy.

Why do liberals suddenly not care what France thinks?

[WebCommoner]

10:45 AM on 01/21/2010

If you're going to put something in quotes, state the source. Nobody cares what France thinks. Liberals just agreed with the French about George W. Bush.

[elsa12]

03:57 PM on 01/20/2010

Limbaugh NEVER said that people should not give to the tragedy in Haiti. He said give to private charity who will manage your gift vastly better than the government will your tax dollars. So, what part of that is not correct?

[WebCommoner]

10:48 AM on 01/21/2010

Limbaugh implied that the president might selfishly take the donations for himself. The link on WhiteHouse.gov to the Red Cross giving website directed users away from WhiteHouse.gov. Limbaugh knew exactly what he was saying, and you should be ashamed to stand behind the man's inconsiderate rhetoric about the president's role in the disaster.

[elsa12]

04:47 PM on 01/21/2010

No he did not imply that. That is what you imagined.

Read the transcript.

[davidpaul76]

01:45 PM on 01/21/2010

Yes, just like private industry was more effecient at running the economy (through private banks) - well the near collapse of our economy under Bush proved that to be incorrect.

[dharma41]

09:31 AM on 01/20/2010

Isn't it obvious that comedian Rush Limbaugh's comments were said merely to "burnish" his own "standing and credibility" with his racist followers, as well as to give him the media attention he so desperately craves?

[Norman Bliss]

09:16 AM on 01/20/2010

I don’t believe this, Bush is sounding more like Obama and Obama is sounding more like Bush.

[allanpiper]

09:05 AM on 01/20/2010

Wait! Bush is right about something? I'm so confused!

[Alan667]

09:03 PM on 01/20/2010

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.... was bound to happen to Bush some day...

[WebCommoner]

10:49 AM on 01/21/2010

nice

[1134belmont]

09:02 AM on 01/20/2010

"I think Limbaugh really needs to rethink his thinking sometimes..."

Perhaps more accurate would be "needs to rethink his *nonthinking* sometimes..."

We've really come to a point that if the wrong party finds a pill to cure cancer, someone will find something to complain about.

[ARJIS]

02:03 AM on 01/20/2010

I think Limbaugh really needs to rethink his thinking sometimes...

I am a conservative. It is because of these types of comments that I don't really listen to him much. And I am a fan conservative talk radio...

I think Obama responded appropriately to the disaster. Why must there be an issue made of it.

Pat Robertson too... he's another one... forget about it...

[gotsmarter]

12:06 AM on 01/20/2010

Sponsors should boycott Limbaugh the way they did Beck. I think msnbc and cnn should repeatedly mention the list of sponsors who have withdrawn from those corrosive programs like Beck's , Limbaugh's, and their ilk.

Many of us would buy products from companies with a conscience, and it would be free advertising for them if Msnbc and cnn just listed them every once in awhile.

[Alex Brant-Zawadzki]

11:55 PM on 01/19/2010

To be fair, that's not really "pushing back." That's just expressing ignorance.

[Keith Stephens]

11:40 PM on 01/19/2010

Not much of a push back.

[Donkey Oatie]

11:09 PM on 01/19/2010

I've never met a man an accurate pen could not puncture. Here are his sponsors:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/1/15/825644/-Rush-Limbaughs-Sponsor-List