Did Laura Bush Just Say She'd Rather Vote for Hillary Clinton Than for Any GOP Candidate?

Impact

Excuse us, Laura Bush, life companion to our most recent Republican president, what was that you just said? Was it that you'd maybe rather vote for Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton than for any of your party's current candidates? According to the Telegraph, that was the takeaway from comments the former first lady made at New York's Women in the World summit last week.

Read more: A Photo of Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush Sharing a Warm Embrace Has Everybody Talking

"I want our next president — whoever he or she might be — to be somebody who is interested in women in Afghanistan and who will continue U.S. policies ... that we continue to do what we're committed to do as a country," Bush said.

"That's who I want — or the kind of people that will do that and will pay attention to our history, and know what's what's happened before and know specifically how we can continue to do the good things that we do around the world," she continued.

Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Reading between the lines, one might conclude that Bush — who, according to the Telegraph, was "raised a Democrat but generally keeps her views to herself to avoid embarrassing her husband" — is a DL Clinton supporter. 

Consider the field: GOP frontrunner Donald Trump would break with many U.S. policies. His position on President Bush's decision to send troops into Afghanistan is unclear, but his misogynist view on women suggests that while he might be interested in women, President Trump wouldn't have their best interests in mind. So, not him, then.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is another viable contender for the Republican nomination. Afghanistan and U.S. policy aside, Cruz cannot claim any legitimate interest in women, whom he would strip of their access to reproductive health services. And while Ohio Gov. John Kasich probably isn't going to make it to the general election, his "quiet campaign" against women's health care would similarly disqualify him from the first lady's ballot.

So it comes down to Clinton or her opponent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Clinton supports Planned Parenthood and Planned Parenthood supports Clinton. She would continue Obama's plan to keep up a U.S. presence in Afghanistan. Sanders would as well, but he hasn't worked with Bush specifically in the interests of Afghan women, as Clinton has. The more experienced, White House-approved Clinton seems to be behind the former first lady's veiled reference.

Again, Bush hasn't stated her explicit support for any candidate in particular, so perhaps this is all wishful thinking. But if we take her comments at face value, it sounds like Clinton would be her pick — which is very interesting indeed.  

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h/t Washington Times