Dubya On Gay Marriage: Don't Criticize Until You Examine Your Own Heart

In an interview aired today by ABC News, former President George W. Bush refused to say whether he'd evolved on same-sex marriage, but he did say, "It's very important for people not to be overly critical of someone else until you examine your own heart." Back in February of this year, Laura Bush demanded to be taken out of a national marriage equality ad created by a coalition of LGBT groups.

Laura Bush: Take Me Out Of Marriage Ad

Former First Lady Laura Bush is demanding to be removed from the national same-sex marriage advertising campaign launched yesterday by a coalition of LGBT groups.

The advertising blitz, first reported by Politico, features a clip of Bush talking to Larry King on CNN in 2010 and saying, “When couples are committed to each other and love each other then they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has.” But Bush spokeswoman Anne MacDonald said in a statement Wednesday that the former first lady “did not approve of her inclusion in this advertisement nor is she associated with the group that made the ad in any way.” “When she became aware of the advertisement last night, we requested that the group remove her from it,” MacDonald said.

The Respect For Marriage Coalition has not yet responded.

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

A special clip about the new ad campaign.

All Kinds Of Americans For Marriage

Another great clip from TheFour.

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."

$8M For Laura Bush Memoir?

Insiders speculate that Laura Bush will get an advance for her First Lady memoir that will match or better the $8M that Hillary got for hers.

First lady Laura Bush has sealed a deal worth millions with Scribner to publish a memoir that will encompass her recollections of personal and historical moments, including her eight years in the White House. The publishing house, in announcing the agreement on Monday, said the memoir is expected to be released in 2010. Sally McDonough, first lady Laura Bush's press secretary, declined to say how much Bush is being paid for the book but past deals involving first ladies have carried multimillion-dollar payouts. McDonough said the first lady would work with a collaborator though one hasn't been selected yet. "As a rare witness to the private moments of one of our country's most consequential presidencies, and as a first lady who has maintained a notable level of discretion, her memoir will provide a candid and personal perspective, and an enduring record, of the years that have already determined the course of the 21st century," said Susan Moldow, executive vice president and publisher of Scribner.

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