GEORGE W. BUSH
When asked if John McCain is more qualified than him to be president:
“No, he’s not. … He can say that he’s been a United States senator in Washington, D.C., for a period of time. … I think I’ve been called upon to lead, and I have done so.”
That was then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush on the “Today” show on Jan. 26, 2000. This was now-departing President George W. Bush at the GOP convention Tuesday:
“We need a president who understands the lessons of Sept. 11, 2001: that to protect America, we must stay on the offense, stop attacks before they happen and not wait to be hit again. The man we need is John McCain. … I know the hard choices that fall solely to a president. John McCain’s life has prepared him to make those choices.”
Bush added: “He is ready to lead this nation.”
