The Bush Brats Get Their Way
An excerpt from Ann Gerhart's book, "The Perfect Wife: The Life and Choices of Laura Bush," on Jenna and Barbara Bush:
The armored black limousine glides to a stop near a U.S. military jet at Andrews Air Force Base early one morning in May 2002. Laura Bush is about to embark on her first solo trip as first lady, a 10-day visit to three European nations, where she will speak out for Afghan women's rights.An aide opens the door, and Mrs. Bush slides her legs carefully out and steps onto the tarmac. By this point, she knows her part well: Pause to smile, wave and let the photographers dutifully record the image. The small press corps knows its part, too, and watches the routine preflight maneuver with no expectations. Suddenly, one leg in worn corduroy, then the other, swings off the smooth leather limo seat. Jenna Bush stands up to follow her mother into the plane for this spring fling, and the reporters go on alert. It's the rowdy twin, the one who has been busted twice in four weeks for underage drinking, who has run her Secret Service detail ragged, who was captured in the National Enquirer falling down, a cigarette in her hand.
The corduroy jeans are ratty at their too-long hems, where Jenna has ground them into the pavement too many times. She is wearing a short black T-shirt, and her exposed tummy pooches out over the low-riding waistband. Flip-flops are on her feet. Her blond hair has been pinned carelessly up with a plastic clip. Sunglasses cover her eyes. Hoisting a backpack, she clomps up the plane stairs and disappears.
She hardly looks appropriately presidential daughterly, but then again, she has time to get herself together before the entourage lands in Paris, where French and American officials will greet Mrs. Bush and hand her flowers. The girl is hardly flying coach: Her mother has a hairdresser and a makeup artist on board the military plane, and there's a lovely wide bed and full shower.
But upon arrival 71/2 hours later, while her ladylike mother smiles and embraces the waiting welcomers, Jenna appears at the plane door looking exactly the same. The flip-flops still on the feet, the belly still exposed, the hair still not brushed. Suddenly, she darts back inside. The twin has spied the telephoto lenses of several French photographers far away, behind a fence. For a few moments, nothing happens, and then the limousine trunk floats open by electronic remote. A White House valet retrieves one of Mrs. Bush's Neiman Marcus garment bags, carefully laid out in the trunk, and he carries it back up the plane's steps. The reporters watch in wonder. While he holds it aloft, Jenna slips behind it, and he walks back down the stairs, shielding the first daughter from the prying eyes of all media, foreign and domestic. Only the top of her blond head, bobbing up and down, and those flip-flops are visible.
Jenna is hiding, literally, behind her mother's skirts.
There are only two possible explanations for what the reporters have just witnessed. Either, A) Laura Bush has asked her 20-year-old to please make herself more presentable, more fitting as a representative of the United States using taxpayer dollars on an official visit, and her daughter has adamantly refused, or B) Laura hasn't even bothered to ask.
The rest is here.
I just read that in WaPo!. At least the Bush girls aren't Muslims! Maybe MTV can recruit them for "Rich Girls."
doug at January 7, 2004 1:40 PM
Anyone who dresses like that is a better representative of me than Laura Bush.
Now, do the majority agree with that? Probably not. But I have to say, I'm starting to like the Bush daughters. Sleazy-dressing alcoholics are my people.
LYT at January 7, 2004 5:55 PM
Why is it that Republicans claim to be so pro-family but can't keep their own families in line? Anyone else notice that?
Patrick at January 8, 2004 3:56 AM
Much ado about nothing. Sounds like typical teenager behavior, and I am glad that we are not forced into having the details of their privileged lives splashed across the news too often. Maybe we should be talking more about their great grandfather- the Bush who had illegal business dealings with the Nazis and built that families fortune.
eric at January 8, 2004 9:24 AM
Patrick--as opposed to all those fab kennedy kids?
The drug addicts, the rapist, shall we go on? It's kids of the famous who get fucked up, not Reps. vs. Dems.
Roberto at January 8, 2004 10:32 AM
"pro-family" is an empty claim at this point because it can mean anything -- pro-welfare, anti-welfare, gay bashing, pro-gay adoption, etc. It's a bit like saying "pro-air;" is there anyone advocating that families should not exist? (Amy comes close sometimes, but I don't think even she fits that bill).
LYT at January 8, 2004 12:01 PM
I'm with Roberto. The twins *aren't* being used like distracting props as Chelsea was when bad things happened in the Oval Office (or in the mouth of the Oval Intern).
Families aren't supposed to be "kept in line."
There's much to admire about the handling of the twins. They're spoiled: So was Dad, but he got over it. (Uncle Neal never did.) They're lives are going to have so much opportunity that whenever they decide to sober up and get serious, they'll have the resources to do so. It's a shame that this isn't true for everyone, but that's that.
Crid at January 8, 2004 1:27 PM
I'm just noting the hypocrisy of Republicans referring to themselves as "pro-family," as if Democrats are so against families. (Actually, they do that because "pro-family" sounds so much nicer than "homophobic.")
I remember Ralph Reed introduced Newt Gingrich as "pro-family before pro-family was cool." Boy, you had to be there! Newt Gingrich? The man who brought a legal yellow pad with his terms for a divorce and served them to his cancer-stricken wife with their two daughters in tow, and taken to court twice for not paying his child support is "pro-family?" Gosh, perhaps if he had shot his wife instead of just divorcing her, maybe Ralph Reed would have gotten the idea. You think?
Rush Limbaugh is certainly pro-family. He's had three of them by marriage, so obviously, he loves the idea.
LYT, you're totally on about the "pro-family" concept. I just like watching the Republicans who suggest that their opponents are "anti-family" fall flat on their self-righteous faces, you know?
Ronald Reagan, good family man, who couldn't even recognize his own children. Yep, that's the pro-family party all right.
Crid, by the way, "oval intern?" No way. She was ROUND!
Patrick at January 8, 2004 8:52 PM
Oh, and regarding the "keeping your family in line," I have to disagree. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Jenna 20 years old at the time of this incident?
At that age, she doesn't need to tag along with Mommy. Moreover, since she's an adult, she can dress appropriately. Laura could have (and in my mind, should have) told her to dress appropriately or stay home. And Jenna could have taken her pick of those two options. But since it's Laura's mission, not Jenna's, the brat had no business going anyway.
Patrick at January 9, 2004 6:04 AM
Hillary and Chelsea used to have these kinds of fashion crises too. There are some very cute photos of Hillary looking very disappointed with her daughter's taste in skirts.
Does anyone know what Chelsea is doing these days, besides gracing the cover of the National Enquirer? Is she in law school yet?
Lena Still Misses Bill at January 9, 2004 10:46 AM
Thanks for the great read. I suggested my folks run it pronto.
Jeff at January 9, 2004 3:20 PM
Lena writes: "Hillary and Chelsea used to have these kinds of fashion crises too. There are some very cute photos of Hillary looking very disappointed with her daughter's taste in skirts."
At least Chelsea wore skirts. Laura should get a spine and realize that she's not taking her daughter to some social function, but she's representing the nation. It's about foreign policy and American interests, not about Jenna's right to be a spoiled brat.
Patrick at January 9, 2004 7:04 PM