Laura Bush: It Wasn't My Responsibility To Defend Gays From The GOP

Speaking to the Texas Tribune, former First Lady Laura Bush said that even though she fully supports LGBT rights, she never spoke up during her husband's anti-gay campaigns. Because he was elected, not her.

TT: Let’s talk a little bit about that responsibility. You found yourself back in the headlines not so long ago for taking positions on gay marriage and abortion that appeared to be at odds with your husband and with the GOP. What do you say to the critics who argue you had a responsibility to come forward sooner, or who suggest you maybe hid those opinions from view?

Bush: Well, I didn’t hide them from view. They were very well known from the first day George was elected, when Katie Couric asked me the question. I’m not elected. I was not elected. George is. He’s the one who’s elected. I was not the elected official. It was not my responsibility, I didn’t think, to speak out in ways to get in some sort of debate with him. I just didn’t see that as part of my role.

The Dallas Voice reacts:

Apparently Bush still doesn’t see advocacy on behalf of the LGBT community as part of her role, because she ignored an invitation to attend Dallas’ gay Pride celebration this year. Meanwhile, despite her focus on education, Bush hasn’t said anything about the national teen bullying suicide crisis. Asked at the end of the TT interview about the governor’s race, Bush says, “Absolutely we’re supporting Gov. Perry.”

Facebook Campaign Launches To Draft Laura Bush For Dallas Pride

Following her recent declaration of support for marriage equality, which she describes as "inevitable," a Facebook page has sprung up asking that Dallas Pride draft former First Lady Laura Bush as a guest of honor at this year's parade. Were she to be asked and accept, which does seem unlikely given her typically low public profile, OH how the teabaggers would wail. That prospect is delicious to contemplate.

Quote Of The Day - Elisabeth Hasselbeck

"Some people are saying, well, this is a day late and a dollar short, where were you when you could have said something earlier? And in terms of gay marriage, I think there are a lot of, maybe, conservatives out there who are talking about gay marriage and not necessarily with someone who wants to have gay marriage or has been in a gay marriage.

"You know, I had Melissa Etheridge over, we had dinner, we talked for hours about gay marriage, and I would really challenge people: Get out there. Instead of just talking about it and hating on it, actually talk to someone who’s loved someone else and have the conversation about what can be done." - Elisabeth Hasselbeck, responding on The View to Laura Bush's recent support of gay marriage.

(Via - Good As You)

Laura Bush Repeats Support For Marriage Equality To Fox News

Laura Bush took her support for marriage equality to Fox News yesterday, but dodged a question about DADT, saying she had no opinion on the issue. She also says she "doesn't necessarily" have a problem with Arizona's new immigration law.

Laura Bush Comes Out For Gay Marriage

You may recall that in her memoir released early this month, Laura Bush wrote that she had asked Dubya not to make gay marriage an issue in his campaign, considering how many gay friends they had. Last night on Larry King, Laura expanded on that, saying she supported gay marriage and that it would eventually be legalized as the issue is a "generational thing."

Quote Of The Day - Laura Bush

"In 2004 the social question that animated the campaign was gay marriage. Before the election season had unfolded, I had talked to George about not making gay marriage a significant issue. We have, I reminded him, a number of close friends who are gay or whose children are gay. But at that moment I could never have imagined what path this issue would take and where it would lead.” - Laura Bush, writing in her forthcoming memoir.

The path this issue took, of course, was Laura's husband using the issue of gay marriage to demonize millions of gay Americans. Despite his "close gay friends."