In his final interview before leaving the presidency on Jan. 20, Bush warned the G.O.P. against appearing to be “anti-immigrant.” “Look, obviously we got whipped in 2008, and there will be a new wave of leadership arriving on the scene,” the soon-to-be-former president said to interviewer Brit Hume on Fox News Sunday. “But it’s very important for our party not to narrow its focus, not to become so inward-looking that we drive people away from a philosophy that is compassionate and decent.”
Bush was infamously in a drawn-out fight on Capitol Hill with his fellow Republicans while trying to push an overhaul of America’s immigration laws in 2006 and 2007.
“We should be open minded about big issues like immigration reform, because if we’re viewed as anti-somebody- in other words, if the party is viewed as anti-immigrant- then another fellow may say, ‘well, if they’re against the immigrant, they may be against me,’” he said Sunday.
Mr. Bush also urged incoming President Barack Obama and his administration to consider maintaining the counterterrorism programs the Bush administration introduced, which have included controversial interrogation techniques that Obama has criticized.
“I would hope that the team that is, has the honor of, serving the country will take a hard look at the realities of the world and the tools now in place to protect the United States from further attack,” Bush said. “They will find that with a considerable amount of care and concern for civil liberties, for example, that I have put in place procedures that will enable the professionals to better learn the intentions of Al Qaeda, for example.”
During his so-called “Legacy” tour, Bush has been working to repair his tarnished image as president as he prepares to leave office. Aides have complained that the media has been unfairly harsh to the 43rd president, so in his final days as commander-in-chief, he is working to write his own epitaph. However, history may view Bush, his approval ratings continue to be abysmal, and there is happy anticipation amongst the people at his administration’s forthcoming exit.
“I can’t wait to see him gone,” says Claire Fox, 52, of Atlanta, GA. “I haven’t been pressed this tight [economically] in my adult life—not even during the Reagan years!”
She added, “I know that all of the blame can’t be laid on [Bush], but I just feel like the people need a fresh start.” –todd williams
