The perverted, dirty old man game may be strong in former President H.W. Bush.
On Tuesday Turn actress Heather Lind posted a lengthy account on Instagram accusing the former President of sexually assaulting her during a photo shoot back in 2014. According to Lind, during the shoot instead of shaking hands Bush Sr. helped himself to a handful of Lind backside before telling her a dirty joke. And while being photographed Bush Sr. apparently went in for seconds. Meanwhile Lind went on to say that former First Lady Barbara Bush only shook her head in disapproval looking as though she was saying to herself “not again” while Bush Sr.’s security detail looked to pass the blame off to her saying that she shouldn’t have stood next to the former President because you know… perverted old men in power will be perverted old men in power.
Here’s Lind’s entire post:
I was disturbed today by a photo I saw of President Barack Obama shaking hands with George H. W. Bush in a gathering of ex-presidents organizing aid to states and territories damaged by recent hurricanes. I found it disturbing because I recognize the respect ex-presidents are given for having served. And I feel pride and reverence toward many of the men in the photo. But when I got the chance to meet George H. W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo. He didn’t shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke. And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again. Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say “not again”. His security guard told me I shouldn’t have stood next to him for the photo. We were instructed to call him Mr. President. It seems to me a President’s power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy. He relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me. What comforts me is that I too can use my power, which isn’t so different from a President really. I can enact positive change. I can actually help people. I can be a symbol of my democracy. I can refuse to call him President, and call out other abuses of power when I see them. I can vote for a President, in part, by the nature of his or her character, knowing that his or her political decisions must necessarily stem from that character. My fellow cast-mates and producers helped me that day and continue to support me. I am grateful for the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences. And I thank President Barack Obama for the gesture of respect he made toward George H. W. Bush for the sake of our country, but I do not respect him.
#metoo
In response, Bush Sr. spokesman released the following statement:
“President Bush would never—under any circumstance—intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind.”
Not that’s not exactly a denial. In fact it at least confirms Lind’s accusation of the dirty joke being hurled out by No. 41.
Lind has since taken the post down but here’s the picture in question:
