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Subscribe to RSSPresident Barack Obama welcomed former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush to the White House for the traditional tribute to the president's predecessor.
Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush were back at the White House on Thursday for the unveiling of their official portraits.
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcomed their predecessors to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for an event devoid of partisanship, setting aside the political differences between the two administrations.
“Mr. President, thank you for your warm hospitality. Madam First Lady, thank you so much for inviting our rowdy friends to my hanging," Bush said to laughter before an audience that included his two daughters, a number of former aides and his mother and father, former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush.
Bush's laugh line was just one of many lighter moments in a ceremony that might have otherwise had the potential for awkwardness, given the frequency with which Obama often says his successor's policies are to blame for the nation's current woes.
Obama didn't shy away from addressing one of the biggest shared issue of their presidencies: the economic crisis that took hold in 2008.
“Over those two and a half months, in the midst of that crisis, President Bush, his Cabinet, his staff, many of you who are here today went out of your ways -- George, you went out of your way, to make sure that the transition to a new administration was as seamless as possible,” Obama said.
Charles Dharapak / AP
President Barack Obama gestures toward former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush and first lady Michelle Obama, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, May 31, 2012, during a ceremony where the Bush's portraits were unveiled.
And Obama gave Bush his due for their shared role in hunting down Osama bin Laden:
“That's why my first call, once American forces were safely out of harm's way, was to President Bush because protecting our country is neither the work of one person nor the task of one period of time. It's an ongoing obligation that we all share.”
Any of the weightier matters were dispelled, though, by Bush's laugh-out-loud performance. He started off saying how pleased he was that the White House portrait collection now begins and ends with a "George W." (or George Washington).
“When the British burned the White House ... in 1814, Dolly Madison famously saved this portrait of the first George W. Now Michelle, if anything happens, there's your man,” Bush joked. (During her speech, First Lady Michelle Obama promised she’d go straight for his portrait.)
And former President Bush didn’t spare the current president: “I am also pleased, Mr. President, that when you are wandering these halls as you wrestle with tough decisions, you will now be able to gaze at this portrait and ask: What would George do?"
The event was somewhat of a family affair; at least 14 members of the Bush clan were on hand for the official unveiling of the portraits, which were done by artist John Howard Sanden.
Noting everyone assembled, Bush joked upon introducing Laura: “It is my privilege to introduce the greatest first lady ever. Sorry, Mom. Would you agree to a tie?”
Laura Bush didn’t miss a beat, either.
"It was really gracious of you to invite us back to the White House to hang a few family pictures. And I'm sure you know nothing makes a house a home like having portraits of its former occupants staring down at you from the wall,” the former first lady said.
Bush’s portrait, which was completed in 2011, depicted him standing in the Oval Office; Laura Bush’s portrait has her in the Green Room. The former first lady’s portrait was finished early this year. Bush 43’s portrait will hang down a hall from his father’s portrait in the White House, a point that made for a poignant moment. “I am honored to be hanging near a man who gave me the greatest gift possible: unconditional love. And that would be number 41,” he said, to sustained applause.
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What a class act, humble and gracious. America at its finest and the Obama's were okay too.
Oh yeah a couple of real Class Acts alright!Humble,Gracious? Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahaha!
More like Arrogant and Stupid!
Get a clue about these two corrupt Clowns!
has any one checked the silver?
The bro from the hood might of stole it by now.
I was told they took the silver with them when they left......
I was told they took the oil pumps out of the rose garden when they left, Cheney got up set !!!
I wish they would flip the painting around, let the wall enjoy his face.
Flip the painting around,let the wall enjoy his ugly little face, and paint a Horses's Ass on the Front.Then everybody gets to see the real George Whacko Bush!
Thanks for the laugh!
OMG, they let the Bush's back in the white house?! What could they be thinking?!
My comment is the portrait of W should be a 0. He did nothing for this country for 8 long years and I couldn't wait until he left office. I don't consider him a President. He is a schizophrenic liar just like every other Republican. They lie daily and the people actually believe these lies daily. So in the end you get what you vote for people. Wake up and realize that this party is only concerned with themselves not any poor or middle class citizen of the country. It is corrupt to the core and THAT is what is undermining anything that could be possible for this country to fix or move forward on ALL of the problems this party has dumped on all of us.
Rich
Well, isn't this precious.
Kewl!
Okay, he wasn't the best president in the world but he deserves his portrait just like all the others before him. Be nice.
"W" and Cheney are all about oil pimps, the gop tea retard states are red from blood, they destroyed this Country and no way they are getting the keys back to the white house !!!
Where was Cheney? The absence of this retard speaks volume. A pleasure to see the two presidents and the two radiant first ladies. Way to go civility at its best.
Quess o DUMBO got it right every time he ask the portrait what Bush would do is blame Bush. Mitt /rubio 2012
The only portrait or photo of Bush should be a mug shot, just before going gehind bars for war crimes.
The guy is a joke, an alcoholic with DIU's for credentials. And of course a liar, like any boozer is.
Remember the good old days when
the world was talking about a DEPRESSION. Hmm I wonder who was in charge back
then. How soon everybody forgets. Let's make sure we never forget what he did to this country!
2008
Sep. 15 2008- Dow falls 504 points
Sep. 17 2008 Dow falls 449 points
Sep. 29 2008 Dow falls 778
points
Oct. 9 2008 Dow falls 679 points, finishing under
8,600
Oct, 10 2008 Dow ends worst week in history
Oct. 15 2008 Dow falls 733 points
Oct. 22 2008 Dow falls 514 points
----------------------------------------------
2008
Mar. 16 2008 - Bear Stearns bought by
JP Morgan
Chase for $2 a share to avoid
bankruptcy
Sep. 7 2008 U.S. bails out Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac
Sep. 14 2008 Lehman Brothers files
for bankruptcy
Sep. 14 2008 Merrill Lynch bought
by Bank of America for 50 cents on the dollar
Sep. 16 2008 AIG bailed out with $85 billion loan from Federal
Reserve
Sep. 25 2008 Washington Mutual
fails. Larget bank failure in
history
Oct. 3 2008 Bush signs $700 billion bailout
bill.
Yep it was little old brain dead W. No more to be
said. He will get his just rewards for the blood on his hands for the thousands who died because of him when he meets his maker. Pay backs are hell you illiterate punk.
You didn't go far enough back,
2001 Enron collapse causes complete overhaul on financial reporting laws "Sarbane Oxley"...
2002 Worldcom accounting scandal
there are several more...
I keep seeing comments about the Bushes having "class." I don't see how anyone can view Bush as having "class." I was embarrassed for this nation the entire time that buffoon was President. And now I'm embarrassed that we have the portrait of a war-criminal/buffoon in our White House.
I am an independent and neither a Democrat or Republican and I have my political issues with both. However, I will say that there is not a single President that has held office that I would not show complete respect for them for being an American that has served this country. If the opportunity had ever arose for me to spend time with one doing something like fishing, hunting, golf, etc. I think I would spare them of talking politics and partisan pokes. There is a time to discuss politics and such and a time to avoid it. It's times like the one in this article with two different Presidents and how each did not spend the time with insults that I think more Americans could learn from towards other different Americans. I don't feel that we have ever had a President that did not do for his country what he felt was best for US. It is times like the one this article describes where 2 clearly different Presidents are respectful of one another that make me proud to be American. I hope what I have pointed out helps at least 1 other American to see that even though you might not agree with someone different in this country, to not be so insulting, but rather understand that they too are an American and trying to do what they think would make us a stronger USA.
This may be the first and only presidential portrait to have a higher IQ than the actual president it depicts....
President Bush is a class act. Obama is a carnival barker who does nothing but point fingers at everyone else as the reason for his economic policy failures.
'Nuff written.
a Class act? seriously? No wonder your name is rebel. You're another tool.
Unlike you Dweezil.
A class act would have prevented 911 after receiving information from the FBI about terrorists using planes as weapons......
Yes, yes, Mr. Weapons of Mass Destruction. Thanks for 2 wars a trillions of dollars towards you and your goons.
Let's not forget Pressident Obama - you own this economy. Jobless claims up last month, unemployment up to 8.2% - your poilicies sure are working!
He can run and say someone else did it but it won't play at the polls in Nov. Americans don't like whiners.
The painting was placed in the "I screwed up the world" section. Ironically A LOT of US Presidents are placed there.
even obama knows bush is still in the white house
I just threw up a little in my mouth.
What a contrast between light and darkness, good and evil, legal and illegal, class and no class. Thanks GW for bringing class and dignity, no thanks illegal king obongo and your golf games and shopping for mooshelle
Bush should have hit Obama in the mouth and told him to get out of the White House before he kicked him out on his arse!
Get back to Mexico WB!!!
Whatever you think of either President, they were pretty funny yesterday. (Great portrait of the former President, too.)
immediately following the ceremonies Obama rehung his velvet painting of Che Guevera and Fidel Castro where the portrait of G.W had been
The portraits were hung in front of the urinals in the men's restroom...hopefully they're not watercolors!!! LMAO