President George W. Bush says that when he heard Kanye West say, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” “it was one of the most disgusting moments in my Presidency.”
Bush has taped an interview with Matt Lauer that will air on a special prime time Matt Lauer Reports on NBC Nov. 8. It’s to promote his forthcoming book, Decision Points.
The subjects of the interview are wide-ranging, but the former President is very passionate on the subject of West’s criticism of the way Bush handled the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. NBC has released some quotations from the interview.
“He called me a racist,” Bush tells Lauer. “And I didn’t appreciate it then. I don’t appreciate it now. It’s one thing to say, ‘I don’t appreciate the way he’s handled his business.’ It’s another thing to say, ‘This man’s a racist.’ I resent it, it’s not true.”
Lauer quotes from Bush’s new book: “Five years later I can barely write those words without feeling disgust.” Lauer adds, “You go on: ‘I faced a lot of criticism as President. I didn’t like hearing people claim that I lied about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction or cut taxes to benefit the rich. But the suggestion that I was racist because of the response to Katrina represented an all-time low.’
President Bush responds: “Yeah. I still feel that way as you read those words. I felt ‘em when I heard ‘em, felt ‘em when I wrote ‘em and I felt ‘em when I’m listening to ‘em.
Lauer: “You say you told Laura at the time it was the worst moment of your Presidency?”
Bush: “Yes. My record was strong I felt when it came to race relations and giving people a chance. And it was a disgusting moment.”
Lauer: “I wonder if some people are going to read that, now that you’ve written it, and they might give you some heat for that. And the reason is this — “
Bush [interrupting]: “Don’t care.”
Lauer: “Well, here’s the reason. You’re not saying that the worst moment in you’re Presidency was watching the misery in Louisiana. You’re saying it was when someone insulted you because of that.”
Bush: “No, and I also make it clear that the misery in Louisiana affected me deeply as well. There’s a lot of tough moments in the book. And it was a disgusting moment, pure and simple.”
The full interview will air on the Matt Lauer Reports special on Nov. 8 at 8 p.m., the day before the former President’s book is published.
Barack Obama gets a surprise visit in the night from ex-Presidents Bush Sr., Bush Jr., Clinton, Ford, Reagan and Carter to get a few pointers about the Consumer Financial Protection Agency and why it’s so important.
Director — Ron Howard
Gerald Ford — Chevy Chase
Jimmy Carter — Dan Aykroyd
Ronald Reagan — Jim Carrey
George Bush — Dana Carvey
Bill Clinton — Darrell Hammond
George W Bush – Will Ferrell
Barack Obama — Fred Armisen
Michelle Obama — Maya Rudolph
This Funny or Die really had me cracking up… but with a cast like that, how could they go wrong?
I’m not sure who will win the Parent of the Year Award this year, but we can safely rule out Alec Baldwin.
Emmy award-winning actor Alec Baldwin was taken to a hospital Thursday after his 14-year-old daughter called 911 saying he had threatened to take pills during an argument on the telephone, a law enforcement official said.
Baldwin’s daughter, Ireland, told authorities that she was worried about her father after he said, “I’m tired of this. I’m going to take some pills. I’m going to end this,” the official told The Associated Press, quoting from an official report on the matter.
Authorities came to the “30 Rock” star’s Central Park West apartment after his daughter called 911 at about 12:10 a.m. Thursday, the official said. The official wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Ireland called authorities after the two ended their phone conversation and she couldn’t reach him again, the official said.
Baldwin, 51, was released from the hospital in an hour and took no alcohol or pills, spokesman Matthew Hiltzik said. “This was a misunderstanding on one person’s part. Alec was quickly released from the hospital; he’s completely fine and will be at work today,” Hiltzik said in a statement. “If there was a real problem or concern, he wouldn’t have been released from a hospital within an hour,” Hiltzik said later Thursday.
In 2008, Baldwin blamed a bitter custody battle with ex-wife Kim Basinger in part for the anger and frustration he was feeling when he berated their daughter in a phone message leaked earlier to the media.
In the message, Baldwin called Ireland a “rude, thoughtless little pig.” He was apparently upset that she had missed his phone call. Baldwin said he apologized to Ireland. He said the message was wrong and “horrified” him.
Truly a pathetic way to deal with a child. Baldwin is a fine actor but he’s rather hysterical and famous for idle threats.  Back in 2004, he told a national television office that he’d leave the country if George W. Bush was re-elected; Bush was and Baldwin didn’t.
Source:Â “Alec Baldwin briefly hospitalized after 911 call” – Reuters/YahooNews
