From the economic stimulus package, to the war in Afghanistan, to the flaps over healthcare reform and up to today’s speech to American Students, Republicans are pounding away relentlessly to bring President Obama and his White House down. Particularly disturbing to many Americans, is the out in the open nature in which the GOP has gone about
seeking the downfall of a sitting President. In some countries it would be considered treason, and in fact, the Republicans
called it just that for the past eight years when vocal opponents of George W. Bush were calling for oversight, investigations and impeachment against the former president.
However, one member of the GOP has a different opinion of Mr. Obama and a unique perspective from where she forms her opinion. In a break with many other Republicans, former first lady Laura Bush praised the performance of her husband’s successor,
telling CNN’s Zain Verjee that she thinks President Obama is doing a good job under tough circumstances.
“I think he is [doing a good job]. I think he has got a lot on his plate, and he has tackled a lot to start with, and that has probably made it more difficult.” – Laura Bush
Mrs. Bush a teacher of sorts by profession – she was employed as a librarian - defended Obama’s decision to deliver a back-to-school speech to students, putting her at odds with many conservatives afraid that the president will use the opportunity to advance his political agenda. While Mrs. Bush did not completely dismiss the concerns of some conservatives, she did address the uproar stating, “I think there is a place for the president ... to talk to schoolchildren and encourage them. Parents should follow President Obama’s example and encourage their own children to stay in school and to study hard and to try to achieve the dream that they have."
Mrs. Bush made her comments during a United Nations meeting in Paris, France, where she was promoting global literacy. She also criticized the sharp political divide that currently exists in Washington and indicated that she didn't think it was fair for Mr. Obama to be labeled a "socialist" by critics and expressed her disappointment with the intensely polarized nature of contemporary American politics.
