Exclusive: George H.W. Bush to vote for Hillary

[pnwmom]

Source: Politico

Former President George H.W. Bush is bucking his party's presidential nominee and plans to vote for Hillary Clinton in November, according to a member of another famous political family, the Kennedys.

Bush, 92, had intended to stay silent on the White House race between Clinton and Donald Trump, a sign in and of itself of his distaste for the GOP nominee. But his preference for the wife of his own successor, President Bill Clinton, nonetheless became known to a wider audience thanks to Kathleen Hartington Kennedy Townsend, the former Maryland lieutenant governor and daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy.

On Monday, Townsend posted a picture on her Facebook page shaking hands next to the former president and this caption: "The President told me he’s voting for Hillary!!”

In a telephone interview, Townsend said she met with the former president in Maine earlier today, where she said he made his preference known that he was voting for a Democrat. “That’s what he said,” she told POLITICO.



Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/exclusive-george-hw-bush-to-vote-for-hillary-228395

---

Bush's spokesman says Bush won't be speaking publicly about his vote in this election.But, as an editor from the Atlantic just said on CNN, Bush is NOT denying it. So it seems "solid." And this kind of decision by a former President is "unprecedented."

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Poppy finally does something right.

Not sure it makes up for spawning W, but I'll take it. I wonder who W will vote for?

[Stallion]

19. H.W. Bush Has Been Right Before

Last edited Tue Sep 20, 2016, 01:03 AM - Edit history (1)

I wasn't for the first Gulf War but at least he worked with our allies at the UN to develop a consensus to invade Kuwait and he was smart enough to stop the War prior to entering Bagdad unlike his son. He understood the vacuum that would be created-which has proven to be a very smart decision by his son's mistake. He was right about Voodoo Economics and was right to raise taxes when the deficit soared-an extremely tough political decision. I've never doubted his loyalty to his Country-and this must be a very difficult decision for him

[Skittles]

25. I also appproved of his pink socks when the presidents got together

yes indeed

[yeoman6987]

36. W will vote for Hillary for sure.

Trump is shit to the bush's.

[24601]

63. I believe that neither Democrats not Republicans are comfortable with the close relationships of the

Clintons and Bushes.

[yeoman6987]

72. I agree but we have little sayin the manner

But you are right both parties squirm about the relationship.

[dawn frenzy adams]

79. Indeed!

I must admit, I find this unsettling.

[forest444]

89. Sane here. But to be fair,

the George Wallace in that photo (taken at the Nat'l Governors Assn. summit at Kennebunkport in March 1983, shortly after his last election as governor of Alabama) was no longer the schoolhouse-blocking segregationist people often remember from the '60s.

Many Alabama right-wingers in fact felt betrayed by him on account of this change of heart, and by then usually referred to him bitterly as an "all-purpose demagogue." African-Americans in Alabama, in turn, generally came to think of Wallace as a living example that "people can and do change."

I like to think he was a little of both.

[3catwoman3]

2. Dayum!

Really?

[vadermike]

3. WELL

Not surprised ... i hope this helps us....!

[still_one]

52. I am surprised it got made public

[Dorian Gray]

66. It's very Hamiltonian

In Burr v Jefferson election.

[still_one]

71. interesting, I need to refresh my history. Thanks, piqued my curiosity

[loyalsister]

90. He told a Kennedy

I think it's pretty likely that was no accident.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

4. Say what you will about Poppy, he was at least rational and sane

I've been predicting that either he or Babs would come out for Hillary in some way.

It's pretty damning about today's GOP that, instead of voting for his party's nominee, he's willing to back the family that made him a one termer 24 years ago.

Suck it, Reince.

[kysrsoze]

54. I agree... not a great President and I wasn't a fan of Gulf War I, but I think he meant well...

and he wasn't a complete fuckup like W. The guy actually has a sense of honor. Compared with Nixon, Reagan and W., he was the best/least damaging. Good for him, taking a stand against tRump and Rancid Penis.

[vadermike]

5. You

know Babs is voting for Hillz too .. probably Jenna and Babs II as well.. but that will stay secret i'm sure

[GoCubsGo]

6. I am not surprised.

As I recall, he considers Bill to be some sort of honorary son. I suspect George the Lesser, and Jebbie will be following suit with their votes.

[vadermike]

7. so

is this official? cause at the bottom his spokesperson said his vote is private? I hope Ms. Kennedy got permission from Mr Bush beforehand to post that.. i would assume so

[pnwmom]

14. I doubt that it's official. But he must have known when he told Kathleen

that the word would get out.

[Hugin]

40. My thoughts on this revelation, too.

The secret ballot is one of the cornerstones of my personal view of democracy, but, if true, I will admit Poppy has found a pretty clever way of telegraphing his view on the Presidential race.

This is simultaneously a backhanded endorsement of Hillary and outright condemnation of Trump.

Very old school politics. Well played, Sir. Well played.

[Dorian Gray]

67. I'm sure it was calculated

as a "fuck you" to Preibus.

[dawn frenzy adams]

8. Well!

Let's see what beak-mouth Trump will say about this.

[progressoid]

9. Whaaa?

Not sure this is something that we can use as a positive though.

[Tortmaster]

59. Dude, I'm sending an email to a conservative ...

... friend right now because she is waffling about her vote. Decent Republicans respect the man, and this just shores up the whole #BasketofDeplorables. When has a Democratic President voted for a Republican?

[OnDoutside]

60. That's a great idea. More should do the same.

[vadermike]

10. yeah

I'm not sure we can use this as a positive.. maybe Trump will say something bad about HW tmmrw morning and make himself look bad once again.. who knows... Hillary will just be silent on this probably

[Schema Thing]

11. Kind of a "duh", except maybe for letting it be known publicly. Although that was coming

Trump is not his sort.

[vadermike]

12. powell next?

I wonder if Colin Powell will endorse?

[Hoyt]

47. Calling Trump a "national disgrace" is close enough. . . . . to get him thrown under white wing bus.

[spiderpig]

13. Global warming is a lie! Hell is freezing over!

[complain jane]

15. Yessssss!

[JohnnyLib2]

16. Good for him.

[radical noodle]

17. HW and Bill Clinton worked together on the tsunami

and they really got along well. HW said Bill was like another son. It's not a stretch too far to see him trusting Hillary.

[Skittles]

27. HW has long been a father figure to Bill Clinton

essentially, the son he never had (intelligent)

[radical noodle]

49. Good one! The son he always wanted!

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

68. I've always admired him for that

On one hand, I've disliked the coziness of the Bush/Clinton relationship, while on the other hand I've admired Bush because it reflects a manner of graciousness on his part in accepting his defeat by Clinton. That's not easy.

Wow...imagine a time when one could say good things about one's opponent? Don't those times seem a distant past? Now, we have bat shit crazies who have taken over the Republican party!

[vadermike]

18. will

this help us really or be a wash?

[yeoman6987]

38. It might get some indy's on Hillary's side, if not add another vote to the popular vote

which is not a bad thing at all.

[Beartracks]

75. Prob won't make a difference to Trumplodytes.

They distrust "the establishment" anyway.

===================

[Grassy Knoll]

20. Worthless Trump Deplorable's Could Care Less....

David Duke's endorsement is where these toilet lickers thrive.

[sebastianPZZ]

39. Toilet lickers.

Good.

[hibbing]

21. The little fingers must be anxious to tweet

I'm curious as to how the small handed fascist will insult the man, if he hasn't already.

Peace

[Laffy Kat]

22. You know it's a sad day for this country when we welcome this kind of news.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to hear it. It's just ironic, that's all.

[MFM008]

24. Squirming maggot

Dies in tweet storm...coming to a news cycle near you.

[vadermike]

26. you

think Trump is dumb enough to attack HW? I understand Jebbie and W... But HW?

[Chicago1980]

31. Why wouldn't he?

He attacked a war hero.

Trump doesn't give a shit about himself and perhaps his family.

[Doctor Jack]

28. Victory at all costs

I will take a temporary alliance with someone like Bush I if it means the defeat of pure evil. Much like how Britain and the U.S. had to fight with the Soviets during WWII. The Soviet government was certainly abhorrent but the alliance was for the greater good.

[GulfCoast66]

64. This is no alliance

Hillary negotiated nothing for this. This is an old man, war hero WW11 vet right wing type seeing his party taken to KKK land and having no where else to go.

[Chicago1980]

29. Damn.....

[democrattotheend]

30. I'm not surprised

G.H.W.B. has a good relationship with Bill Clinton, so this doesn't surprise me much (remember W's funny line at the State of the Union one year about how the boomers would soon be old enough to collect SS, including 2 of his dad's favorite people - Bill Clinton and himself?).

[roamer65]

32. Another former CIA director comes out against Drumpf.

Bush, Gates, Hayden and Morell.

Hmmmm. Something must be going on, to quote the Mango Mussolini.

[brooklynite]

33. Gonna make for some interesting Thanksgiving conversation...

[jcgoldie]

34. I this unprecedented?

Can anyone think of another case where a former president announced he would cross party lines like this?

[pnwmom]

35. He didn't publicly announce it -- he told Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

But even that's probably unprecedented.

[Grown2Hate]

37. Again, as vile as a lot of these people are/were, with despicable policies,

they ALL understand the absolute EXISTENTIAL threat of a Trump presidency. As much as I don't want to "cast my lot" with the NEOCONS (and I don't really consider this THAT), even they understand we can't abide/survive a Trump presidency. I'll take it. I'll take all of it. EVERY VOTE.

[geek tragedy]

41. A Bush tells a Kennedy he's voting for a Clinton. nt

[NBachers]

44. There's a lotta information in your statement.

[Hekate]

76. Yes: the old fashioned notion that Country means more than Party.

Seriously.

[MyNameIsKhan]

42. Well I am guessing entire bush clan

They will all come out... Thanks for loving your country ...

[Chitown Kev]

58. The Shrub can keep his vote private

dont want his endorsement.

[andym]

43. SNL Mike Dukakis (Jon Lovitz): "How can I be losing to this guy"

[Coyotl]

45. Bush knows a criminal when he sees one, likewise with the Alzheimer's.

We need a list of Trump's known crimes.

[Midnight Writer]

46. OMG! Reince Priebus will make H W Bush's political future a "living hell".

Does this feeble old man know who he is messing with?

[cstanleytech]

48. The irony though is Bush and the other Republican leaders are to blame for Trumps rise

in the first place because they planted the seeds of this problem decades ago because of who they were relying on as their voter base and now their crop they planted is ready for harvest with Trump.

[bluestateguy]

50. Now we wait for Trump's Twitter tantrum

nt

[senseandsensibility]

51. Maybe Jeb will follow suit?

[keithbvadu2]

92. Won't Jebbie prove his integrity by supporting Trump as he gave his word/pledge to do?

(sarcasm thingie here)

[ffr]

53. Who's backing Hillary now? Ah-huh, ah-huh!

She's certain to bring it up during the debates to back her claim that Dems, Repubs and Independents all back her. In other words, everyone who isn't deplorable.

[Upthevibe]

55. Former FLOTUS, Barbara Bush, has already stated that she didn't know how any woman

could vote for Trump.

[JonathanRackham]

56. Oh the irony.

[Stuart G]

57. k and r..........nt

[MowCowWhoHow III]

61. Will this have a net positive or negative effect?

It might attract some left-wing-right-wing voters, but it will probably repel some left-wing-left-wing voters.

[pnwmom]

70. If those left, left wing voters wanted to have more influence, they should have gotten on board

a long time ago. At this point, Hillary needs every vote she can get, and if that means going for the middle, so be it.

[Norbert]

62. The patriarch of the GOP is not voting for their nomonee

Let that sink in for a minute because that is the most damning thing yet about Trump.

I fully expect the orange man to have a hissy fit on Twitter complete with insults aimed at Poppy.

[Dorian Gray]

65. Not surprising

The Bush family distaste for Trump has been known for a long time.

[adigal]

69. Even with all his flaws, I always thought he was a smart man

So of course, he's voting for Hillary.

I'm waiting for the avalanche to occur. I really think Ted Cruz will say he's not voting for Trump without endorsing Hillary.

[bigwillq]

73. Cool.

I hope folks vote for the person of their choice. Democracy, baby!

[Initech]

77. The enemy of my enemy is my friend? What?

[pnwmom]

81. His vote counts as much as any of ours. The voting machines won't care. Every HRC vote matters.

[Yavin4]

78. Tryin' to get right with the Lord at the last minute.

[phallon]

80. What's with his lame family?

It's the least he could do!

[TonyPDX]

86. It still doesn't make up for "W" and Iraq.

[GulfCoast66]

93. If I remember correctly

Pappy did not support the Iraq invasion. At least that was the Rumor.

I do not like his politics but he did not invade Iraq cause he knew it would end up like it did when his boy did it. He also put country above politics when he raised taxes in a deal to put the country on a good financial footing. It cost him the election and really helped Bill by improving the economy.

I just do not think it fair to put what W did on his daddy. He has enough to answer for.

[Proud liberal 80]

82. This does nothing

It actually may hurt more. It looks like "the establishment" endorsing the one of theirs.

[pnwmom]

83. No, it won't hurt. He's only voting for Clinton because Trump is insane

and every sane person knows it.

If Jeb, or Rubio, or any of the others was running, he wouldn't be voting for Hillary.

[PersonNumber503602]

91. I think it only hurts with people who have "questionable" thinking abilities

In my oh so humble opinion, there is something seriously wrong with anyone who identifies as liberal, progressive, whatever and plans on voting for Trump simply because their preferred candidate isn't running. I might even question their actual motives and loyalty to their country... Yeah, loyalty is an odd word, but I don't know how else to put it. If someone is aware enough to know that voting for Trump would destroy the US but does it anyway, I gotta wonder what their ultimate motivations are.

[bluestateguy]

84. W is next!

(Actually, no. That's probably not a good idea)

[TonyPDX]

85. He's just protecting his stock portfolio. Bush's don't do the right thing without $ on the line.

[pnwmom]

88. His vote will count as much as anyone else's. And so will the votes of anyone else

who votes for her because of their stock portfolio -- or their empty bank account.

[MrScorpio]

87. GHWB's term policized me for good, that's how horrible it was

But it's clear here that he didn't leave his Republican Party, his party has left him.

Although this looks like a sign that this reprehensible former president has chosen his principles over politics, make no mistake about it. This is surely a sign of how utterly broken our entire political process is. He's actually voting for Hillary to save the Republican Party.

Even a Bush has recognized that a Trump victory would not only be a death knell for the country as a whole, it would also spell doom for Republicans in the long run. At least with Hillary in the White House, GOPrs can still play the opposition game and continue to absolve themselves of any responsibilities of running the country.

Basically we'd save their asses like we've always done by beating Trump. We'd make the hard decisions so they won't have to, while all they'll do is sit back and sow discord and distrust for the ideal of government whilst still benefiting from it.

If Trump were to win and the Republicans still had power in Congress, they'd all be left with the responsibility of running a government for which their electorate has nothing but contempt. After years of promoting incompetence and governmental malfeasance, they're going to screw things up big time, while being left in the unenviable position of not being able to blame Democrats.

And worst yet, under a nativist and proto-fascist Trump Administration, America will surely go down that dark path of blaming outsiders for our problems. We'd attack those who are defenseless and make dissent tantamount to treason. This country as we know it will be no more.

Don't forget that GHWB belongs to the WWII generation. He's actually fought fascism on the battlefield. I'm sure that the last thing that he wants to see is fascism corrupt his own party and destroy America in his own lifetime.