George W. Bush Worried That America Is Becoming 'Nativist' (VIDEO)

Former U.S. President George W. Bush said recently that he was concerned that the country was headed down a slippery slope toward adopting a "nativist" national mindset, harkening back to a period of xenophobia that he said was prominent in the America of the 1920s.

Speaking at a forum at Southern Methodist University last month, Bush said that he had faith a "rational immigration policy" would eventually be passed, but not for a while. The reason he believed this, he said, was because the nation as growing increasingly resistant to outside influences.

"What's interesting about our country, if you study history, is that there are some 'isms' that occasionally pop up. One is isolationism and its evil twin protectionism and its evil triplet nativism. So if you study the '20s, for example, there was an American-first policy that said, 'Who cares what happens in Europe?'" Bush said. "And there was an immigration policy that I think during this period argued we had too many Jews and too many Italians, therefore we should have no immigrants. And my point is that we've been through this kind of period of isolationism, protectionism and nativism. I'm a little concerned that we may be going through the same period. I hope that these 'isms' pass."

During another segment of the interview, Bush also claimed that he was "through with politics," and that he wasn't interested in getting involved with campaigning or fundraising for future candidates.

WATCH:

Comments

[NiccoloM]

04:38 PM on 02/19/2011

Bush W was possibly among the worst presidents and history but I think largely he was more misguided by immoral people around him than intending to do wrong himself.

[jazzboy]

11:14 AM on 02/09/2011

I never cared for Bush or voted for him but he is correct that this growing nativism is very troublesome. In the '20s, the early Nazis had their own brand of nativism when they started spewing their hatred of Jews, even though Jews had lived in Germany for centuries. Racial intolerance is leading to an explosive situation with too many guns in the hands of crazies.

I wish other Republicans would follow Bush's lead. But they won't.The result is not going top be pretty.

[Marcusarilius]

08:25 PM on 02/08/2011

George, sounds like you need a vacation. I Know! How about Switzerland? Beautiful this time of year...

[RafaleMirage]

10:55 AM on 02/08/2011

I'm a nativist because I want Mexico and the US to be two different countries, whereas Bush doesn't differentiate between them. Ol' GWB never saw an amnesty for illegals that he didn't like.

[Denene Ruby McBride]

11:42 PM on 02/06/2011

If you aren't with "Us" you are against "Us." Gee I wonder where the isolationism and nativism began?

[LMPE]

06:59 PM on 02/06/2011

Wait a minute! GWB actually knows something about American history? Mark this day!

George should have considered the possibility of nativism when pushing the laws that he enacted.

[denicci1977]

04:58 PM on 02/06/2011

The man who admitted to war crimes lives a happy, rich life and there is nothing we can do about it. Just to watch him dip into the media from time to time as if he is a great legend makes me ill.

[LobbyingisBribery]

08:51 AM on 02/06/2011

His foot 'n the mouth disease is well-documented, but this gaffe should not be wasted. He should look in the mirror and then consult with the leaders and mouthpieces of his party. All the "isms' are coming from there. Good thing he is done with politics, 'cause we sure as heck are done with him. Just stay in TX and the flyover states, George.

[doctorj2u]

10:58 PM on 02/05/2011

Said the president that left Americans for dead on the Gulf Coast after Katrina.

[luziannagirl]

11:59 AM on 02/07/2011

Doc, hey, it's me Luziannagirl. Just a quick goodbye and thank you for 5 years of great , insightful and heartfelt comments. I might be leaving HuffPo if the merger with AOL changes the nature of the site very much.

Maybe our paths will cross someday, and if you fish the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway for specs, reds, and flounder or if you scoot to Grand Isle to try and catch a fallout of songbirds in spring or if you try like heck to catch Sonny Landreth doing his slideco magic whenever you can...they may have already!

Keep the faith, doc, and I pronounce you officially...

gumbo-worthy!

[doctorj2u]

09:15 PM on 02/07/2011

I will miss you Luziannagirl. We fought hard, didn't we. I still don't know if it was worth it. Did anybody ever listen to our pleas??? I really wonder. I can go to my grave knowing I did everything in my power to save my Louisiana. I could not rest knowing I did anything less.

[ghostrider57]

10:20 PM on 02/05/2011

This is actually quite amazing.

Especially since it was his administration and the legislation they passed that has caused this protectionism, isolationism and nativist attitudes.

[morgansher]

10:11 PM on 02/05/2011

Why worry, Georgiepoo? You did create the hothouse climate that nativism needed to be cultivated in after all! Those nativist shoots are dug down into bedrock now, so rooting it out will be up to your great grandkids and their heirs //snark//

[PAbodysurfer]

09:48 PM on 02/05/2011

Nativists? Did you mean Nationalists or in German "Nazionalists" - Nazis? Yes, the GOP and Teabaggers are sounding more like right-wing, gun toting, fear ongering, anti-Jew/women/gay/abortion/Black/immigration extremists...

Maybe you're onto something...so are you planning on speaking out about this trend or just making an observation?

[NiccoloM]

04:37 PM on 02/19/2011

You can argue that the GOP is all of those except for anti-Jewish. They have been the biggest supporters of Israel.

[max08]

09:38 PM on 02/05/2011

Bush is right.

[Never thought I'd see myself writing that.]

[Uproar]

09:45 PM on 02/05/2011

You mean his writers are right.

[AggieReal]

09:56 PM on 02/05/2011

Come on.. he's always been pro-immigration for cheap (often Mexican) labor for business.

[onlythetruthcounts]

08:06 PM on 02/05/2011

I wonder who gave him his 10 minute crash course in whatever he's gibbering about...

[uniquindividual]

07:24 PM on 02/05/2011

Uh, er.. George.

just to let you know, in tough economic time nativism increases. You presided over a decline in median income over the course your term in office. You continually championed free trade with a totalitarian country, an unneccesary war you refused to pay for, and the importance of pedegree over merit (Hariet Myer is just one example).

[onlythetruthcounts]

08:08 PM on 02/05/2011

Be easy on little george, he just learned what nativism meant 5 minutes before his statement.