George W. Bush Accepts Ice Bucket Challenge Via Laura Sneak-Attack
It was only a matter of time until George W. Bush received a presidential-worthy dousing for the viral-friendly Ice Bucket Challenge, which – in only three weeks – has generated over $22.9 million in donations for the ALS foundation. As Gawker notes, the former Commander-in-Chief was nominated for a high-profile ice bath by his daughter Jenna Bush Hager, who issued the challenge (after taking part herself) on a recent Today Show segment.
In the above clip, George W. attempts to take the easy path by making a (dry) donation. “To you all that challenged me, I do not think it’s presidential for me to be splashed with ice water, so I’m simply going to write you a check,” he says. But since that’s clearly no fun to watch, Bush’s wife Laura sneaks up with a bucket and takes the icy matters into her own hands – after the pour, she turns to the camera with a staged-for-sitcom grin and says, “That check is for me. I wouldn’t ruin my hairstyle.”
George W. then nominates recent birthday boy Bill Clinton to the challenge: “Yesterday was Bill’s birthday,” he says, “and my gift to Bill is a bucket of cold water.”
Of course, former presidents aren’t the only celebrities donating their money and moisture to the ALS campaign: On Tuesday, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl accepted the challenge in a hilarious send-up of the 1976 horror classic Carrie. Their Ice Bucket spoof incorporated actual clips from the movie, with Grohl dressed in full Prom Queen attire.
Other celebs who have paid it forward include Dr. Dre, Justin Bieber, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Drake and LeBron James.