Bush Sr: "9/11 guaranteed that national security is going to be in the forefront of every election"

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307952,00.html

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WALLACE: OK. But I do have another question, though, in that regard. This is the first real Republican race post-9/11, because your son was running for re-election in 2004. Do you think that national security may now trump social issues among Republican voters?

G.H.W. BUSH: Yes, I do, because I think 9/11 guaranteed that national security is going to be in the forefront of every election.

The president's done a good job. Homeland security is doing a good job. The agency — intelligence is doing a good job. The Congress even here have taken the steps to support the initiatives on homeland security.

But I don't think any domestic issue, at least in the foreseeable future, is going to transcend the interest of the American people in keeping our homeland safe.

WALLACE: Even more than social issues.

G.H.W. BUSH: Yeah, that's my view. Maybe it's — maybe that's my own personal view and, therefore, I don't know what others think, but, you know, if you could predicate there'd be a national depression or something when the economy's been pretty darn good, let's face it, then you might have somebody say, "Well, that will trump national security."