‘Shocked’ By Barbara, Laura Bush Reveals Barbara Bush’s Opposition To Another Bush Presidency

In an interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl, former first lady Laura Bush reveals she was “shocked” by Barbara in 2013 after Jeb Bush disclosed he was considering a presidential run in 2016. According to Laura, Barbara Bush said there had been enough “Bushes in the White House.” Although Barbara was initially opposed to having Jeb Bush run, she now supports his candidacy.

In a 2013 interview on the Today Show, Barbara Bush gave her opinion on another Bush presidency, via the Huffington Post.

“I think it’s a great country. There are a lot of great families, and it’s not just four families or whatever. There are other people out there that are very qualified, and we’ve had enough Bushes.”

Barbara Bush is now helping with the fundraising efforts for her son in an email campaign called, “I Changed My Mind.” In the campaign message, she stated the following.

“When the idea of Jeb running for President first came up, I was hesitant. You may have heard about that. When you see the pounding candidates, their spouses, and even their children take, what mother wouldn’t be? Jeb is our best chance of taking back the White House in 2016, and I hope that you will join me in pushing him to run.”

This isn’t the first time that someone has been “shocked” by Barbara. According to her biography, at the 1992 Republican Convention, when her husband was running for a second term as president, Barbara Bush stated that she believed abortion to be a private matter, and Roe v Wade should not be overturned. She believed that the issue of abortion did not belong in the platform for the Republican party. As early as 1980, Barbara Bush also supported passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.

In an interview with CSPAN, Barbara also revealed that she felt a special affection for former president Bill Clinton, via the Daily Mail U.K.

“I love Bill Clinton. Maybe not his politics, but I love Bill Clinton. Bill visits us every summer. We don’t agree politically, but we don’t talk politics.”

The reason that most may be “shocked” by Barbara is how she handled the issue of AIDS when little was known about it. She attended the funeral of Ryan White, via WTHR, the teenage boy who became the face of AIDS in the 1980s after he contracted the illness from receiving a blood transfusion. Barbara also visited AIDS patients, hugging them to show the disease could not be contracted through simple touch. Because of her concern for AIDS patients, former president George Bush, Sr., increased funding for research during his presidency. Today, Mrs. Bush focuses on literacy, one of her favorite projects to help others.

Are you “shocked” by Barbara Bush and her opinions on these issues?

[Photo Credit Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images]