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Bush: Capitol 'insurrection' worthy of 'banana republic'
"This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic -- not our democratic republic," Bush said in a statement on the "insurrection."
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(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 21, 2017, (L-R) former US Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama attend the Hurricane Relief concert in College Station, Texas. Obama, Bush and Bill Clinton are volunteering to take a coronavirus vaccine on camera if it will help promote public confidence. Obama, in an interview with SiriusXM radio, said he would be inoculated if top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci signs off on a Covid-19 vaccine. Freddy Ford, Bush's chief of staff, told CNN the former president also wanted to help promote vaccination. Angel Urena, Clinton's press secretary, told CNN the former president would also be willing to take a vaccine in public on television.
(AFP/JIm Chapin)
F
ormer president George W. Bush on Wednesday denounced some of his fellow Republicans for fueling the "insurrection" at the US Capitol, likening the situation to a "banana republic."
"This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic -- not our democratic republic," Bush said in a statement on the "insurrection."
"I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions and our law enforcement," Bush said in a barely veiled swipe at President Donald Trump and his supporters who charge without evidence that the November election was rigged.
Meanwhile, former president Barack Obama blamed Donald Trump and Republicans for the attack on the US Congress Wednesday, calling it "a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation."
"But we'd be kidding ourselves if we treated it as a total surprise," Obama said, adding that it was "incited" by Trump, "who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election."
Obama also singled out the Republican party and its media supporters, whom he said have "too often been unwilling to tell their followers the truth" about Democrat Joe Biden's strong victory in the November 3 election.
"Now we're seeing the consequences, whipped up into a violent crescendo," he said in a statement.
Earlier, former president Bill Clinton denounced riot in Washington by pro-Trump mobs as an "unprecedented assault" on the US Capitol and the nation itself, and blamed outgoing president Donald Trump for fomenting the violence.
"Today we faced an unprecedented assault on our Capitol, our Constitution, and our country," the Democratic former president said in a statement, adding that the attack was fueled by "four years of poison politics" and deliberate misinformation.
"The match was lit by Donald Trump and his most ardent enablers, including many in Congress, to overturn the results of an election he lost."
