If you catch my drift
Within minutes of the news that the nation’s 41st president had died, the tributes rolled in – and freely.
George Herbert Walker Bush had been a highly respected member of, perhaps, America’s most exclusive fraternity.
Of the hundreds of millions of people who’ve dwelled in the United States in the 242 years since its founding, only 44 people have risen to the presidency. (Since Grover Cleveland was elected president in two non-consecutive elections, Donald Trump is the 45th president, but only the 44th person to hold the office)
“It’s a legacy of service that may never be matched, even though he’d want all of us to try,” said former president Bill Clinton of the man who had been his rival – but later a very close friend.
“America has lost a patriot and humble servant in George Herbert Walker Bush,” said Barack Obama.
Clinton and Obama, two former Democratic presidents with nothing but high praise for a Republican president who may not have shared their political philosophies, but for them, stood as a shining example of what public service should be.
It became clear as the tributes to the life and legacy of George H.W. Bush rolled in, what was being said, shielded what wasn’t being said: that the Bush presidency was in stark contrast to the presidency of our current president.
At first, that contrast seemed subtle.
But as speaker after speaker appeared on the nation’s television screens, they began hinting that Bush’s decency is much needed today.
That he’d been a man who truly believed in making the country “kinder, and gentler,” when such aspirations seem nearly unobtainable today.
Just about every homage to Bush could’ve easily ended with the words, “If you catch my drift,” because people were making obvious comparisons between Bush’s patriotism, humility, unwavering commitment to the country, faith, and family – and somebody who doesn’t exactly exude any of those qualities.
By the end of the weekend, the hints and comparisons got stronger.
George H.W. Bush had volunteered to fight for our country as a teenager.
If you catch my drift.
If you didn’t catch it, Donald Trump avoided military service at all cost.
His bone spurs are legendary.
George H.W. Bush had given his life to public service for decades. And he believed that government can solve problems, more than it causes them – if you catch my drift.
If you didn’t catch it, Donald Trump frequently attacks government agencies, including those which he heads, because he feels they don’t show him enough deference.
Some of the folks who appeared on cable news shows made direct comparisons between Trump and the living presidents who came before him.
Curiously, some of those making comparisons are his fellow Republicans.
There is some hope.
The day following Bush’s death, Trump offered praise for him.
“President Bush inspired generations of his fellow Americans to public service-to be, in his words, ‘a thousand points of light’ illuminating the greatness, hope, and opportunity of America to the world,” was part of the statement approved by Trump on the White House website.
Back in July, though, during one of his rallies, Trump had a completely different take on Bush’s “thousand points of light.”
He mocked it.
“Thousand points of light, I never quite got that one. What the hell is that?” Trump asked. “Has anyone ever figured that one out?”
Trump has been given some credit for following the protocol of other presidents when their processors died.
He stood and offered a salute when he paid his respects to Bush as he lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda.
He joined the other four living presidents at the funeral.
He even avoided making any statement that would lead us to believe those people who gathered for the funeral were there to see him.
There’s even been some talk about him being given credit for showing class.
He doesn’t really get points for doing what any president would do under the circumstances.
Well, give him a cookie – IF YOU CATCH MY DRIFT.
Edward A. Owens is a multi-Emmy Award winner, former reporter, and anchor for Entertainment Tonight and 20-year TV news veteran. E-mail him at freedoms@bellatlantic.net.