Ex-President Bush backs 'welcoming' U.S. immigration policy, free media

[webfact]

Ex-President Bush backs 'welcoming' U.S. immigration policy, free media

REUTERS

 

Former U.S. President George W. Bush speaks at the dedication of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, U.S., September 24, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Republican U.S. president George W.Bush diverged sharply from Donald Trump's new administration on Monday, saying he supported a welcoming immigration policy and praising the media as "indispensable to democracy."

 

In a wide-ranging interview with NBC's "Today" show, Bush also said he did not know if a special prosecutors was needed to investigate contacts between Trump associates and Russia but added, "We all need answers."

 

Bush, in some of his first televised comments since Trump took office, was asked if he had seen signs that Trump was trying to close the rift in the U.S. electorate after his divisive campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton. He acknowledged that his own presidency from 2001 to 2009 began after a contentious election but that it was "hard to compare times."

 

He said that Trump is still in the early stage of his presidency and that Americans have "got to take the man at his word."

 

Asked whether he supported Trump's travel ban on people from seven majority Muslim countries, Bush said, "I am for an immigration policy that is welcoming and that upholds the law."

 

Bush, whose presidency was shaped by the Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks on America, also called for religious tolerance.

"One of our great strengths is for people to be able to worship the way they want to or not worship at all," he said.

 

After the attacks, Bush had made a point of supporting Muslims and praising Islam's teachings as peaceful.

 

Trump has branded some news outlets as "the enemy of the people" butBush said: "I consider the media to be indispensable to democracy, that we need an independent media to hold people like me to account," he said.

 

"It's important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power."

 

He said that during his presidency he tried to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept the concept of an independent news media. "It's kind of hard to tell others to have an independent, free press and we're not willing to have one ourselves," Bush told NBC.

 

Trump, the first Republican president since Bush left office, won the November presidential election after besting 16 other Republican candidates for the party's nomination, including Bush's brother Jeb.

 

His victory came amid lukewarm backing from establishment wing of the party as prominent Republicans, including Bush and his father, former president George H.W. Bush, shunned him or offered lukewarm support.

 

(Writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Bill Trott)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-28

[puck2]

Quote

Trump has branded some news outlets as "the enemy of the people" butBush said: "I consider the media to be indispensable to democracy, that we need an independent media to hold people like me to account," he said.

"It's important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power."

 

 

Compared with Trump the former POTUS and war initiator  GW Bush now seems to me as likeable as an angel.

Edited February 28, 2017 by puck2

[darksidedog]

Indeed. This is the man that was widely branded as the worst president in U.S. history.  It just goes to show that the judgments we make, can easily turn out in retrospect to be wrong.  These were intelligent and meaningful comments, which unfortunately at the same time, show how far off the rails, the current administration is.

[ilostmypassword]

1 hour ago, darksidedog said:

Indeed. This is the man that was widely branded as the worst president in U.S. history.

It just goes to show that the judgments we make, can easily turn out in retrospect to be wrong.

These were intelligent and meaningful comments, which unfortunately at the same time, show how far off the rails, the current administration is.

I don't see how George W. Bush's comments now have any bearing on what he did as President.

[elgordo38]

Get  him on the next plane to La Hague. 

[dunroaming]

Yes it is quite amusing to have the worst President ever, criticising the current moronic loser.  Maybe he is worried about losing his infamy to the new boy and he should be worried,  Trump is streets ahead already.

[darksidedog]

10 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

I don't see how George W. Bush's comments now have any bearing on what he did as President.

Oh! don't get me wrong. George W. was not a good president.

He put the U.S. and the world into some really bad situations and was not the smartest bunny out there.

However, in my opinion, (to which I am entitled, even if wrong), he is being surpassed in stupidity and aggressive and provocative actions right now.

His comments today, would have been far more welcome during his presidency, but they show that, he at least, understands the need for an open press.

Did he get his critics in his time? Sure he did! Lots of them. And mostly, fully deserved.

Did you see him cry "Fake news!" Did you see him stop the press he didn't like attend meetings?

No sir, you did not!

And therein lies the issue. With freedom of speech at the heart of the American constitution, you CANNOT pick and choose who can or cannot report on your actions.

Even G.W. gets that! How come you don't?

Edited February 28, 2017 by darksidedog
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