DAYTON, Ohio — Former President George W. Bush said Thursday he’s enjoying being away from politics and won’t get involved in current debates about his successor or Washington.
“I will not be criticizing President (Barack) Obama,” Bush told a Veterans Day tribute audience. “As a matter of fact, we wish him well. We’re all Americans, and we want to succeed.”
He said he didn’t miss Washington, “all the politics, all the name calling, . . . the spitballs.”
But he told the crowd of about 1,500, many of them veterans, at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in southwest Ohio that he does miss serving as commander in chief.
With interviews and speeches, Bush has been promoting his newly released memoir, “Decision Points.” He focused his speech Thursday on parts of the book dealing with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the support and inspiration he drew from wounded warriors, families of those killed during his presidency, and the military.
“America is a magnificent country that produces patriots,” he said.
He offered thanks to those who have served in the military, “on behalf of a grateful nation,” and smiled as he said: “I’ve really come to praise the veterans, not to sell my book. But if I sell a couple of copies, that’s OK, too.”
Charlie Crall, a mailman from nearby Medway, Ohio, said he mainly just wanted to see Bush and hadn’t planned to buy the book. But he said he decided to buy it after hearing excerpts and seeing some of Bush’s interviews.
“From what I’m hearing, he speaks candidly,” said Crall, 55. “I think it will be good reading.”
