Barbara Bush talks at KSU

The former First Lady said she is the only mother in America who knows where her child is at all times.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
KENT -- Former First Lady Barbara Bush equates her pride in her son, President George W. Bush, to that of a parent of a child who gets an A on a test or hits a home run at a Little League game.
"George is just doing it on a national stage," Bush said during a Tuesday speech at the Kent State University Memorial Athletic Convocation Center.
During her nearly one-hour presentation, Bush gave her unique insights into the First Family.
"He's the same boy I took to Little League and tried to get out of his bed in the morning to go to school," Bush said. "I'm the only mother in America who knows where her kid is all the time and I know what he's doing."
Although he is often referred to simply as W, Bush said no one in her family ever called the president by his middle initial.
"He is the warmest, funniest, sweetest man in our family," she said. "I'm the enforcer. He never raises his voice to his children or spanked them. I can't say the same."
Her speech was without incident, but about 30 protesters, primarily students, picketed outside the convocation center.
Most of them were there to complain about the College Republicans receiving $60,000 from KSU for the Bush speech, including a $45,000 payment to the former First Lady. They were also upset that the school gave only $2,500 for the committee organizing the annual May 4 commemoration of the 1970 campus shootings that killed four students. The May 4 committee wanted $18,850 and rejected the $2,500 allocation.
"When my husband was out of office, no one showed up to yell at me," Bush said acknowledging the protest. "It's sort of fun to be yelled at again."
KSU officials said 1,900 people paid to hear the First Lady at $10 each so the school made less than one-third of the money it spent on Bush's speech. The building was set up to hold 2,500 so KSU was going to take a loss on the presentation and making a profit was not the purpose of the event, school officials said.
Most of the people in attendance were older with KSU students making up a tiny fraction of those there. Bush was introduced by Ohio Lt. Gov. Maureen O'Connor.
Bush urged those in attendance to get involved in the political process whether it is working at the local precinct level, helping candidates or simply voting.
"All of us have a responsibility to take part in our government," she said.
Bush spoke at length about promoting literacy and parents spending quality time with their children.
"If we don't teach our kids, they'll learn from TV shows like 'Jerry Springer' and 'South Park,' violent video games and from inappropriate Internet chat rooms," Bush said. "The way to build a stronger America is to build stronger families. Children must come first."
Bush urged parents to turn off their television sets and to talk and read to their children. But she did admit that she and her husband have a soft spot for A & amp;E's "Biography." As for her favorite books, the First Mother said she enjoys romance novels and mysteries.
"I can kill you any number of ways," she said about what she's learned from mysteries.