Bush Recalls Graphic Pro-Life Moment: Mom Showed Me Her Miscarried Fetus in a Jar
- Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:00pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
Over the last week, excerpts of George W. Bush’s Monday-night interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer have shown a candid former president. But if a new excerpt obtained by the New York Post is any indication, the George W. Bush we may see tonight isn’t going to hold much back, and it could get graphic.
According to the Post, Bush will recall a detailed story about what set him down the path to becoming pro-life. That story includes his mother, Barbara, preserving and showing a young George one of her miscarried fetuses. From the Post:
“She said to her teenage kid, ‘Here’s the fetus,’ ” the shockingly candid Bush told NBC’s Matt Lauer, gesturing as if he were holding the jar during the TV chat, a DVD of which The Post exclusively obtained.
“There’s no question that affected me, a philosophy that we should respect life,” said the former president, who had to drive his distraught mother to the hospital at the time.
“I never expected to see the remains of the fetus, which she had saved in a jar to bring to the hospital,” Bush writes in his new book, “Decision Points,” in an excerpt Lauer read during the interview.
“There was a human life, a little brother or sister,“ Bush told the ”Today” host during the sit-down to promote his tome, which hits stores tomorrow.
Bush said his mother gave him special permission to recount the private story in print.
In excerpts already released, Bush didn’t back down from military action following 9/11, recalled his reaction to hearing about the terrorist attacks, and replied “damn right” to a question about whether he approved waterboarding.
The interview won’t all be serious, however. He will also talk about what he’s currently reading on his i-Pad, which includes the Bible:
The full interview airs tonight on NBC at 8 pm ET. Bush’s new book Decision Points, which includes the fetus story, comes out today.
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 696 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 666 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 525 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 369 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 364 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 244 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 254 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order Read More
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 244 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (102)
Rob
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 2:18pmMiss him yet?
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 3:24pmsoooo much
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 2:04pmjeez, everytime we hear AMERICAN President Bush speak, we are reminded what a warm American person “everyman” he is, God bless him.
Report Post »Demo-D
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:56pmabortions haunt both parents, forever, even more so for the father in the event he did not want the abortion to take place. He has to deal with the fact that he could do nothing to stop the murder of his child AND the fact he inpregnated a murderer. A lot of times that murderer is someone the father loves.
Report Post »eteme
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 2:00pmWell that is a round about way of putting it….interesting perspective…
Report Post »HILLCOUNTRYMAMA
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 2:31pmSuch a very true statement.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 3:00pmBarbara Bush did not abort the child, she miscarried, two very different things. I agree that the father should have the right to the child if the mother doesn’t want it but until we can convince the pro-death people that an unborn child is indeed a human being these sleeze balls will keep killing thier babies.
Report Post »rgalunas
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:55pmthe one question I would ask our former President George W Bush. Who I loved as a president bc he was a man of God first! He would say that God knows. Do you feel that american privacy’s have been comprised in the last decade because of 9/11 and is there anyway to turn it back?
Report Post »Slevdog1
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:53pmIt just goes to show, despite all the policy mistakes and failures, the Bushes are good people……oh how I miss “good people” in politics today……….
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:52pmWhile I do think its creepy, that a mother would show her son a fetus of a dead baby. This could have been a fetus of baby cat. But the point is that it made him believe that life was important and should not be wasted. I could see doing this if you felt strongly enough about the subject to make a child understand what it was to kill something. I agree that there was probably a better way of doing it. But this is the path she chose to get her point of abortion across to someone.
Report Post »wilted6orchid
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 4:58pmWondering about your idea that it could have been a fetus of a cat…Hmm?! Have you ever seen a fetus? I’m not talking about a drawing of a fetus, those are influenced greatly by the liberal agenda. But where were you in Biology in highschool. Remember the the pig fetus…it didn’t look like a human fetus, just like a cat fetus doesn’t look like a human fetus.
Report Post »REBELWITHACAUSE
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:50pmI know this is a tad off-subject, but had to say my peace: While Bush has often been scoffed at due to his inability to speak well at times, and for some of his policies and beliefs, I admire the man tremendously and can’t wait to see the interview. People seem to forget, it’s God that places or allows a person to sit in a high seat of authority. It is quite possible that due to how he was raised, God saw him fit for the Presidency for his time, just as Obama is fit for the Presidency for THIS time right now… God is shaking the Nations… he’s using Obama to help move things along. God has a plan. The fact that Bush as a young person saw the fetus, had a lot to do with his belief that… yes, there was a life there, and it was lost. Maybe more children should grow up being taught that a fetus, from conception mind you, IS a life that has the potential to be born into God’s family and every one of us, from conception, is extremely precious to God. God will see to it that that fetus is raised from the dead just like you or I will be. How this will come about exacly, the Bible doesn’t say, but I have no doubt that God will make it happen with a wonderful miracle. While he may not have always made the best decisions for the country, or for the majority, he has stated many times over that he prays and asks for God’s help, and he reads his Bible. I have to wonder… has Obama ever done this? To him, is a fetus, from conception, a living being? Does he pray to the great God who created us, and does he look into God’s word for instruction and inspiration? I wonder………..
Report Post »Goohuman
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:48pmWell, it sounds like it will be quite the inside story as to how and why President Bush lead the way he did. I am particularly interested in the decision to use mixed assets early on in Afghanistan and the refocussing of forces to Iraq. Those seem like political interference in military operations to me.
Report Post »HUGGINGMYBABIES
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:44pmWow touching event. I don’t suspect at the time she meant it as a lesson, but its things like that in life that become a part of who we are in the end.
Report Post »joseph Fawcett
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:41pmProlife here, I don’t have to see a fetus to believe, just read Pslam 139
http://www.josephfawcettart.com western artist
Report Post »Masamune
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:40pmI never thought I’d say this, but I’ll actually be watching NBC tonight.
Report Post »eteme
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:39pmWell that is one way to do the trick…Geez..Barb.
Report Post »charliego
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:39pmYes, Barbara, You did right. Perhaps she should forward it (I know-just making a point here) to all ‘planned parenthood organizations’ to see what murder looks like up close and personal. These victims do not lie. Of course, there is a this law…………..
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:33pmBush’s mom got the message across. How can something have a beating heart and not be considered “alive”. Plants don’t have a heart, and they are alive. Is pulling a weed out by it‘s roots the same as pulling a fetus’ away from it’s root?
And no one talks enough about what a female goes through performing a murder. She has to live with that the rest of her life, and I guarantee you, it haunts them FOREVER.
Report Post »democratgirl
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 3:29pmI had an abortion many, many years ago, before it was legal. I did not know any better, and I regretted it even then. I continue to regret it and will until my death, even though I am a Christian. If someone has an abortion and they feel nothing, then they are either lying to you or they are just plain evil. I say the first one. They say it does not bother them, exactly as I did, but it will always. I was ashamed for many, many years. There is no reconciling the WHY of it except to say that abortion is man’s invention and that alone means GOD IS NOT IN IT and therefore, it is WRONG and unbiblical and therefore, IT IS SIN.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 5:28pmWonderful comment! Demgirl, our prayers are with you. I am so sorry you had to go through that, but atl least you have come to see the value of every life. For that you should be commended. Your words moved me. I wish the girls lined up at the abortion clinics could read them before they make the same mistake.
Report Post »floridaborn
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:29pmActually, if you mis-carry it is helpful for you to preserve all the tissue (yes, the fetus) to give to the pathologist so they can maybe determine the reason for the miscarriage – looking for genetic or blood abnormalities, birth detects, etc.
Report Post »Noodle
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:25pmWhy didn’t the family call an ambulance to the house when she was miscarrying?
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:34pmSometimes the babies are expelled quickly and there isnt time to call an ambulance. If that was the case there isn’t any point in tying up emercency services when she could just as easily be driven by a family member.
Report Post »Wendy in FL
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 2:02pmShe was probably still in the first trimester, which is when most miscarriages happen. At that point, though painful as hell, the miscarriage usually happens naturally on its own.
Report Post »LDSmommy
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 3:05pmWhen my friend miscarried, an ambulance was called, but they wouldn’t go out unless she was actively hemorrhaging. I’m sure it was the same way then. In reality, there’s not much going on physically that would necessitate a ambulance trip. Mentally maybe, because of the shock of it. And yes, she was asked to “preserve the fetus”. It was fully formed (at 12 wks) and shocking to me at such a young age (15). It made my mind up for me.
Report Post »Women should have to see an ultrasound and a model of the “fetus” before having an abortion. At least let them know what they’re actually doing.
sWampy
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 8:34am50 years ago, if they were still in the North East, an ambulance might have been an option, but if this was after they moved to Texas on their ranch, it would have taken 1/2 a day for an ambulance to get there.
Report Post »Alydia
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:22pmHeck, I’m still trying to figure out why granted Matt Liar an interview…..the first time he speaks out and it’s to NBC?????
Rogue
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:39pmI am glad he picked NBC first, actually. Maybe some of the liberals that watch will see that George is not what the lamestream media has made him out to be for the last decade.
Report Post »lookn4nrml
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:53pmWatching this interview right now I am thinking if Matt Lauer will be a tough interviewer of Obama ever? Also, Lauer and President Bush talked at the begining about the protesters at his inaugural parade. I was there and many of those protesters were paid-saw them line up and a lady in heels and trench coat with a clipboard was checking off names and handing out $$$. Soros $$$?? Failed Katrina response was the fault of the democratic LA governor and Mayor of NOLA-I agree.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:16pmThat is sad but people need to know that a fetus is a BABY.
Report Post »J. B.
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:11pmNo Seat Belts…lol…but who would give him a ticket…right?
barbaraw62
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 4:12pmStupid comment!
Report Post »zagfan
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:11pmTraumatic for both Mother and Son. If more people had to witness that, I think there would be many less abortions and hopefully, many less unwanted pregnancies.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:10pmBarbara Bush is an inspiring woman. The story she relates about her daughter Robin dying is heartbreaking. If you have never read a book about this lady, find one and you will be glad you read it.
Report Post »DogTags
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:08pmGood people do not disagree on this topic.
http://www.christianpost.com/blogs/liberty/2010/10/the-face-that-changes-everything-18/
Report Post »Mitsy
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:08pmI must say, even though I don‘t know much about Bush’s presidency (wasn’t paying attention much) I have always liked him as a person. He just seems like a cool, nice guy. I will be watching this interview.
Report Post »Ronko
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:08pmI hate his policies but I respect President Bush as a person. Abortion is a really nasty decision that shouldn’t be decided by politicians it should be decided by the individual you.
Report Post »T-ROCK
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 2:32pmThe problem with thinking that a woman should have the right to kill her baby is that women are not told the truth and educated on what is really inside them. They are told that it is not alive. It is just a glob of cells. That is a lie. Also, girls in school are totally pressured to kill thier babies by teachers etc. Sometimes without parental concent. You may not even know your daughter is pregnant until after planned parent hood takes her to get an abortion. I have 5 children and don’t ever try to convince me that it is just a glob of cells. The heart beats before 6 weeks. Why is it we have laws protecting animals and trees and not human beings? Let’s not forget that abortion is a multi million dollar business.
NickDeringer
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:08pmCan we take a survey here? How many women keep their miscarried babies in a jar?
Sorry guys, but this is creepy.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:16pmCreepy?
Report Post »Nature777
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:17pmAgreed…
Report Post »zagfan
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:20pmNickderinger…
She put it in a jar in order to take it to the hospital, it was lost at home. What would you prefer she carry it to the hospital in…he pocket book?
Report Post »gramma b
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:24pmIt’s not creepy. In the article it says she kept what had been expelled in order to take it to the doctor. You are supposed to do that, to make sure that there is nothing remaining inside that can cause serious problems.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:24pm“had to drive his distraught mother to the hospital at the time” it sounds to me like she had just miscarried and had a chance to teach her so a valuable, altho gruesome, lesson about life and death. What would any one do with a miscarried fetus, I wouldn’t know what to do with it besides take it to the hospital with me.
Report Post »TumbleBumble
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:24pmNo no… she wasn’t keeping it. She had put it in a jar to be taken to the hospital with her. I remember hearing, years ago, that you should bring the baby with you so they know if the baby was intact or if pieces were left behind that they have to look for and remove.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:30pm@zagfan
Report Post »“Barbara, preserving and showing a young George one of her miscarried fetuses.” How many did she have? If my wife just had a miscarriage I’d make her lie down and call an ambulance.
Fighting4America
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:38pmOlder generations think differently. It sounds to me like she had the miscarriage and brought the fetus with her to the hospital. Sorry guys women are tough and in those days they were as tough as nails. I would not call this creepy. That was her child that she carried. Creepy for you, very personal for her.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:44pmCreepy yes it is. As a chaplain I will not mention anything more on this subject, as my stance on the abortion debate is obvious.
Report Post »Wendy in FL
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:59pmWhen you miscarry – and I have had 2 – they ask you to bring it to the hospital so they can test it to determine what went wrong… was it chromosomal, something like an infection in the blood, etc. I seriously doubt she kept it. And she must have felt George was old enough and mature enough to understand what was going on.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 2:01pmdon‘t be so ig’nt. she had it with her to take to the ER so the Drs could see what was going on. smart lady. VERY smart lady to use the occasion to stress LIFE to her teeneage son. Good for her. Good for W to keep that imprinted in his mind too.
Report Post »Kisha
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 2:14pmCreepy, yes! And no… like many women have posted that fetus that was expelled it usually brought with them to the hospital. Although, it is not necessary. I personally had a mis-carriage. I had a very hard time with it. Especially seeing it. It was very difficult. I called my doctor and they said not to keep it. That it wasn’t necessary. So I guess it‘s just who’s doctor agree’s or not.
Report Post »But as in pro-life. I believe a good compromise to abortion would be to have the mother see the baby over an ultrasound before she aborts. It is powerful mental medician. I cried the first time I saw my baby (now 3) on the big screen. It’s amazing stuff!
Lovey
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 2:28pmNo, not creepy at all. As a woman who has miscarried several times (all but one at home), every doctor I’ve seen has asked me to save any remains to bring to the dr. office/hospital to see if they can find anything that may help them to find out what went wrong. It is agonizing, sad, and heartbreaking to see and hear about but that is life and we sometimes have to do things we don’t care to do simply with the hope in getting some answers.
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 2:50pmI’m surprised he would discuss this tragic and very personal event in public.
Report Post »henryclay
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 3:06pmNot creepy…..She is a TRUE honorable woman…
Report Post »democratgirl
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 3:17pmIt‘s strange because you don’t ever hear of such things, but I agree that it must be done to be sure everything is taken care of. However, POLITICO? No wonder his views on global politics is askewed. Politico is the worst place to read UNLESS you go to FoxNews first. Then, you may get it fair and balanced. But, gosh, POLITICO? Really? I don’t believe it. Georgie is really a progressive conservative people. He is pro-life, pro-God but believes in a one-world governance, which to me, is so anti-American that is screams FOUL, FOUL, FOUL. Does anyone else see this?
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 3:23pmSNOWLEOPARD there is no abortion issue. It was a miscarriage, she is not to be blamed or judged for the loss of her child.
Report Post »tierrah
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 4:11pmMaybe I read it wrong … but Bush said he had to drive his distraught Mother to the hospital (after viewing the jar containing the fetus). I can understand her emotional state at the time and perhaps the desire to preserve the fetus. It was at this particular time that she show it to President Bush was it not? I doubt very seriously that she kept her memorial after receiving psychiatric help (assuming it was psychiatric help that President Bush was seeking when he drove her to the hospital). I’d like to see Ms. Barbara in this light rather than in a derogatory way.
Report Post »suran
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 4:25pmShe miscarried at home. She kept the fetus to could bring it to the hospital so the doctors could examine it to perhaps determine the reason for her miscarriage. I guess you’ve never been a mother.
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 4:26pmThe Bush’s globalization plan sucks. Any globalization plan sucks.
Report Post »Mentoring1
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 4:36pmTo all my liberal eeeeeeeediot friends… This happen over 50 years ago when there we did not have 911, emergency medical teams (EMTs) or sterile containers for public use. You libs should really be concerned about what just happened on Tuesday and what’s coming in 2012.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 5:24pmShe had just miscarried and was taking it to the hospital. They need to see the fetus to help them tell why it was miscarried, etc. It is not creepy. It is the smart thing to do – espcially if you hope to give birth again. It could help prevent another miscarriage.
Report Post »Dakotobol
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 6:23pmThey did a lot of things different back then…that’s 70yrs ago..and since she had to physically retrieve it to show him at a young age…I’m sure it was well out of sight….hidden…..folks were different back then. and evidently it served a great purpose..having made 43 stronger in his conviction.
Report Post »vonlafin
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 6:29pmRead it again. If you miscarry, you are supposed to take the remains to the hospital with you to make sure it is all there. Nothing odd about that.
Report Post »tpartytx
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 8:53pmNot creepy, my mom also lost a fetus and showed it to me in a jar, I was also a teen then, now I’m 40ish and I am very pro-life.(female) I never thought it was creepy.
Report Post »naed5048
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 12:05amI’m just wondering why Bush is giving the MSM any attention. I would tell them to kiss my grits
Report Post »calijohn
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 12:10ambeyond creepy.
how long did she keep it?? matter of hours??
Report Post »libertylover55
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 12:20amnick
Report Post »B. Bush had miscarried at home and had put the fetus in the jar for the Dr. to check out. G.W. said he had to drive his mother to the hospital. That’s why she showed him the fetus. Anyway, that is what I got out of the article. Having miscarried myself, it all makes sense to me.
Detachment_Syllogism
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 12:56amShe was taking it to the hospital so the doctors could look at it and maybe gain insight as to why she miscarried. I wasn’t stored in the pantry so she could pull it out for show and tell some day.
Report Post »Robert W
Posted on November 9, 2010 at 3:44amIm 100% pro-life but thats a little too much info Bushy.
Report Post »