Jenna Bush Ducks Iraq, Talks Engagement

In Book-Promoting Interview, First Daughter Avoids Iraq Questions, Discusses Her Romantic Engagement Story

(AP)  Jenna Bush said her "boyfriend" - she doesn't like the word "fiance" - proposed after rousting her at 4 a.m. to go hiking on Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park in Maine.

"It's supposedly where the sun first hits the United States," President Bush's daughter said in a television interview about her recent engagement to her longtime boyfriend, Henry Hager.

"I did not want to go hiking at 4 in the morning," she said. "It was freezing. But we got up, and we hiked in the dark for an hour and a half, and then when we got towards the top, with the sunrise, he asked me."

In an interview that will be broadcast Friday on ABC News' "20/20," Jenna Bush, a 25-year-old elementary school teacher, described Hager as "smart," a "hard worker," "open-minded," "fun" and "very supportive."

Hager, 29, who has been a White House aide and worked on Bush's re-election campaign, will be returning to school this fall to complete his master's degree in business administration at the University of Virginia. He has an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University.

"He's extremely outdoorsy," she said. "If he could spend every day outside, he would. He's very into the environment, and he was as a child. He hiked a lot. And so, now he's trying to find a job where he can support the environment and, and be outdoors."

Jenna Bush agreed to an interview with Diane Sawyer to promote her new book, "Ana's Story." The nonfiction book is based on the life of a 17-year-old Latin American mother infected with HIV. She met the mother while working for UNICEF, teaching in four countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

"My job for UNICEF was to document the lives of kids living in exclusion, which means, you know, in extreme poverty, living with HIV AIDS, living in abusive households, kids that don't have access to school or medical care," she said.

On other issues, Jenna Bush ducked a question about whether she agreed with her father about the war in Iraq, but she said she understood critics who argue that she and her twin sister, Barbara, should serve in Iraq.

"Obviously I understand that question and see what the point of that question is for sure. I think there are many ways to serve your country. I think ... what's most appropriate for me to do is to teach or to work in UNICEF and represent our country in Latin America."

When asked who was the child in the White House she always thought she'd want to emulate, she replied Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former President Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., a Democratic presidential candidate.

"I think Chelsea Clinton is, is very kind and, um, smart and articulate," she said.

"She's always been very friendly to us, but we just wanted to be ourselves, but she was, she's beautiful and poised all the time."

[geezer62]

Let me start by saying that I despise George Bush and his policies that have put this country in a terrible place. I believe he is the sorriest excuse for a leader that I have ever seen. Having said that, I feel it is wrong to attack his children. I remember when President Clinton was in the White House, Rush Limbaugh attacked his daughter, Chelsey, who was 12 years old at the time refering to her as the white house dog. I thought that was very wrong and how could I feel that and approve of any attacks on bush''s kids. We need to hold bush responsible but let''s lighten up on his kids.

[agnim]

"Posted by geezer62 at 02:25 PM : Sep 27, 2007"

There is a HUGE difference between a 12-year old CHILD then,
and an ADULT NOW who could influence, and HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND PATRIOTIC OBLIGATION, to influence his genocidal mass murdering dad to STOP THE IRAQI SLAUGHTER, even to SAVE AMERICAN LIVES!

Chelsey was a CHILD at 12!

This daughter of a warmonger and a witch IS AN ADULT!

Americans have been SACRIFICED and dying senselessly in Iraq.

Every ADULT American has a PATRIOTIC DUTY to help stem the national bleeding; that includes the presidents ADULT offspring!

[shingles1]

"He''s extremely outdoorsy," she said. "If he could spend every day outside, he would. He''s very into the environment, and he was as a child. He hiked a lot. And so, now he''s trying to find a job where he can support the environment and, and be outdoors."

I believe that there''re a lot of "outdoors" in Iraq. Maybe he could spend a little patriotic time there serving his country.

[toldyouso21]

He''s extremely outdoorsy," she said. "If he could spend every day outside, he would. He''s very into the environment, and he was as a child. He hiked a lot. And so, now he''s trying to find a job where he can support the environment and, and be outdoors."

Hypothetically Jenna...if you and he were in Iraq--do you think his "outdoorsyness" could help you and him avoid IEDs that were planted, or would you and him be blown up into little bitty pieces before you could make it back to the Green Zone?

[toldyouso21]

We need to hold bush responsible but let''''s lighten up on his kids. Posted by geezer62 at 02:25 PM : Sep 27, 2007

How about we lighten up on his kids--when America lightens up on Iraq''s kids? After all a few words about the Bush girls is nothing compared to being raped by a lot of American soldiers, then being shot and having your body and entire family set on fire.

Fair is fair--trust me--Jenna would much prefer our words to the reality her daddy created for the kids of Iraq.

[homespunlady]

Let''s hope that those daughters DO convince their father of the FOLLY of his ways.

Wouldn''t be the FIRST time that a son or daughter chose a far different path in life than their parents.

I wondered about that when I watched one of his inaugurations.
One daughter seemed to be the prim and proper political daughter and the other looked miserable and almost embarrassed.

Whatever was going on in the background with them, it was a much more interesting sight than their father.

[kansas1946]

"He''s extremely outdoorsy," she said. "If he could spend every day outside, he would. He''s very into the environment, and he was as a child. He hiked a lot. And so, now he''s trying to find a job where he can support the environment and, and be outdoors."
********************
Well, he can''t be too smart if he supports the enviornment, and yet, worked on the Bush campaign. Sounds a little conflicted to me.

[michellem99-2009]

I am a Mainer and EASRPORT MAINE IS THE FIRST TO SEE THE SUN RISE IN THE US OF A. Lovely park Acadia National Park.
Is this the Bush girl who wore jeans to the Queen''s dinner in the UK and had to eat in the kitchen...She can''t talk sense in that father of hers. He won''t listen anyway..toldyouso21 dear yer duty is to raise yer children to be good American boys and girls. If they are then they won''t bring sorrow to yer heart. I hate preditors. I never had any. I don''t think Miss Bush would care as she is too good to raise her paw to join the military and I can''t due to being 53 and handicapped.

[iceman_1960]

"Jenna Bush Ducks Iraq, Talks Engagement"

As a dedicated Bush-basher, I found this headline unfair.

It''s not up to Jenna Bush to defend the war or to serve in it.

How many Presidential Daughters have served in combat in American history ?

I don''t even have to look that answer up.

If she was out there screaming "Stay the Course, Don''t Cut and Run !!" all the time, that would be different. But she isn''t.

She seems like a nice young woman.

[iceman_1960]

"When asked who was the child in the White House she always thought she''d want to emulate, she replied Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former President Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., a Democratic presidential candidate."

Patti Davis and Michael Reagan were both heartsick when they heard that.

[Just kidding]

[iceman_1960]

I just saw an old rerun of Jimmy Carter''s daughter Amy, being interviewed by the late Mike Reynolds, at the time her ffather was President.

She looked like she was about 8 years old, and she was making very intelligent comments about geopolitics and her father''s policies.

Very amusing and endearing.

[zootallures2]

"When asked who was the child in the White House she always thought she''d want to emulate..."

How about Nixon? Chelsea!! Arrrrg... hey, how about Bill? He was big child... big bubba cigar....LOL

[iceman_1960]

UPDATE:

"In September 1996, Amy Carter married computer consultant James Gregory Wentzel, whom she had met while attending Tulane. Ms. Carter chose not to be "given away," stating that she "belonged to no one." Ms. Carter and Mr. Wentzel both kept their own family names. The couple moved to the Atlanta area, where they have focused on raising their son Hugo James Wentzel (born July 29, 1999). Since the late 1990s, Carter has maintained a low profile, neither participating in public protests, nor granting interviews; she is a board member of the Carter Center that advocates human rights and diplomacy as established by her father."

- Wikipedia

[iceman_1960]

"While in the White House, Amy Carter had a Siamese cat named "Misty Malarky Ying Yang", who would be the last cat to occupy the White House until Socks, owned by Bill Clinton."

[Same Source]

Little Known Fact:

The current Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Malarky, was named in honor of Amy''s cat.

[iceman_1960]

"Jenna Bush... said she understood critics who argue that she and her twin sister, Barbara, should serve in Iraq. "Obviously I understand that question... I think there are many ways to serve your country. I think ... what''s most appropriate for me to do is to teach or to work in UNICEF and represent our country in Latin America."

Jenna Bush "is currently teaching at a shelter several days a week as part of an internship for UNICEF''s Educational Policy Department in Latin America, specifically in Panama." [Wikipedia]

This nice young woman''s answer is a lot more credible than Willard (Mitt) Romney''s vapid comment that his sons were "serving their country" by working on his campaign "because they think I''ll be a great president."

[By the way, Willard, that isn''t why they''re working on your campaign. They''re working on your campaign because you''re their Dad. That''s why, Willard.]

[iceman_1960]

By the way, Jenna Bush''s plans to be a teacher in Panama, given the level of kidnapping and other forms of terrorist activity in Latin America, shows a high level of courage for a controversial President''s daughter, even with a lot of Secret Service protection.

[iceman_1960]

"Jenna Bush... said in a television interview about her recent engagement to her longtime boyfriend, Henry Hager."

Jenna Bush had six previous boyfriends that she dumped in favor of Henry Hager.

Their supporters are planning protest marches for the "Jenna 6".

[jsmithcsa]

Why would anybody ask Jenna Bush about Iraq? It''s bad enought we ask moronic actors those questions -- now we''re going to grill elementary school teachers? Can someone show me which questions Chelsea was asked, or has the press completely abandoned the appearance of impartiality?

Gimme a break, AP -- there must be someone working for you who''s not an ideologue that can question someone about a book without yielding to BDS.

[iceman_1960]

"...Can someone show me which questions Chelsea was asked..."
- Posted by JSmithCSA at 07:35 AM : Sep 28, 2007

For as many as ask, receive.

"November 11, 2001

Chelsea Clinton speaks about Sept. 11 terror attacks

For the first time, the 21-year-old student shares her feelings about the attacks and the impact they have had on her life."

St. Petersburg Times

Link:

http://www.sptimes.com/News/111101/news_pf/Worldandnation/Chelsea_Clinton_speak.shtml

[iceman_1960]

From the story:

Chelsea Clinton on 9/11:

"Once we stopped running, I started praying. I prayed for my country and my city. I stopped berating the tax cut and started praying that the president would rise to lead us. And I thanked God my mother was a senator representing New York and that Rudy Giuliani was our mayor. I have never reacted more viscerally to a leader, particularly not to one I had been criticizing just the day before for some insensitivity or other..."

Presumably it was not Hillary she was referring to, as one she had been criticizing for insensitivity.

[rational_1]

Why would anybody ask Jenna Bush about Iraq? It''''s bad enought we ask moronic actors those questions -- now we''''re going to grill elementary school teachers? Can someone show me which questions Chelsea was asked, or has the press completely abandoned the appearance of impartiality?
Posted by JSmithCSA at 07:35 AM : Sep 28, 2007

Personally, I''d be much more interested in Chelsea''s opinion of b***jobs - especially as a practice between older men in power and their subordinates in the workplace. Then she can tell me what she thinks of the situation in Iraq.

[iceman_1960]

"Why would anybody ask Jenna Bush about Iraq?"

I hear you, man.

It''s bad enough they ask her father about Iraq.

[toldyouso21]

By the way, Jenna Bush''''s plans to be a teacher in Panama, given the level of kidnapping and other forms of terrorist activity in Latin America, shows a high level of courage for a controversial President''''s daughter, even with a lot of Secret Service protection. Posted by Iceman_1960 at 06:23 AM : Sep 28, 2007


Hardly. My husband goes to Panama a lot on business--everything from picking him up at the airport, where he eats, shops, etc are in protected enclaves or "gated areas" solely for Panama''s privileged. Even at restaurants, the patrons are each surrounded by body guards and armed men and the locals are kept a distance from any place money is. The only children Jenna will be teaching will probably be those in those protected enclaves. Because most of the rest live in and around garbage heaps and do not attend any school. For Jenna to be at risk--she would have to actually go among the people---not likely any white, blonde headed woman would do in Panama--no matter who her daddy is.

[iceman_1960]

"The only children Jenna will be teaching will probably be those in those protected enclaves. Because most of the rest live in and around garbage heaps and do not attend any school."
- Posted by toldyouso21 at 09:32 AM : Sep 28, 2007

She will be working for UNESCO. She''s currently teaching in a shelter as training for that.

I don''t know that much about UNESCO, but I didn''t think they just catered to the elites of various countries. They claim they want to reach out to all populations in a country.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unesco

[iceman_1960]

RE: "She will be working for UNESCO."

NO !!!!

UNICEF.

"[Jenna Bush] is currently teaching at a shelter several days a week as part of an internship for UNICEF''s Educational Policy Department in Latin America, specifically in Panama."

UNICEF: "Headquartered in New York City, UNICEF provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries."

So FOR SURE Jenna Bush will not be teaching the offspring of the wealthy in elitist enclaves.

She''ll be going among the poor.




[How did I manage to get that wrong ????]

[lostcountry1]

i think jenna is actually jeb bush''s daughter.compare their pictures side by side and you''ll see what i mean. as for this story, who cares about this spoiled offspring of the worst president in history. hanging out in panama would explain why bushit cares more for hispanics, than americans.

[gunnerv1]

I didn''t know we elected Jenna Bush.