Notwithstanding his retraction of similar comments, Hume falsely claimed George H.W. Bush "refrain[s] from comment on other political figures"
SUMMARY: Notwithstanding his previous retraction of similar comments, Brit Hume asserted on Fox News Sunday that it was "very like" President George H.W. Bush "to refrain from comment on other political figures, the incoming president, and so on." In fact, Bush repeatedly criticized President Bill Clinton's policies while Clinton was in office.
Notwithstanding his 2005 retraction of similar comments, guest host Brit Hume asserted during an interview with President George H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush on the January 11 edition of Fox News Sunday that it was "very like" the two of them "to refrain from comment on other political figures, the incoming president, and so on." In fact, as Media Matters for America has noted, the elder Bush repeatedly criticized President Bill Clinton's policies while Clinton was in office.
During Fox News Sunday, after Hume asked George H.W. Bush if he agreed with his son's statement that he was "very pleased" with President-elect Barack Obama's transition, the elder Bush responded, in part, "Totally. And if I didn't, I wouldn't tell you." Hume then said: "This is very like you, and like you as well, to refrain from comment on other political figures, the incoming president, and so on."
However, Hume retracted similar comments he made in 2005 after Media Matters published an item highlighting his false claim that in contrast with Clinton, George H.W. Bush did not "criticize the sitting president and his administration."
On September 21, 2005, Hume stated:
Two nights ago on this program, we said that, in attacking President Bush on Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, and the budget, former president Clinton did something that Bush's father did not do, and that is to criticize his successor. That was incorrect. While the first President Bush did so rarely, he did criticize President Clinton and his administration several times, including on his Haiti and Somalia policies. We stand corrected and regret the error.
From the January 11 edition of Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox News Sunday:
HUME: Now, you've watched this range of appointments that Barack Obama has announced. Your take on it, your feeling about it?
GEORGE W. BUSH: I've been impressed.
HUME: Why?
GEORGE W. BUSH: Well, because, one, he showed decisiveness. Two, he has picked people that are capable and competent people. And I think he's had a very good transition.
And frankly, I think Josh Bolten, my chief of staff, and the people that are working here in the White House have also had a good transition, because they have reached out to the president-elect's team at all levels.
And the message is, you know, we want there to be a seamless move from -- from us leaving and you coming in, and we want you to succeed. And so, I've been very pleased with what I've seen over the -- since the election.
HUME: Do you agree with that?
GEORGE H.W. BUSH: Yes, totally. Totally. And if I didn't, I wouldn't tell you. Same policy.
HUME: Well, look. This is very like you, and like you as well, to refrain from comment on other political figures, the incoming president, and so on. Why?
GEORGE H.W. BUSH: Well, why be out there looking like you're carping and criticizing and know everything?
I mean, I heard what the president said about President Obama, President-elect Obama, and I feel the same way. Support him where you can and don't go out there criticizing and carping. You look small yourself, for one thing, but that's not the main reason.
The main reason is he needs support. And if it's something you disagree with violently, sit on the sidelines and shut up.
GEORGE W. BUSH: There'll be plenty of opportunities for people to carp, trust me. I mean, this is a --
GEORGE H.W. BUSH: Oh, yeah. I know there will.
GEORGE W. BUSH: -- this is a job that, as dad knows as well as anybody, it's, you know, there -- you'll get plenty of opinions when you're the president, and you'll get plenty of, you know, flattering statements, and you'll get your fair share of not-so-complimentary comments.
This is your criticism of Hume? In his 2005 retraction, Hume said Bush rarely criticizes presidential administrations, and in this latest interview Hume says Bush "refrains" from comments, he didn't said he never comments on other political figures.
WITH?
I agree with you Tommy.
Sorry, i know my fellow liberal friends have a hard time with this, but Former President Bush is a good man. He is not a rabid right winger, he never was.
But the question wasn't "Is he a wingnut?" its "Does he comment on other political figures?". And he does. He also argues with his son's critics constantly.
WITCH?
(why is tommy's comment here?)
I would say your comment is the one that questions it's own worthiness, since you did nothing to address my comment to which you responded.
Hume has no basis for his claim as MMFA demonstrated.
Hume lies, if you watched that interview I thought Hume was about to kiss the two Bushies.
He's lying scum. What else is he going to do?
George H.W. Bush refrained from publicly criticizing George W. Bush...although he may have turned a blind eye while his former subordinates, such as Brent Scowcroft, did.
I'm actually a bit surprised that he was never a louder cheerleader for his son. I guess he knows what a lousy president his son actually was. (Still - he's his son, so it's no great credit that he didn't criticise him publicly!)
OTH, I'll also give him a pass on critisizing Clinton. He got beat by him. As an incumbant that's got to be tough. Esp when you were beat by a guy who raised tazes, when you lost because YOU raised taxes. That's got to be tough. Plus, now it seems they've burried the hatchet. They both (Bush'41 and Clinton) have done a lot of good, charitable work together, and they seem to genuinely get along now.
HUME on the other hand... yeah, he's still a lying bastard. But I agree with Casey above - Bush'41 was a good man and a fairly decent president. In stark contrast, Bush'43 is the lesser son of a greater sire.
I fail to see the point of this "misinformation". There must be other, more important, events on television than this bland exchange. Take it down, MMFA.
The misinformation is clear.
Hume is a tool for the Bush Legacy machine for the father and his dopey son.
How more obtuse can you be?
This post is warranted.
J,
I disagree. This is nothing more than Hume giving Bush, Sr. a little pat on the back, deserved or not. It's harmless, and not some "false claim" at all. For MMFA to mention this as furthering anything beyond a little wink to an elderly ex-president is a little silly.
Tommy...your response sums it up nicely. It has little to do with misinformation and more to do with common civility...something we could all take note of.
Guys I am sorry but first just because Bush is "elderly" does not make him immune to critical review. After all Hume just trashed FDR last week , and he has been dead since 1945.
Second, it is a false claim , he made the comment about Somalia. That was critical of the President (at the time Clinton).
Excellent point JLyons,
Hume trashes FDR one minute, and the next plays footsie with an aging elitist from Conservative Party USA.
Just another example of how totally biased the Fake News Channel is. Maybe Junior is angling for a job as a commentator?
Great catch here by Media Matters.
Oh please, he didn't trash FDR, he resoundly criticized his policies. Commentators and pundits do that all the time, to every ex-president. There is nothing wrong with that, and it hardly classifies as trashing.
he resoundly criticized his policies.
No, he LIED about his policies. Big difference. But then again to you, a criticism based on an obvious lie is ok in your book because after all, they're pundits!
And elderly Jimmy Carter gets no break.
Gee, I hate to confuse ya with the facts, tommy, but if horsebrit hume acknowledged, admitted and regretted the error, then why does he keep making it?
I'll save you the trouble. Because he's a shrub-shilling, gop-slop spewing hack.
They weren't having lunch at the Country Club, tommy. It's supposed to be an interview of a former President of the United States conducted by a competent, professional reporter, not some ET puff piece on miley cyrus conducted by billy bush.
He's only on fixed news for nitwits because he knows horsebrit hume will give him the same kid gloves cheerleader treatment he gave cheney when he shot that schmuck in the face and tried to cover it up.
This school yard criticism is not worthy of an adult organization.
Definitely a WITH...until you recognize the amateurish effort...then you know why it's here.
Welcome back NJGuy, and thank you for reintroducing Wes and I to those unfamiliar. However, we prefer to see ourselves not as contrarians, but rather as enlighteners.
:)
Tommy Boy, my friend, perhaps your and Wes's intentions might be pure regarding your "enlightening", but your so-called enlightening is like helping your friend to wash the dishes after a dinner party at his house but accidentally using the toilet scrubber instead of the dish sponge. But thanks for the effort kind sir.
THANK YOU.
njguy93@yahoo.com
njguy...it wasn't an accident. Sometimes is takes a toilet scrubber to get rid of some of the garbage served around here...welcome back.
Remember bushbamboozled?...now there was a legendary poster.
"Welcome back NJGuy, and thank you for reintroducing Wes and I to those unfamiliar. However, we prefer to see ourselves not as contrarians, but rather as enlighteners."
Nah, it's more a case of the blind leading the clueless, dd and bb, but whatever the hell ya pretend to be, spellcheck - it's not just for liberal elitists anymore.
Always a pleasure.
I think I've seen a Rastro tag recently, didn't know he was an oldtimer. Leatherhelmet puked in his hat last in late 08.
Col Sanders used to post under a differant tag, can you guess who?
I think it was Corporal Punishment or Private Pardy. The idea of Tommy and Wesley as "enlighteners" made my day. Hi--larious! Two guys who can barely keep track of what they're trying to say on any given topic, imagining they're educating others. Good stuff!