She always had class, more than her party deserves...

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former first lady Laura Bush is defending President
Obama's decision to address the nation's school children, telling CNN
Monday that it is "really important for everyone to respect the
President of the United States."

"I think that there is a place for the President of the United States
to talk to school children and encourage school children, and I think
there are a lot of people that should do the same," she told CNN's
Zain Verjee, in an interview set to air Monday on The Situation Room.
"And that is encourage their own children to stay in school and to
study hard and to try to achieve the dream that they have."

The former first lady said she believed criticism of the speech had
arisen because of the accompanying lesson plans. If parents are
opposed to the address, said Bush, "That's their right. You know that
certainly is the right of parents to choose what they want their
children to hear in school… (But) I think it's also really important
for everyone to respect the President of the United States."

Does she think it's fair to criticize Obama, as some have, by labeling
him a socialist? "I'd have no idea whether it's fair, do you think I
thought it was fair when President Bush was criticized — not really.
So, I guess not," she responded.


Bush said that she thought "really safe congressional districts" had
contributed to political polarization. "That's just a fact of life in
American politics and …I'm sure President Obama didn't expect it to be
that way. But you know — it is that way, and I think all of us need to
do what we can to come together on issues."

The former first lady added that she thought both Obama and her
successor, Michelle Obama, had done good jobs since moving into the
White House.

But she also said former Vice President Cheney, who has been an
outspoken critic of the Obama administration's security policy, "has
every right to speak out, and I appreciate that he is defending the
Bush administration and his administration."

"But George as a former president chose not to speak out," she added.
"He thinks the president deserves the respect and the no
second-guessing on the part of the former president… he didn't like it
when he was criticized by former presidents and that's what he has
chosen to do."

She said her husband and his former vice president still speak
"occasionally."

Both Bushes have been working on their memoirs. Bush said her husband
has also spent a lot of time mountain biking.

Related: Laura Bush praises Obama, bemoans excessive partisanship