Ellen Degeneres caught heat this weekend when she was caught laughing with President George W. Bush at a Dallas Cowboys game.
Viewers of the Dallas Cowboys-Green Bay Packers game on Sunday caught a glimpse of the two familiar faces in American culture. The unlikely pair were seen laughing together with their respective spouses on either side of them. The two were sitting in the box of Cowboys' owner, Jerry Jones. Keen viewers quickly took to Twitter to share photos of the two together, with many pointing out just how odd it was to see the two hanging out together due to their stark political disagreements.
Bush, a longtime Republican stalwart who served two terms as president, is a through-and-through conservative. Ellen is a known liberal who has consistently donated to Democratic candidates in the past, including Obama in 2012.
Ellen went on air to defend her friendship with Bush:
Ellen eloquently said, "When I say be kind to one another, I don't mean only the people that think the same way that you do. I mean be kind to everyone."
In such a politically polarized environment, it is refreshing to see high-profile figures making friendships across the aisle. Bush and DeGeneres' friendship is an inspiring model of how Americans can maintain relationships, regardless of their political leanings. Bush is a controversial figure in politics, but nonetheless, there is nothing wrong with Ellen being cordial to him. They are two of the most influential people in America, and their friendship could produce great results if they can utilize their collective power.
She is in no way excusing his past actions but instead showing that her kindness is not limited to people who think exactly like her. We can all learn from that.
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