President Bush Holds Nothing Back in Oprah Interview

Oprah's last season on the air seems to be all about the big "get". She's reached for topics and guests that have made nearly every show this swan song season pack a wallop of a punch.

Some of the shows have been a throw-back to the earlier Oprah days, exploring taboo subjects, like, the sexual molestation of men, with famous names like director and actor, Tyler Perry, coming forth to discuss his own sexual abuse.

But, Oprah's interview with President George W. Bush, yesterday, was as good as it gets. Partly because, say what you will, but, George Bush, the man, is an intriguing and charismatic character who never fails to fascinate.

Thankfully, for the viewer, George Bush, the man, showed up for the Oprah Winfrey Show yesterday, and it was one of the most compelling hours on television I've seen in quite a long time.

President Bush's Memoir 'Decision Points' Released

President Bush was there to talk about his much anticipated presidential memoir, Decision Points, which was also released yesterday. In the book, he talks not only about his personal life and the road to his presidency, but, about every major event that occurred during his terms in office, how they affected him, and why he made the decisions he made regarding those events.

If President Bush is anything, he is a candid and forthcoming man. He certainly displayed those characteristics during his eight years as president.

And now that he is a private citizen and doesn't need to politically measure his words, he seemed relaxed and at ease, giving insightful and at times, remarkably poignant answers to some of the most difficult questions.

Hurricane Katrina

President Bush couldn't talk about his presidency and not discuss Hurricane Katrina. Surprisingly, Oprah admitted that she was enlightened to the fact that President Bush had been constrained by the laws of our government that actually precluded him from acting more quickly.

President Bush was criticized roundly by nearly everyone because it was thought he should have moved faster to provide aid and help to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. However, as he pointed out, he was prohibited by the states and their legal jurisdiction.

In fact, he recalled a conversation with then Governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco, where he asked her directly to carry out certain legal procedures required by the state before the federal government could do anything, so that he could proceed and provide the help and funds that were needed.

It's rather surprising, frankly, that someone of Oprah Winfrey's stature and education was ignorant to these facts, as apparently, many others must have been who condemned and criticized President Bush without mercy during those months. But, it was certainly one of those, "aha" moments for many people, I'm sure.

Saddam Hussein and Weapons of Mass Destruction

The inevitable question was raised, of course, about the Iraq war. When asked if he felt he had been misled regarding the presence of WMD's, which, as you may recall, was the entire basis of our invasion into Iraq, post 9/11, President Bush responded with an emphatic, "no."

While, he acknowledged the intelligence was inaccurate, he didn't feel that anyone had deliberately misled him or the American people when it came to the belief that Saddam Hussein had the weapons and intended to use them.

Not to mention, nearly every single member of Congress at that time, including current criticizers of the war, along with the United Nations, believed that Saddam Hussein had the weapons.

Furthermore, the President went on to say, if anyone was misleading, it was Saddam Hussein himself, who wanted the entire world to believe he had the weapons.

While the President didn't discuss the Iraq war in great depth during the interview, he certainly didn't come across as a man who enjoyed the act of war. In fact, it appeared that most of his regrets lay in the fact that he had sent men and women off to war who never returned to their families. Quite a burden for anyone to bear, indeed.

President Bush Does Not Hate Black People

Out of all that President Bush endured during his eight years as commander in chief, he said there was one thing that cut him to the bone. No, it was not that he was stupid or that he couldn't read. It was not that he was called a Nazi or Satan or that he was nothing more than a bumbling idiot, cowboy from Texas. It was being called a racist.

In fact, during the entire interview, President Bush was composed, relaxed and quite jocular in his attitude and tone. But, when the topic turned to being called a racist by Kanye West (who else?), post Katrina, President Bush's demeanor changed sharply.

When Oprah attempted to frame the circumstances in a way to ask the President if he could understand why some people might perceive him to be a racist, he was adamant and unyielding. Of all the things he had been called and accused of, said the president, "that one hurt the most." (See the Stupid Comments by Kanye West Here)

President Bush Refuses to Criticize President Obama

Keeping with the same dignified and respectful form that he was known for, President Bush made it very clear that he has not spoken out against President Obama because he wanted to treat others as he would like to be treated.

Commenting that President Obama's job is hard enough and that the president didn't need a former president criticizing him, he said that he wanted "our president to succeed" because he loves this country. Further, he added, "I won't chirp against him."

Can't Keep a Good Man Down

While President Bush expressed that he had a few regrets over the years of his presidency (as any of us would, I'm sure) he also said he was content and satisfied with the job he did.

He said he always operated out of principle rather than political expediency and believed history would look back on his years and know he had been an honorable man who had had the best interests of his country in mind.

President Bush wrapped up the interview by saying that he looks upon politics as a chapter in his life which does not define the totality of who he is. Preferring instead, he said, to be thought of as a father, a son and a husband first.

All in the all, the interview portrayed President Bush as the honorable man that he is. You may disagree with his politics and you may also take great umbrage with the policies of his administration.

However, I think it's safe to say that former President George W. Bush can hold his head up and be proud of the job that he did.

Kudos to Oprah Winfrey for conducted a dignified and respectful interview.

Sources:

Oprah.com
Fox News.com
New York Daily News.com
CBS News.com
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