Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Former President George W. Bush described the modern-day GOP as \u201cisolationist, protectionist, and to a certain extent, nativist\u201d in an interview Tuesday that was packed with implicit criticism of the most recent Republican president. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not exactly my vision\u201d for the party, Bush told NBC\u2019s \u201cToday\u201d show in a rare live TV appearance. \u201cBut, you know, I\u2019m just an old guy they put out to pasture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, Bush remained hopeful that a more moderate Republican \u2014 one who supported reasonable gun reform measures, increased public school funding and a path to citizenship for undocumented workers, among other measures \u2014 could succeed in the party\u2019s 2024 presidential primary.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think if the emphasis is integrity and decency and trying to work to get problems solved, I think the person has a shot,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Bush, who was on hand to welcome 30 new U.S. citizens from 17 different countries during a naturalization ceremony on Rockefeller Plaza, also decried the divisive rhetoric that has surrounded the immigration debate in Washington \u2014 and reached new levels of hostility under former President Donald Trump. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful country we have. And yet, it\u2019s not beautiful when we condemn [and] call people names and scare people about immigration,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s an easy issue to frighten some of the electorate. And I\u2019m trying to have a different kind of voice.\u201d<\/p>\n