The Question George W. Bush 'Quietly Asked' Dana Perino That She ‘Waited a Beat’ to Answer

President George W. Bush was hurt he was not included in the 2008 Republican Convention, Dana Perino writes in her new book "And the Good News Is."

Perino, who served as press secretary under Bush, wrote that there was a sense the McCain-Palin campaign "was stalling to make a decision" whether or not to include Bush "until it was too late for us to leave in time."

Bush did address the convention by satellite, but did not appear in person.

Former U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush take in the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim game on July 31, 2012 at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas. (Photo: Getty Images)

"So instead of addressing the GOP that night, the President gave a short statement on hurricane preparedness" as Hurricane Gustav approached, the former White House press secretary wrote.

Perino wrote that at the end of the statement, Bush noticed a live shot of the convention.

He quietly asked, 'Do you think they know they're insulting me?'

I waited a beat, looking at the screen with him.

'Yes, sir. I believe they do.'

Perino wrote that as they locked eyes she remembered "feeling angry on his behalf and yet so close to him that I gave up caring about the campaign at all anymore."

Perino's book was released earlier this week and documents the years she served as the White House press secretary. While promoting it Tuesday, she made news after she called Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid the most "poisonous figure" in Washington, D.C.

(H/T: Time)

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