Laura Bush spurns criticism

She dislikes being boxed and packaged by others as a "traditional first lady" in the mold of Bess Truman and Mamie Eisenhower, presidential wives from the "Leave It to Beaver" 1950s. She's also curious about a historian's recent survey of first ladies that describes her as "average" and ranks her 20th.

"Do I aspire to be up there at the top of the list? Absolutely," Bush said in an interview in her office in the East Wing of the White House. "While you have this opportunity, while you have this forum, you want to be as constructive for your country as you possibly can be."

The first lady has assumed a prominent role in her husband's re-election campaign. After headlining only a few fund-raisers in 2000, Laura Bush has been the main attraction at 16 Bush-Cheney fund-raisers since last June.

She's raised more than $5.3 million and appeared in television ads for the first time since her husband's first congressional campaign in 1978 and defended him against political attacks.

"Laura Bush is turning out to be one of the campaign's top secret weapons," said Scott Reed, who managed former Republican Sen. Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign. "She's superb at communicating with voters outside the Beltway. She comes across as a friendly neighbor who happens to be first lady. She softens the president's rough edges and puts a smiling face on the administration."

In so doing, some political analysts and experts on first ladies think, Bush's activities are helping to shatter her image as a demure spouse with little interest in political events of the day, the "anti-Hillary Clinton."

Like her mother-in-law, former first lady Barbara Bush, Laura Bush is popular. A Gallup survey last June found she had a 69-percent favorability rating. In the month after Sept. 11, 2001, her approval rating soared to 77 percent. She came in third behind Hillary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey in a year-end Gallup survey on America's most admired women.

"Almost everybody in the country likes her, especially Republicans," said Charles Black, a Republican consultant who's informally advising the Bush campaign. "She's a good campaigner, and she's willing to go anywhere the campaign wants her to go.

"I think her popularity stems from the way she's handled the office, the dignity she's brought to it without getting into controversial issues. She's handling the role of first lady the way people want it handled, unlike the previous occupant."

Clinton, now a New York senator, was a very public presence during her eight years in the White House. She led President Clinton's failed attempt to reform the nation's health-care system, and she spoke out on a variety of subjects, from abortion to support for a Palestinian state.

"When Bess Truman took office, she looked small in the shadow of Eleanor Roosevelt. But over the years, there was Eleanor Roosevelt fatigue," said Robert P. Watson, a Florida Atlantic University political science professor whose poll of 36 national scholars ranked Laura Bush 20th among 37 first ladies. Roosevelt ranked first; Clinton came in sixth. The rating was subjective and not guided by specific criteria, with scholars judging the degree to which each first lady made a positive contribution to the country.

"The reason why Laura Bush is as popular as she is, is because she's not Hillary Clinton. There's Hillary fatigue," Watson said.

Bush's low-key approach has made her popular with the public, but not with the academics who study first ladies. Several say she isn't using her position to sustain advocacy for important causes.

"I don't think she has a particular agenda," said Lewis Gould, a retired professor at the University of Texas at Austin who's editing a series of books on first ladies. "I think she's had less of an impact on the institution than her predecessors."

Bush, who said she studies her predecessors, disagreed. She reeled off a list of things she's done since her husband assumed office.

"I don't feel like I've shied away from anything difficult," Bush said. "I'm asked about issues and I speak about issues everywhere I go, every single time I do a press conference or interview.

"I think I've done a really good job. I mean, I've spoken up about women's rights, the women of Afghanistan, the women of Iraq. I've done the only radio address by a first lady, to talk about Afghanistan. I've talked about children's issues," she said. "I was on Capitol Hill to brief the Senate Education Committee about early childhood on the morning of Sept. 11."

After the terrorist attacks, Bush met with survivors and focused on telling parents what to tell their children about Sept. 11. She thinks the academics' criticism that she's a "traditional first lady" is intended to hurt her.

"You're putting somebody in a box using that," Bush said. "Does that mean I was a teacher? I had a traditional woman's job? Is that what they mean? Or do they mean it as an insult, which is what I think they do mean."

With the White House under increasing attack from Democrats and critics, Laura Bush has taken a more public role in rallying behind the president.

Last month she accused Democrats of conducting a political "witch hunt" over the question of whether the president showed up for all of his Vietnam-era Air National Guard duty. She called gay marriage a "very, very shocking issue" but stopped short of saying how she feels about it.

This week she joined the chorus of top officials in arguing that former White House counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke is politically motivated in charging that the president ignored the threat posed by the al-Qaida terrorist network prior to Sept. 11 and was obsessed with Saddam Hussein.

"I think people take that with a grain of salt," she said of Clarke's claims. "They're certainly aware of the fact that the president is attacked on every issue by a lot of people, but certainly by people who have a partisan interest."

First lady Laura Bush is scheduled to make a campaign appearance in Tallahassee. She'll be at a $250-per-person reception at noon at the University Center Club with state Rep. Bev Kilmer, R-Quincy. The president's wife also will attend a $1,000-per-person reception for Kilmer's congressional campaign at Florida State University's stadium.

Hillary earned the criticism she has received from Conservatives. However, liberals are walking on incredibly dangerous ground in regards to Condileeza Rice and Laura Bush.

Glad to see liberals are doing all they can to alienate the swing voters.

"I don't think she has a particular agenda," said Lewis Gould, a retired professor at the University of Texas at Austin

Ah, but YOU certainly do, Mr. Gould.

Laura is very important in this campaign..get her out as much as possible..she is a big draw for the suburban white female votes..

seriously, if there is a swing grp of voters who may influence by the Clarke charges, the suburban white female bloc is one I'd put on the top of the list.

get Laura on the softie shows, the morning shows, the Larry Kings, Barb Walters blah blah..

I do think her quote of ..

"I think people take that with a grain of salt," she said of Clarke's claims. "They're certainly aware of the fact that the president is attacked on every issue by a lot of people, but certainly by people who have a partisan interest."

will resonate, it just comes more credible coming out from her than any politicos around.

jmho.

One is known by their enemies as well as their friends. To be looked down upon by leftist history professors shows a fine quality of character...particularly when that Socialist stalking-horse Eleanor Roosevelt is ranked first, ugh!

I think Laura will become more and more visible as the campaign continues, and you're absolutely right about the effect she'll have. Can you imagine how ridiculously European Teresa Heinz will look compared to Laura?

This article was in my hometown paper this morning because Mrs Bush is here for a congressional candidate's fundraising lunch. I really wanted to go, but the $250 wouldn't be going to the Bush/Cheney campaign, but to Bev Kilmer, who's going to win anyway.
Ah, who am I trying to kid? My husband refused to let me spend the money!

May God Bless First Lady Laura Bush. In my opinion she beats the last first lady by miles. She is someone I feel I could trust, as opposed to the first enabler in chief, the Senator from New York.

professor at the University of Texas at Austin....that's says it all. Liberaland.

True. UT-Austin probably has more socialists / acre than Brussels.
But Lewis Gould isn't one of them. Read some of his books, if anything he's just a smidge on the conservative side.

Agreed! I really admire Laura Bush. She seems like she'd be a great person to know and to have as a friend. I also really like her mother-in-law, Barbara! Two very classy first ladies, for sure.

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