Elder Bush asks home builders to help Afghans

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004 | 9:23 a.m.

Former President George Bush praised the National Association of Home Builders in Las Vegas Monday for helping millions of Americans to realize their dream of owning their own home.

Bush then challenged the association to make the same dream come true for thousands of Afghans.

"You've helped American families build safe, comfortable homes," Bush told the 10,000-plus people gathered for the opening ceremonies of the International Builders Show at The Orleans Arena. "I'd like you to help extend this dream to the people of Afghanistan."

Bush said thousands of "proud and freedom loving" Afghans were internally displaced from their homes or could not afford the housing that was available. He asked the association to help rebuild Afghanistan's private sector and infrastructure, a priority of the current President Bush's administration, but did not give any specific details on how.

The 41st president received an enthusiastic response from the audience, many of whom said afterward they supported giving aid to Afghanistan.

"Afghanistan has a tremendous need, not only for homes but for infrastructure, and I think the Home Builders Association can be a part of that," Kent Conine, association president, said after the keynote.

The call for aid was one of the few political statements in the light-hearted keynote speech, which followed an hour and a half presentation by former Rep. Guy Vander Jagt, R-Mich., on the "Magic of America." The presentation included several song and dance numbers by the Glendora, Calif.-based Citrus College Singers as Vander Jagt tried to explain what drew early immigrants to America.

Vander Jagt presentation honored America's leaders, its soldiers, its children, its sports heroes, its freedoms and its generosity, but he concluded the magic of America was that anyone could pursue the dream of owning his own home.

"What is the magic of America? It's in your hands," Vander Jagt said to the home builders. "You are the builders of the homes that are the heart of the American dream."

Bush echoed this sentiment throughout his speech, praising the value of family and friends that make a home.

The former president spent most of his half hour at the podium entertaining the crowd by cracking jokes, reminiscing about his presidency and taking affectionate jabs at his wife, Barbara, and his political sons, including Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

In comparing retirement to the presidency, Bush said no one praises his golf game anymore and lamented that few people wanted to protest his actions.

"The meager amount of demonstrators I get are beneath the majesty of the office I once held," Bush said, calling protests an important part of the the American system.

Bush recalled one protest in San Francisco during his term. "The ugliest woman I've ever seen" came up to his black limousine as his motorcade drove past.

"She held a sign that said, 'Stay out of my womb.' "I thought, 'No problem, lady.' "

Bush also lamented that no one has forgotten he once threw up on the prime minister of Japan and that the only person who misses him in Washington is his most famous imitator, "Saturday Night Live" alumnus Dana Carvey.

Bush said he does not miss dealing with Washington press corps, adding that he was forced to join "Press Bashers Anonymous" after he publicly blasted the New York Times during his presidency.

"I was clean until the votes started to be counted in Florida," he said.

Bush, who spent a few minutes defending the economy back when he lost his 1992 re-election to Bill Clinton's "it's the economy, stupid" campaign, said he succeeded in not criticizing or giving advice to Clinton's administration.

"I've had to work harder to follow that policy with the current administration," Bush said, noting that his son rarely asks his advice. "Barbara doesn't even try. We call her the Bush enforcer."

There were a few other jabs at his political sons, but mostly Bush praised all of his children.

"The three most important titles I have held is father, grandfather and husband," Bush said.

The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based trade association representing more than 215,000 members in all aspects of residential and light commercial construction.

The conference runs through Thursday.