Washington Post-Analysis: Barbara Bush failed to grasp how the Bushes helped pave the way for Trump

[Gothmog]

I remember how disgusted I was at the Willie Horton ad. GHW Bush and W are each responsible for the racism that gave us Trump. Barbara Bush should rest in peace but the facts are clear that GHW Busn and W each are in part responsible for trump

Link to tweet

Veteran journalist Soledad O’Brien tweeted:

“Not super bewildering. Her husband, President George HW Bush leveraged the racism of the Willie Horton ad — a coded racist appeal to white voters — to victory. President Trump has taken that ball and run with it.”

Link to tweet

....As Rice University historian Douglas Brinkley told PBS shortly after Bush’s death:

“Bush wanted to see himself as being a man devoid of racism. But the reality is that Bush often had to do dog whistles and appeal to less enlightened Americans on race.”

It is understandable that Bush, who probably saw her husband as a gentleman, would be disgusted by the behavior of Trump — especially when she considers how he treated her son during the campaign. But it is telling that someone who had a front-row seat to two American presidencies seemed so unaware of the values within her own party that she would view Trump as an interloper instead of the next chapter of a continuing story.

I hope that Barbara Bush is resting in peace. However the facts are the facts. The Willie Horton and the W racist behavior led to trump

[DonViejo]

1. This isn't a Washington Post analysis, the by-line reports

the name of the author.

[ZZenith]

2. I hope Barbara Bush is resting in eternal torment.

And I make no apology for that sentiment.

A more clueless purveyor of misery has seldom been seen. Clutch those pearls in perpetuity, Babs.

[lagomorph777]

3. Bush Senior pardoned the Iran-Contra perps (with BARR's help).

Bush Junior capitalized on the impunity Daddy helped create, with bigger and badder crimes.

Trump merely exploited the systemic weakness they created.

[Solly Mack]

4. Snort