Add Laura Bush to the list of Republican progressives
A while ago, I blogged about the growing number of high-profile Republicans who are embracing things like same-sex marriage and legal abortion.
They’re swimming against the generally conservative tide of the modern GOP.
Well, add former first lady Laura Bush to the list.
In an interview with Larry King on CNN this week, Bush acknowledged that she is pro-choice and supports same-sex marriage.
(Apologies for the snarky link to the video – Gawker is the only source I can find.)
Bush says she thinks same-sex marriage will happen, calling it a ‘generational thing’ that “will come.’ She says she quietly urged her husband to downplay the issue in the 2004 political campaign.
Regarding abortion, Bush said point-blank: “I think it’s important that it remain legal.”
Bush says she disagrees with former President Bush on these issues but “understands” his more conservative view.
Nothing shocking here. She’s no more conservative than her husband is. Junior’s, and by extension Laura’s, coddling of the far right was always a sham to anyone paying attention. All just smoke and mirrors to get elected. Which is why her views on abortion and same sex marriage were never made public before.
it is kind of remarkable that dick cheney and now laura bush have gone public with their support of same-sex marriage. if only the rest of the country would catch up to them!
They need Reagan to say it or its not possible.
“Junior’s, and by extension Laura’s, coddling of the far right …”
I loathe Bush the mister but it’s offensive to suggest that she’s culpable for his countless misdeeds.
I think Clapton has is about right. Nice people, but political. I suppose we rarely see the “real” people.
Are those the two issues that define what a “progressive” is or is not?
The interesting thing is that those two issues cut across party lines to some degree.
If you are rabidly pro-life in my opinion it would be better to find an honest Democrat who is pro-life than these types of users. A pro-life Democrat really has to honestly believe it; as she would really be bucking her party to some extent.
Mervel, I don’t think they are key issues anymore. These days
I think the key identifiers would be more economic and governmental than social.
Brian,
Are you saying Laura wasn’t playing the good little politicians wife all these years and not hiding her true opinions on these issues? Sorry if you’re offended but it’s been my observation that she certainly kept pretty quiet her true believes as they relate to abortion and same sex marriage while hubby was in office. In my book that makes her an accessory to the fact.
And my comment has nothing to do with his countless misdeeds, but has everything to do with the sham of calling themselves conservatives in order to get elected over the course of several campaigns.
In addition, I’m not trying to be critical of this so much as I’m merely pointing it out. After all, it’s not as if they’re the first political couple to climb in bed with a group they don’t necessarily share an ideology with. Politics, by its very nature, makes strange bed fellows.