George W. Bush and Kanye West Make Peace
In his new memoir "Decision Points," former President George W. Bush said it was a "low point" for him when, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, rapper Kanye West said on live television, "George Bush doesn't care about black people."
On NBC's "Today Show" Wednesday morning, the former president and the musical performer separately expressed their willingness to move past the contentious moment.
"I would tell George Bush, in my moment of frustration, I didn't have the grounds to call him a racist," West said in a pre-taped interview aired for Mr. Bush. "But I believe that in a situation of high emotion like that, we as human beings don't always choose the right words."
Mr. Bush said that he appreciated the remarks.
"I am not a hater. I don't hate Kanye West," Mr. Bush said. "But I was talking about an environment in which people were willing to say things that hurt. Nobody wants to be called a racist, if in your heart you believe in equality of race."
The former president said on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in an interview aired yesterday that he made mistakes in the way he handled the 2005 natural disaster. He said, however, that it was unfair for West and others in the black community to pin his shortcomings to racism.
"I can see how the perception would be, 'maybe Bush didn't care,'" he said in that interview. "But to accuse me of being a racist is disgusting."
More on President Bush's new memoir:
Bush on "Decision Points" Tour Calls Handling of Katrina a "Mistake"
Bush Regrets Few Decisions from Presidency
Critics to Move Bush Memoir to "Crime" Section
Bush: Cheney Was Angry I Didn't Pardon Libby
Bush on Palin: I Am Not a Pundit
Bush Blindsided by Abu Ghraib, Financial Crisis
President Bush: Kanye West Comment "Disgusting"
Bush Considered Dropping Cheney from '04 Ticket
Watch CBS News national correspondent Jim Axelrod on "Washington Unplugged" discuss details included in former President George W. Bush's memoir "Decision Points":
