|
WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush knows he's unpopular. But here's what matters, he says: "I didn't compromise my soul to be a popular guy." In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News Channel, Bush also praised the national security team assembled by President-elect Barack Obama, offered hope to US automakers seeking government assistance and said the people of Illinois will have to sort out allegations that Gov. Rod Blagojevich sought kickbacks in choosing a successor for Obama's Senate seat.
A protestor hits another protestor, dressed in a George W. Bush costume, in the head with a shoe during a demonstration in front of the White House in Washington, December 17, 2008.
| Bush said presidents fail when they make decisions based on opinion polls.
"Look, everybody likes to be popular," said Bush.
"What do you expect? We've got a major economic problem and I'm the president during the major economic problem. I mean, do people approve of the economy? No. I don't approve of the economy. ... I've been a wartime president. I've dealt with two economic recessions now. I've had, hell, a lot of serious challenges. What matters to me is I didn't compromise my soul to be a popular guy."
A protestor, dressed in a US President George W. Bush costume, is covered with shoes during a demonstration in solidarity with the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush and with the tens of thousands of Iraqis killed in the war, in front of the White House in Washington, December 17, 2008. |
|
|