Because Blood is Thicker Than Oil

October 21, 2004 1:19 AM

Bush Relatives for Kerry grew out of a series of conversations that took place between a group of people that have two things in common: they are all related to George Walker Bush, and they are all voting for John Kerry. As the election approaches, we feel it is our responsibility to speak out about why we are voting for John Kerry, and to do our small part to help America heal from the sickness it has suffered since George Bush was appointed President in 2000. We invite you to read our stories, and please, don't vote for our cousin!
posted by jackspace (10 comments total)

Well, according to this family tree, they even trace back to a common set of ancestors, so it wouldn't surprise me if some Kerry cousins were fans of Bush.
posted by mathowie at 1:23 AM on October 21, 2004

Given the 50/50 split of the country this is not suprising. More propaganda-ish. If it was some one who knows him well and had personal insights like a brother or sister it would be diffrent.
posted by stbalbach at 3:43 AM on October 21, 2004

Somebody like Yoshi Tsurumi, one of Bush's B-School professors, perhaps?

"[Bush] showed pathological lying habits and was in denial when challenged on his prejudices and biases. He would even deny saying something he just said 30 seconds ago. He was famous for that. Students jumped on him; I challenged him." When asked to explain a particular comment, said Tsurumi, Bush would respond, "Oh, I never said that."

(Salon link, summary and excerpts here.)
posted by Zonker at 4:25 AM on October 21, 2004

Did anyone else see the Bush/House family tree on the site? Those people have a LOT of children for Episcopalians.
posted by Mayor Curley at 4:42 AM on October 21, 2004

Don't forget about Moonies for Bush!

And then there's the Communist ex-KGB Leaders for Bush!

And, before it expires, let us consider the Axis of Evil Ayatollahs for Bush!

Hey, with friends like that, who needs family?
posted by nofundy at 4:49 AM on October 21, 2004

So 5 of his second cousins don't like him. Not to discourage them from trying to do something good, but they ought to do some recruiting at family reunions.
posted by orange swan at 5:45 AM on October 21, 2004

Posted as a comment in this thread ... but warms my Kerry-supporting heart to see it again...
posted by limitedpie at 7:07 AM on October 21, 2004

Don't forget Bush and Kerry are Cousins. Ninth Cousins, twice removed, actually.
posted by b1tr0t at 12:47 PM on October 21, 2004

Nader's Raiders for Kerry.
posted by psmealey at 8:38 PM on October 21, 2004

Jeanny House used to be my church's associate pastor, and a babysitter for my brother's kids. She wasn't one bit happy about being his cousin. According to the Boston Globe's story, it was her sign-waving that inspired the site, when another cousin heard about it. Jeanny has certainly, in her career and in activism, done plenty to improve the world in other ways, so I think she is entitled to speak out in any way she chooses.

I don't know that it's important, of course, that a relative thinks poorly of another relative. It's just another version, really, of those ads that are often run in presidential campaigns (any this time? I don't have a TV) showing people in the candidate's home town running the candidate down. I'm quite sure the Republicans ran them for Mondale and Dukakis, but I don't remember any more recently than that. A data point that may influence some.

By the way, she is a second cousin of George H.W. Bush, technically making her a second cousin once removed (i.e. one generation off) of Dubya.

orange swan: the article says:
Personal ties between this generation of the House family and the Bush family are minimal. As the House children grew up in Windsor, Conn., the Bush family was reestablishing itself in Texas. Hilary House and her two cousins attended the 1989 inauguration of the current president's father, and met him at a private family luncheon there, according to Hilary House. Both Sheila and Chris House had met George H.W. Bush briefly when they were younger.

''I can't describe us as particularly close to the Bush family," said Sheila House. ''I've never met George W. Bush and don't particularly care to."

The previous generation of the House family was much closer to the Bushes.

Francis House was friendly with George Bush senior when they were growing up, his children said. Both attended Yale, as did the current President Bush. Though Francis House shared his family's decidedly liberal political views, he voted for Ronald Reagan after the elder Bush was selected as Reagan's vice-presidential nominee, and for his cousin during his successful 1988 presidential race.
posted by dhartung at 12:51 AM on October 22, 2004