George W. Bush, Bill Clinton asked to help with Haiti relief by President Obama

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President Obama has reached out to former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to help with U.S. relief efforts in Haiti.

Enlisting ex-presidents’ help in responding to a natural disaster is just what Bush did in 2004 after a tsunami ripped across Asia. Back then, it was Clinton and President George H.W. Bush who assisted in relief efforts.

Obama thought Bush’s decision to mobilize the former presidents was a good one, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. Obama called George W. Bush and Clinton on Wednesday to discuss their involvement; details will be announced in the coming days....

... Gibbs said the Obama administration’s criticism of Bush’s actions during the response to Hurricane Katrina were irrelevant.

‘I think if you asked George Bush whether the government acted up to its ability in responding to Katrina, I think the answer to that would be ‘no,’’ Gibbs said. ‘The actions that were taken to deal with the humanitarian crisis from the tsunami, on the other hand, I think worked quite well.’

-- Associated Press

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