Bush Wows Heartland Holiday Crowd

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 5, 2009 6:11 AM CDT
Bush Wows Heartland Holiday Crowd
Former President Bush addresses a Fourth of July crowd at the Let Freedom Ring 2009 festival at Crystal Beach Park Arena in Woodward, Okla., yesterday.    (AP Photo)

Former President Bush busted out of his lackluster post-White House days with a rousing July 4 speech in Oklahoma that was hailed with six standing ovations, reports AP. His 30-minute address largely avoided politics, instead hitting a familiar patriotic refrain, reports the Oklahoman.

“Freedom is beautiful; freedom is precious; freedom must always be defended,” Bush said to thunderous applause and calls of “We miss you, George!” from the crowd. In his first Independence Day outside the White House in eight years, Bush defended the military response to 9/11, praised the country’s founders, and joked about football.
(More George W. Bush stories.)

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