President Barack Obama can’t seem to stop bad-mouthing the record of former President George W. Bush. But on Thursday, Obama is going to welcome his predecessor and proudly preside as Bush’s image and legacy are enshrined at the White House forever.
Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will join Bush and his wife, Laura, as their official portraits are unveiled. The incumbent is keeping up a presidential tradition typically defined by cheer and graciousness, but not without some uneasiness.
Hardly a day goes by without Obama or his aides talking about the mess they inherited — meaning, from Bush.
It was just one week ago that Obama, revving up campaign donors, turned Bush into a punch line. Obama depicted Republican rival Mitt Romney as a peddler of bad economic ideas, helping the rich at the expense of the middle class, and then added to laughs: “That was tried, remember? The last guy did all this.”
Now the last guy is coming back.
So, too, will his father, former President George H.W. Bush and the former first lady Barbara Bush. The Obamas will hold forth in the ornate East Room as George and Laura Bush are honored for their service before an invited audience of Bush friends and former staff members.
It will be a rare limelight moment for Bush, who has not been back in more than two years.
Obama and Bush have a cordial and respectful relationship, but they are not close. Both are political veterans who are able to separate political tactics from what they see as an overarching community among people who have served in the Oval Office, according to people close to them.
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3 Responses
It’s very easy to speak poorly of Bush. One need only recount any of his decisions or policies.
Obamas a political veteran???? Ohhh please! How dare they insult president Bush by putting obamas name in the same sentence as his!!
RavBaruch, Bush made a lot of mistakes, mostly in making concessions to Democrats; but compared to the incumbent he was a great president.