Last week Matt Lauer interviewed former President George W. Bush. In the interview Bush declared that the worst moment of his presidency was when rapper Kanye West said that he didn't care about black people.
What?!
The worst moment?
What?!
Here's the excerpt from the interview in case you miss it (it airs tonight on NBC at 8:00 pm ET). My favorite part is when George interrupts Matt with "Don't care."
NBC NEWS “MATT LAUER REPORTS” November 8, 2010
MATT LAUER:
About a week after the storm hit NBC aired a telethon asking for help for the victims of Katrina. We had celebrities coming in to ask for money. And I remember it vividly because I hosted it. And at one part of the evening I introduced Kanye West. Were you watching?
About a week after the storm hit NBC aired a telethon asking for help for the victims of Katrina. We had celebrities coming in to ask for money. And I remember it vividly because I hosted it. And at one part of the evening I introduced Kanye West. Were you watching?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH:
Nope.
Nope.
MATT LAUER:
You remember what he said?
You remember what he said?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH:
Yes, I do. He called me a racist.
MATT LAUER:
Well, what he said, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH:
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.
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.
MATT LAUER:
You say you told Laura at the time it was the worst moment of your Presidency?
You say you told Laura at the time it was the worst moment of your Presidency?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. 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.
Yes. My record was strong I felt when it came to race relations and giving people a chance. And– it was a disgusting moment.
MATT 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–
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–
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH:
Don’t care.
Don’t care.
MATT 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.
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.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH:
No — that– 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.
No — that– 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.
I think the worst part of all of this (aside from the fact that we have a former president who says that the worst moment of his presidency was when a rapper insulted him) is that now Kanye is weighing in on Bush's comments.
Kanye compares Bush's "not taking the time to rush down to New Orleans" (Kanye's words) to cutting Taylor Swift off during "her moment." (Her moment = a fake awards show on MTV.)
I can't seem to get the song "Mad World" by Tears for Fears out of my head. The Gary Jules version. Hmmm.
I wonder what Don Draper would think of this nonsense? How would he respond? Something tells me he would say, "what?!" as well.
Wait a minute. I just thought of something. We all know Kanye is a publicity-lightening rod. Could Bush have intentionally ranked the Kanye thing as the worst moment in his presidency because he knew that reporters would question it's validity on air, that Kanye would comment, and the collective interest would be piqued? Has W. become media savvy during his hiatus? Do you think he learned about invoking "the power of Kanye" by watching the 2009 VMAs from his ranch in Crawford? Did he call Taylor Swift in to consult on how to use West's egomania to his advantage? Does Bush listen to Taylor Swift or does he prefer Texas country? Are we still waging wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?
For some reason I feel distracted . . .
For some reason I feel distracted . . .
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