Five Former US Presidents Call For Unity, Bipartisanship At Historic Hurricane Fundraiser

Five Former US Presidents Call For Unity, Bipartisanship At Historic Hurricane Fundraiser

A presidential love-in took place on a stage in Texas last night as former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George HW and George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama gathered to raise money for the areas ravaged by the latest hurricanes.

The former Commanders-in-Chief heaped praise on each other despite their political differences and called for unity and bipartisanship in tackling the issues facing areas trying to recover in the southeastern US as well as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

However, one man was notably absent from the gathering – the sitting president Donald Trump. It is unclear whether Trump was invited to the event but he did not take to the stage and instead recorded a short video message that was shown earlier in the evening. In it Trump praised the work of his predecessors he called some of America’s finest public servants.

His kind words were not met with kindess in return.  None of the other politicians addressed Trump in their speeches – and refused to mention him altogether.

It comes after George W Bush caused a stir with his comments targeting Trumpism.  He was joined on stage with his father George H W, who at 93 appeared in a wheelchair at the event.

 

The concert featured the country music band Alabama, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer ‘Soul Man’ Sam Moore, gospel legend Yolanda Adams and Texas musicians Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen.

Carter was the first to address the audience. He touted Americans’ volunteerism while urging the public to donate to Habitat for Humanity, an organization that helps build homes for the poor.

Clinton also addressed the crowd, praising his predecessor in the Oval Office, George HW Bush.

‘When President George HW Bush was trying to persuade the Congress to pass one of his noblest endeavors, the Americans with Disabilities Act, he said: “Our problems are great, but the heart of America is greater,” Clinton said.

‘That’s what we’re here to celebrate. We were all citizens – even us – before we were politicians.

‘After our time was up we became citizens again. We’ve been volunteering since before our Constitution, when Benjamin Franklin organized the first volunteer fire department in Philadelphia.

‘Our neighbors [and] our friends have gotten an enormous amount of sweat equity from all these volunteers and a lot of money.

‘But make no mistake about it – these were grievous storms back to back.

‘There is still work to be done in Texas and in Florida and our friends in Puerto Rico and the American Virgin Islands have only begun to dig their way out of what could be still a calamitous disaster, but it can be a new beginning if we just do what we ought to do and prove that the heart of America – without regard to race or religion or political party – is greater than our problems.’

The next to address the crowd was Obama, who received the loudest ovation from the audience.

Obama said that the storms and the response brought out the best in America.

‘All of us on this stage tonight could not be prouder of the response of Americans,’ the 44th president said.

‘When they see their neighbors, when they see their friends, when they see strangers in need, Americans step up.

‘As heartbreaking as the tragedies that took place here in Texas and in Florida and in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have been, what we’ve also seen in the spirit of America at its best.

‘When ordinary people step up and do extraordinary things, the One America Appeal is part of that process.’

Obama also praised George HW Bush, calling him ‘an outstanding American, somebody who has always shown grace and character and courage and served America nobly throughout the years.’

‘We are so proud to be here with him today,’ Obama said. ‘He sets an example for all of us, as does First Lady Barbara Bush.’