Chris Matthews, his wife and his parents arrived at the White House and President George H. Bush, not waiting to greet them formally in a receiving line, came down the steps and personally escorted his mother inside the White House



Chris Matthews, his wife and his parents arrived at the White House and President George H. Bush, not waiting to greet them formally in a receiving line, came down the steps and personally escorted his mother inside the White House

President George W. Bush's mother Monday came to Montgomery County to energize Republicans to get voters out on Nov. 2 to support her son's re-election bid.

[Excerpt]

Speaking directly to the senior citizens in the audience, the former first lady also said the president will not forget seniors, adding that she and the former president, both who are in their 80s, are among those "who are getting into that category."

Seniors will hear "a lot of outrageous" allegations from Democrats in the upcoming week, including charges that her son intends to wreck Social Security and Medicare, Bush said.

"These are absolutely untrue," said Bush. "This is going to be a rough and tumble next eight days and the president really needs you - your support, your vote - as much as we need him," Bush told a standing, cheering audience.

While waiting for the former first lady's arrival, Montgomery County Commissioners Chairman James R. Matthews used the time to share with the audience his family's personal experience with the elder Bushes to give the audience some insight into the family of the current president.

The elder Bushes invited Matthew's older brother, MSNBC political talk show host Chris Matthews, and his wife to a White House dinner.

His brother declined, explaining his parents would be in town, Matthews said. The White House called back and told him to bring his parents with him. Again, Chris Matthews declined, explaining his mother, who has since died, suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

Barbara Bush then called Chris Matthews back, telling him to bring his parents to the dinner. Finally accepting the invitation, Chris Matthews, his wife and his parents arrived at the White House and President George H. Bush, not waiting to greet them formally in a receiving line, came down the steps and personally escorted his mother inside the White House, Matthews said.

"That is the type of people the Bushes are," he said.

When this story was posted in November 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference. RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls. Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate. Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

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Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before. Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security.

Schwarzenegger praises PC at Convention Governor Schwarzenegger praised the Peace Corps at the Republican National Convention: "We're the America that sends out Peace Corps volunteers to teach village children." Schwarzenegger has previously acknowledged his debt to his father-in-law, Peace Corps Founding Director Sargent Shriver, for teaching him "the joy of public service" and Arnold is encouraging volunteerism by creating California Service Corps and tapping his wife, Maria Shriver, to lead it. Leave your comments and who can come up with the best Current Events Funny?

Peace Corps: One of the Best Faces of America Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and can you come up with a Political Funny?

Read the stories and leave your comments.