Bush Clinton: Haiti response not about politics
George W. Bush
Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton say the earthquake in Haiti offers a chance to put aside politics and help people in despair.
 Bush and Clinton appeared on five Sunday television talk shows as part of their effort to lead private fundraising efforts for Haitian relief  including immediate needs and the long-term rebuilding effort. President Barack Obama asked them to lead the bipartisan effort.
George W. Bush and Bill Clinton say the earthquake in Haiti offers a chance to put aside politics and help people in despair.
 Bush and Clinton appeared on five Sunday television talk shows as part of their effort to lead private fundraising efforts for Haitian relief  including immediate needs and the long-term rebuilding effort. President Barack Obama asked them to lead the bipartisan effort.
 "I'd say now is not the time to focus on politics " Bush said in an interview taped Saturday for CBS television's "Face the Nation" when the ex-presidents' visited the White House.
 "You've got people who are ... children who've lost parents. People wondering where they're going to be able to drink water " Bush said. "There's a great sense of desperation. And so my attention is on trying to help people deal with the desperation."
 Bush said that he doesn't know what critics are talking about when they claim Obama is trying to score political points with a broad response to Haiti's woes. The most vocal critic has been conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh who urged people not to donate and said he wouldn't trust that money donated to Haiti through the White House Web site would go to the relief efforts. He said people contribute enough by paying income taxes.
 Clinton said a disaster like the earthquake in Haiti "reminds us of our common humanity. It reminds us of needs that go beyond fleeting disagreements." He said political debate is healthy in normal times  but it would be perverse in a time of disaster to let politics get in the way of helping.
[TGT] say the earthquake in Haiti offers a chance to put aside politics and help people in despair.
 [TGT] appeared on five Sunday television talk shows as part of [TGT] effort to lead private fundraising efforts for Haitian relief  including immediate needs and the long-term rebuilding effort. President Barack Obama asked [TGT] to lead the bipartisan effort.
[TGT] say the earthquake in Haiti offers a chance to put aside politics and help people in despair.
 [TGT] appeared on five Sunday television talk shows as part of [TGT] effort to lead private fundraising efforts for Haitian relief  including immediate needs and the long-term rebuilding effort. President Barack Obama asked [TGT] to lead the bipartisan effort.
 "I'd say now is not the time to focus on politics [TGT] said in an interview taped Saturday for CBS television's "Face the Nation" when the ex-presidents' visited the White House.
 "You've got people who are ... children who've lost parents. People wondering where they're going to be able to drink water " [TGT] said. "There's a great sense of desperation. And so my attention is on trying to help people deal with the desperation.[TGT] said that [TGT] doesn't know what critics are talking about when they claim Obama is trying to score political points with a broad response to Haiti's woes. The most vocal critic has been conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh who urged people not to donate and said [TGT] wouldn't trust that money donated to Haiti through the White House Web site would go to the relief efforts. [TGT] said people contribute enough by paying income taxes.
 Clinton said a disaster like the earthquake in Haiti "reminds [TGT] of [TGT] common humanity. It reminds [TGT] of needs that go beyond fleeting disagreements." He said political debate is healthy in normal times  but it would be perverse in a time of disaster to let politics get in the way of helping.