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Kanye West Insult Worst Moment of George W. Bush Presidency, Says George W. Bush

As dawn rises on the results of the Republican tidal wave that swept through Election Day, let's all go back to a similar time period: George W. Bush's presidency. A time when 9/11 happened, the Iraq war started, Hurricane Katrina struck, the war in Afghanistan started and the country was guided straight into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. With so many lows to choose from, what does the former president say was the worst moment of his two terms in the White House? That time when Kanye West called him a racist, of course!

In his new memoir, Decision Points, Bush cites Kanye's infamous "George Bush doesn't care about black people" ab-lib* during the Hurricane Katrina telethon as rock-bottom. Here's his pre-taped interview with Matt Lauer, which is scheduled to air on Monday:

"He called me a racist," Bush tells Lauer. "And I didn't appreciate it then. I don't appreciate it now. It's one thing to say, 'I don't appreciate the way he's handled his business.' It's another thing to say, 'This man's a racist.' I resent it, it's not true."

Lauer quotes from Bush's new book: "Five years later I can barely write those words without feeling disgust." Lauer adds, "You go on: 'I faced a lot of criticism as President. I didn't like hearing people claim that I lied about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction or cut taxes to benefit the rich. But the suggestion that I was racist because of the response to Katrina represented an all-time low.'

President Bush responds: "Yeah. I still feel that way as you read those words. I felt 'em when I heard 'em, felt 'em when I wrote 'em and I felt 'em when I'm listening to 'em.

Lauer: "You say you told Laura at the time it was the worst moment of your Presidency?"

Bush: "Yes. My record was strong I felt when it came to race relations and giving people a chance. And it was a disgusting moment."

Lauer: "I wonder if some people are going to read that, now that you've written it, and they might give you some heat for that. And the reason is this -- "

Bush [interrupting]: "Don't care."

Lauer: "Well, here's the reason. You're not saying that the worst moment in you're Presidency was watching the misery in Louisiana. You're saying it was when someone insulted you because of that."

Bush: "No, and I also make it clear that the misery in Louisiana affected me deeply as well. There's a lot of tough moments in the book. And it was a disgusting moment, pure and simple."

Obviously, Bush is going to be raked over the coals for this, which is yet another example of him putting blinders on his time as Commander in Chief. (Remember when he couldn't think of one thing he would have done differently?) But, you can actually slightly understand where Bush is coming from. As president, being criticized about your policies, politics and response to crisis is part of the job description; being personally called a racist by a major icon on a nationally televised stage, is not.

You almost feel for the guy...until you remember Barack Obama is called far worse on a daily basis (Communist, Socialist, Manchurian Candidate, etc.) and Bush was president on Sept. 11, 2001. Good try, though, George.

(*Is Mike Myers' face during that clip ever not funny?)

ยท George Bush really does not 'appreciate' Kanye West's Katrina criticism: 'The worst moment of my Presidency' [EW via Vulture]