Laura Bush: Gay Marriage Should Be Legal, Abortion Should Remain Legal (VIDEO)

Former First Lady Laura Bush made a surprising tack away from two of the most definitive social issues of her husband's presidency this week, telling CNN's Larry King that she backs gay marriage and abortion rights.

Speaking on King's show earlier this week, Bush said this about gay marriage:

I think that we ought to definitely look at it and debate it. I think there are a lot of people who have trouble coming to terms with that because they see marriage as traditionally between a man and a woman, but I also know that when couples are committed to each other and love each other that they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has.

King then asked her if she thought that the legalization of gay marriage was coming, to which Bush replied, "Yeah, it will come, I think."

The former first lady went on to explain her view of abortion rights, which she called "the social issue in 2000 that everyone got asked about."

Katie Couric interviewed Laura Bush on the day before her husband's first inauguration and asked her directly if she "was for the overturn of Roe versus Wade," Bush said. The question took some serious consideration.

"And I thought, do I really want to start my husband's presidency, you know, suggesting that a Supreme Court rule being overturned? And I said 'no,'" Bush explained. "And I think it's important that it remain legal, because I think its important for people for medical reasons and other reasons."

Asked if their sometimes different views on key social issues created any friction between she and former President Bush, Laura said "I really understand his view point and he understands mine."

Various interest groups have already reacted to Mrs. Bush's statements.

Michael Cole, spokesman for gay rights group the Human Rights Campaign responded:

"When the right wing was using same-sex couples as election year pawns and the president calling for a cynical constitutional amendment to deny people rights, we would have welcomed support from the first lady. Nevertheless, her speaking out for marriage equality shows that more and more Americans realize all families need the same rights and protections."

Carrie Gordon Earll, spokeswoman for the Christian conservative group Focus on the Family issued this statement:

"It's disappointing to hear Laura Bush, who is a well respected and admired former first lady, espouse positions on marriage and the value of human life that are contrary not only to her husband's but arguably, according to polls, in conflict with the majority of Americans."

Watch Bush's interview on CNN's "Larry King Live":

Comments

[Madelaine]

07:01 PM on 06/04/2010

This is an interesting change for Ms. Bush...thank heavens she sees the light!

However, I remain disturbed at the way conservatives morph and spin "PRO CHOICE" Into "Pro-abortion" and "abortion rights". Let's get reality based....pro-choice is a great deal different!

[OBroadhurst]

01:13 PM on 06/02/2010

Thank you, Laura - but could you not have been more outspoken about this when your husband was out there campaigning for DOMA?

[robinhood1]

11:44 AM on 05/22/2010

Laura is trying to come out from her husband's shadow. More power to her. Her husband in name only (they don't live together) sounds like a broken man when you read the supermarket tabloids, which predict that she will divorce him sooner than later. She recently had plastic surgery and looks really good for a 63 year old. I don't think she will have trouble getting dates. To this day, I don't think Mr. B. realizes how much pain and suffering he caused millions of Americans with his support of a Federal Marriage Amendment. Not since the (German) Nuremberg Laws of 1935 did an industrial country so deliberately try to legislate discrimination against a whole class of its citizens.

[okakura]

04:58 PM on 05/30/2010

They don't live together?

Where have you heard that?

[kdb7594102]

05:52 PM on 07/09/2010

Most of this is rumor so take it for what it's worth. She lives in the Dallas house and he lives at the ranch in Crawford. He comes to Dallas on occasion to be seen in public but returns to Crawford. They spend as little time together as possible. Might be for the kids or for appearances alone.

[carsntrucks]

10:59 AM on 05/20/2010

Dick Cheney did the same thing. She has a book coming out. Makes sense.

[KevinMast]

12:19 PM on 05/15/2010

In short I don't buy it. It's easy for her to say these things now that she doesn't have to worry about W's political future. It kind of feels like "good cop/bad cop" and an attempt to sell more books to see what other "shocking" views she may hold.

[Carpool Kathleen]

06:37 PM on 05/17/2010

Yes, especially as she's not taking a stong stand AT ALL! "I think we should look at it and discuss it..."????? That phrase is meaningless.

[onegandolf1]

11:57 AM on 05/15/2010

I've always felt that this lady could have done a lot better, partner-wise. Her taste in men really SUCKS !!!

[Tekd]

07:02 AM on 05/15/2010

I don't find this surprising at all that she supports both. She wasn't outspoken about it since her husband held various positions and his supporters obviously don't share her beliefs but it's long been commonly known that she herself has pretty liberal political beliefs. Even if she hadn't made it explicit I would have assumed that she would have supported both, though it is interesting to see her publicly mention this.

[dr2010]

08:01 PM on 05/21/2010

I found it to be a sign of courage to say that when it is a hot debate.

[ColinCody]

05:05 AM on 05/15/2010

For many years, I suffered under the delusion that I was a Christian. I eventually learned to my utter dismay that that was far from being the case. From Laura Bush's comments about homosexuality and abortion, it is quite clear to me that she is under the same strong, demonic delusion. Since the New Testament clearly condemns homosexuality in the strongest possible terms (Romans 1), it is impossible for a true, biblically defined Christian (Luke 9:23) to favor homosexual marriage or homosexuality itself in any form.

Furthermore, only the most benighted ignoramus could fail to see that abortion is the deliberate murder most foul of an innocent child in its mother's womb. I am from a family of doctors, and I can assure you that any honest doctor will confirm that as a fact. The Bible thunders against murder from beginning to end, so, there is not the slightest chance that those who favor abortion are genuine Christians and will escape hell. In fact, Laura has assumed the guilt of the abortion industry's murder of nearly fifty million American children. That is the same as the total number of deaths for which Adolph Hitler was responsible during World War II. Not a good set of numbers to be associated with. I am not saying that George is a genuine Christian either (in fact, highly unlikely), but it is an absolute certainty in the eyes of this systematic theologian that Laura is not what she imagines herself to be.

[Dobba]

05:57 AM on 05/15/2010

"The Bible thunders against murder from beginning to end"

I think you'll find the Old Testament had God committing many acts of violence and death towards people. Just because someone saw fit to re-write the Bible and remove the gore so it fits with current fluffy beliefs doesn't make it any less true (if you believe the bible that is).

Your ststement about Hitler's total death toll is also lacking any evidence or proof. The total death toll for World War II exceeded 50 million, yes, but not solely at the hands of Hitler:

http://www.hitler.org/ww2-deaths.html

Stating that you come from a family of Doctors does not add credence to you being knowledgeable or factually correct. Whilst I believe also that everyone is entitled to their opinions and beliefs, I also believe many Christians are nothing but hypocrites and with all due respect, find you come under that category somewhat.

[StevenKeirstead]

07:19 PM on 05/17/2010

Demons don’t exist outside the human imagination, anymore than werewolves or vampires. They can be amusing in fiction but that’s it. They are not real, and thus they certainly don’t cause homosexuality, abortions or mental illness, or anything people think is immoral. These are all things that are grounded in physical reality, not the supernatural.

[Carpool Kathleen]

09:21 PM on 05/14/2010

"We should look at it, and debate it...I think we could...I think it's coming" Not really SUCH a ringing endorsment. But at least it's not a really really BAD attitude.

[ThomasMc]

07:16 PM on 05/14/2010

She ain't bright, but she's still about 100 IQ points ahead of her husband.

[Jimmer Jones]

07:00 PM on 05/14/2010

Legalize polygamy now. That is equal marriage too. Stop the bigotry towards polygamists.

[prestivo]

08:26 AM on 05/23/2010

Seriously?

[Jimmer Jones]

10:13 AM on 05/25/2010

Why should marriage be so narrowly defined? You are on the wrong side of history if you disagree with me

[OBroadhurst]

01:18 PM on 06/02/2010

Thank you for the nonsensical gibberish thrown in as a red herring.

Now, keep huffing.

[dspencer3491]

06:37 PM on 05/14/2010

The first lady isn't going to interfere with her husband's policy. Would look really bad politically. I suspect her and George disagreed with even more than that

[Ipanemagirl]

05:37 PM on 05/14/2010

maybe she's a lot smarter than her hubby; too bad she didnt influence him more on those subjects. I dont agree with tthe commentary that mnmost people are against abortion or gay marriage. I think only conservatves spouse this view and they are in no way the majority in this country! To take away a choice from a woman is medieval at best, and to not understand that homosexuality is a fact of life is also rather ignorant. Don't ask don't tell is the stupidest thing to have in a military; same as discriminating against races fighting together. people come in different varieties, lets face it and accept it. move on! I can t believe we have to waste so much time argueing the same lame subjects!

[lizr]

05:15 PM on 05/14/2010

Good for Laura! I always liked her.

[Roncalli]

04:12 PM on 05/14/2010

"between SHE and former President Bush"????? Who wrote this slab of bad grammar, George W. Bush?