Billy Bush regrets not having "the strength of character" to tell Trump to STFU

[Miles Archer]

While Trump went on to become president, his interlocutor in that recording, Billy Bush, was not so lucky. Having only joined NBC's Today broadcast in August, the relative of two living presidents (George W. Bush, his cousin, and George H.W. Bush, his uncle) was summarily fired from the popular morning program after the tape came out. He'd maintained his silence until this weekend, when The Hollywood Reporter posted its cover interview with him online. In the interview, Bush expressed regret for his complicity in Trump's misogynistic monologue while also suggesting he was unfairly maligned.

"If a moment like that arose again, I would shut it down quickly," Bush told The Hollywood Reporter, noting that he has three daughters, the youngest of whom is 12 years old. He said she will never watch the recording of her father seemingly egging Trump on in his comments, which many said at the time both described and encouraged sexual assault. He said that he regretted not having "the strength of character" to stop the conversation at the time.

Clearly aware that he has the reputation of a softball interviewer, Bush downplays his chumminess with Trump. The two certainly appeared on good terms on the Access Hollywood tape, as when Trump made his now-infamous "grab them by the pussy" comment. Bush appeared to laugh along, never expressing discomfort.

"We don't have a personal relationship and never have," Bush told his interviewers, Lacey Rose and Marisa Guthrie. Bush said he would take a call from Trump, though it seems unlikely that such a call would occur, as the president is unlikely to revisit his own past embarrassments.

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/billy-bush-on-lewd-donald-trump-tape-that-cost-his-job/

[snooper2]

1. How does he know his daughter will never watch that?

What is he going to do delete the Internet

[democrank]

2. Billy Bush not only didn't tell the animal Trump to shut up

he joked with him about it.

[luvMIdog]

3. no no no his story version doesn't fly with me. He did not only laugh along he acted like a wingman.

He said " How about a little hug for the Donald. He just got off the bus."

Try to fly that shit past someone else Billy

[JudyM]

5. He made tRump feel exactly how he wanted to feel: like an admired king of the jungle. Kissass.

[luvMIdog]

6. yep

[Miles Archer]

8. Billy: "Sheesh, you girl's hot as shit"

YES!

It CLEARLY sounds like Billy was struggling with his conscience over Donald's inappropriate words.

[luvMIdog]

9. he's just sorry the whole world got to hear it & it ruined his career. Sadly, it didn't ruin Trump's

[dalton99a]

12. +1

[Demsrule86]

4. Billy having gone to high school and college in Connecticut and seen my

Dad's friends bankrupted by the Trumpster...this is what happens...he walks away while everyone else pays a price.

[SonofDonald]

7. Just another deplorable

Blinded by tRUMPS money and thinking somehow that made him a powerful man he bowed down to it, that's it in a nutshell.

When you strip away the money and bombast you're left with a dirty old man who for some reason gets away with everthing, and bush was so awed by this he genuflected and agreed with everything said, he couldn't see past the BS and of course was being paid to be one of the inner circle even if only for a few minutes, bit the hook, and turned in fluff for a story.

The price was just his soul, and the respect of his children.

[mercuryblues]

10. he gives himself to much credit

"If a moment like that arose again, I would shut it down quickly," Bush told The Hollywood Reporter, noting that he has three daughters, the youngest of whom is 12 years old.

The tape was recorded 12 years ago. His youngest is 12 years old. He is holding up his daughters as a shield, without giving is (most likely) pregnant wife and 2 daughters a second thought at the time. He has also tried to use the excuse I was young and stupid. He was 30 years old with kids.

To hell with him. He chuckled and encourage the conversation. He is sorry he got caught and lost his job. Fox news is shy a few sexual assaulters. Maybe he should apply there.

[Blue_Adept]

11. Having worked with asses like Trump before in the business world

I know for a fact that I would have been fired by my own boss for not currying favor and playing up whatever that particular person wanted.

That was twenty or so years ago and I've since moved to self employment so I've got more options. But back then, if the boss assigned you that client, you did what that client wanted and went along with their jokes and all the other shit because your boss wanted the business.

Doesn't excuse what Bush did, but at the same time it's an area where far too many of us are trapped into and unable to do anything about because it impacts our survival.

[Merlot]

13. You're right on.

While I don't excuse bushys behavior, I do understand how his role was to play nice with the "talent." Not confronting anyone, making nice was his only job. It wasn't a news show, it was an entertainment show.

The part I find inexcusable is when he told the actress to hug trumpty. That didn't need to happen.

And does bushy only think his comments were bad because he has a daughter? If he had sons instead, would this exercise in self introspection even happen?