# Bush: Being Called a Racist was the Worst Moment of my Presidency **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 4, 2010, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441 "2010-11-04T12:13:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/1 "2010-11-04T12:13:18Z")
Link to article on HuffPo [here](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/02/george-bush-kanye-racist_n_777967.html) That headline overportrays it - Bush says he “was most disgusted” by this accusation of racism by Kanye West - it was the lowest blow he received: > [@](#): > > MATT LAUER: This from the book. “Five years later I can barely write those words without feeling disgust.” 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.” Lots to comment on - - Really? Being called a racist by a moronic twit is the lowest blow? People with a LOT more credibility and gravitas worked really hard to call you criminal, stupid, a disgrace to your office and country - and THAT’s what you single out? - And while Bush has every right to feel however he feels, do I detect a bit of - dare I say it? - [tone-deafness](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=582537)in his firmly-held beliefs? ;)😃 While he may know in his heart that he is not a racist, he must acknowledge that there was failure in the Katrina response, and that many/most blacks and many others interpreted that failure, on some level, as confirmation of the systemic neglect - racism - they feel has been there all along. And since he was President, that feeling occurred on his watch. So he may be disgusted, but he should not have been surprised - and trying to distance his personal beliefs from what was going on while he was President rings false somehow. The “racist narrative” associated with Katrina has been fairly well established - for him to not to demonstrate that he factored that into his thinking - even if only to raise it and refudiate it 😉 - just reinforces the image of clueless disconnectedness. Started in the Pit because it would likely end in the Pit anyway…have fun **Bricker**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/2 "2010-11-04T12:29:49Z")
Maybe the charge of racism hurt the most because it wasn’t true, while the other charges… ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/3 "2010-11-04T12:31:45Z")
9/11 Katrina Deaths of thousands of soldiers Deaths of thousands civilians Being scorned and insulted and treated with little to no respect by a large section of the planet and more. And being called a racist by another moron is the lowest moment. Man this guy just doesn’t stop being a tone deaf stupid motherfucking cunt. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/4 "2010-11-04T12:44:57Z")
I’ve always disagreed with the view that the response to Katrina showed that Bush hated black people. Bush was many things but not a racist. The response to Katrina showed that Bush hated _poor_ people, many of whom happened to be black. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/5 "2010-11-04T13:03:11Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’ve always disagreed with the view that the response to Katrina showed that Bush hated black people. Bush was many things but not a racist. > > The response to Katrina showed that Bush hated _poor_ people, many of whom happened to be black. This is a pretty accurate description of my BIL. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/6 "2010-11-04T13:08:05Z")
When Bush did eventually turn up he talked about how he understood the suffering because his good friend Trent Lott had lost his home, but he was going to rebuild and it was going to be glorious. Wow - the guy with 1) insurance, 2) _another home_ and 3) millions of bucks has to rebuild, just like all the other folks with none of those things. Yes, those are directly comparable, George. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/7 "2010-11-04T13:28:23Z")
I had to double take on who started this thread. Bush threads in the pit. It’s been a while. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/8 "2010-11-04T13:30:42Z")
It’s not clear from the article that Bush was specifically referring to Kanye West’s comment in his book. Lauer tried to make that connection in the interview, and what Bush said was: > [@](#): > > MATT LAUER: Well, what he said, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.” > > PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: That’s – “he’s a racist.” 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, and it was one of the most disgusting moments in my Presidency. Emphasis added. The quote in the OP is from his book, and there isn’t enough context in the article to know that Bush was referring to West’s comment. The quote refers to “people”, and a lot of people called him a racist, not just KW. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/9 "2010-11-04T13:34:46Z")
Really? Okay. It seemed pretty clear to me that Lauer quoted Kanye, and Bush basically said “when you cut to the chase, he’s calling me racist”…but ymmv. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/10 "2010-11-04T14:13:50Z")
Bush has always struck as one of the more racially progressive figures in the GOP. Granted, that’s not saying much, but he did promote a lot of qualified minorities in his administration, never tried playing the race card himself on the campaign trail, and seemed genuinely interested in reaching out to the Hispanic community. So, yeah, I agree with him that Kanye’s assertion was ridiculous. Having said that, however, if he sees this as the lowest point in his presidency, then the man needs to do some serious introspection. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/11 "2010-11-04T14:22:56Z")
I hate, loathe, and despise George Bush but I never thought he was a racist or that his handling of Katrina was based on racism. I thought it was more or less typical of his general incompetence. At least Brownie did a heck of a job. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/12 "2010-11-04T14:30:57Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Maybe the charge of racism hurt the most because it wasn’t true, while the other charges… This. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/13 "2010-11-04T14:33:16Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > I hate, loathe, and despise George Bush but I never thought he was a racist or that his handling of Katrina was based on racism. I thought it was more or less typical of his general incompetence. Exactly, give the man some credit. He does not look down on blacks, Jews, Italians or working class youth subcultures, to them is he equally incompetent. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/14 "2010-11-04T14:36:01Z")
If it was Kanye’s words that hurt Bush, it’s odd because whatever one thinks of GWB, “thin-skinned” wouldn’t be one of those things. And being called “racist” by someone as clearly out of it as Kanye seems like the kind of thing any politician has to take in stride. Remember how Mike Myers was standing with Kanye during the Katrina telecast and had that “I have nothing to do with the crazy person next to me” look the whole time? Any number of nutballs have called politicians of every political stripe racist, up to and including [Obama](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/06/glenn-becks-obama-racist_n_253264.html). If it wasn’t Kanye, well, I’d like to know who it was calling Bush racist. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/15 "2010-11-04T14:46:18Z")
When has a President ever commented on what a rapper/singer’s I don’t know his music. But I know he’s a douche. comments have meant to them? I only learned this morning, because of this Bush Comment, how to pronounce Kayne’s name. Which I promptly forgot how to pronounce it. I always thought it was Kane. It’s Kay-nah, right? How about if Bush and Kayne square off in a cage match. Pay Per View for Charity. Money going to Katrina victims ( and me, since it was my idea.) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/16 "2010-11-04T14:58:11Z")
I can’t muster up much outrage over this. Bush was wholly incompetent, but I think on some level he knows that. I sort of remember him even joking about what a bad president he was. But he is not a racist. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/17 "2010-11-04T15:01:12Z")
Kahn-Yay ETA: In response to **Shirley** ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/18 "2010-11-04T15:03:34Z")
It’s Kanye, pronounced Kahn-yay. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/19 "2010-11-04T15:05:56Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > I hate, loathe, and despise George Bush but I never thought he was a racist or that his handling of Katrina was based on racism. I thought it was more or less typical of his general incompetence. > > At least Brownie did a heck of a job. This. The thing that’s almost tragic about George W. Bush is that, in many ways, he isn’t a bad man. I think he was genuinely offended by the charge of racism because he genuinely believes racism to be wrong. I think he genuinely, sincerely wanted to be a good President - and in cases where good intentions were more-or-less all that was required, he actually pulled it off. Recall his Manhattan speech in the aftermath of 9/11 - he was acting on his “gut”, and it worked. The problem is that the Presidency requires more than decency and gut instinct. It demands a very high degree of intelligence, judgment, and intellectual curiosity - a President needn’t be as smart as his advisors, necessarily, but he has to be smart and knowledgeable enough to push his advisors to produce good products. Bush couldn’t do that, so he started in over his head and he stayed there. Bush’s tragic flaw - or so we’d describe it if this were literature, rather than the real world - is that he couldn’t understand any of this. He utterly lacks self-awareness, and he didn’t seem to have anyone else who could tell him that he _should not_ be President. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441/20 "2010-11-04T15:11:03Z")
I don’t see what the big deal is. I’d be upset too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-being-called-a-racist-was-the-worst-moment-of-my-presidency/559441.md?page=2)