President Obama appeared with former President George H.W. Bush, center, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates at an event promoting community service at Texas A&M University on Friday.
COLLEGE STATION, Tex. – President Obama has spent much of his nine months in office blaming the nation’s troubles on his predecessor, George W. Bush — most recently on Thursday in New Orleans as he deflected criticism over Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts by noting he inherited the backlog of problems. But Mr. Obama put that aside Friday to venture deep into Bush territory, joining the former president’s father, the first President George Bush, to promote volunteerism, a favorite theme of both men. And for one moment, at least, they presented a rare instance of political comity in an era of harsh partisanship.
The two presidents, separated by generation, party and philosophy, looked like longtime friends on stage at Texas A&M University, joking, smiling and putting their arms around each other’s backs with easy bonhomie. Mr. Bush, 85, praised Mr. Obama as someone who “genuinely cared about helping others.” Mr. Obama, 48, hailed Mr. Bush as “a citizen whose life has embodied that ethic” of public service.
The event marked the 20th anniversary of Mr. Bush’s “thousand points of light” inaugural address calling for community service, later institutionalized in the Points of Light Institute. Promoting service has become a presidential staple and Mr. Obama, a former community organizer, followed suit by signing legislation expanding AmeriCorps, the service organization founded by President Bill Clinton. “Service isn’t separate from our national priorities or secondary to our national priorities,” Mr. Obama said here. “It’s integral to achieving our national priorities.”
Noting the former president’s service in World War II, Mr. Obama told students in the audience that service was not just a chore. “If President Bush could fly 58 combat missions when he was younger than many of you here today and keep on fighting even after he was shot down and nearly captured by the enemy, then surely you can keep going when your service project gets a little tough,” Mr. Obama said.
The bipartisan spirit inside the hall was not shared outside, however, where protesters expressed opposition to Mr. Obama’s spending and health care policies. “You Lie,” said several handmade signs, echoing the Republican congressman who heckled the president during his address to Congress last month. Mr. Bush expressed consternation at the tone of recent debate, decrying some attacks on Mr. Obama. “People ought to be civil,” he told CBS Radio before the event. “I worry about yelling at people and this yelling mentality that seems to accompany presidents.”
He singled out two liberal MSNBC hosts, Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, calling them “sick puppies.” He said “the way they treat my son and anyone who’s opposed to their point of view is just horrible. When our son was president, they just hammered him mercilessly and I think obscenely a lot of the time and now it’s moved to a new president.” Ron Kaufman, a longtime adviser to Mr. Bush, said the joint appearance had been in the works for six months and reflected respect for Mr. Obama despite policy disagreements. “Politics is politics, but some things are bigger than that,” Mr. Kaufman said. “He would like to see the president be successful.”
Mr. Bush’s appearance came amid concerns about his health. He missed the funeral of Senator Edward M. Kennedy in August because he was not feeling well. But Mr. Kaufman said the former president is doing fine now. Mr. Bush ambled onto stage somewhat tentatively, leaning on a cane. After the event, Mr. Obama helped him off stage. But Mr. Bush was spirited and quick witted in his remarks, joking with the crowd and teasing his former adviser, Robert M. Gates, also a former Texas A&M president who now serves as Mr. Obama’s defense secretary.
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