The Hill News

Former President George W. Bush said he has no interest in raising money or campaigning for candidates.

Bush, the former president from 2001 through 2009, said he had no interest in being politically involved, partially out of deference to his successor, President Obama.

{mosads}"I don't want to go out and campaign for candidates, I don't want to be viewed as a perpetual money-raiser," the Republican told C-SPAN's "Q&A" in a program to air over the weekend.

"I don't want to be on these talk shows, giving my opinion, second-guessing the current president," he added. "I think it's bad for the country, frankly, to have a former president criticize his successor."

Bush has been largely absent from politics since leaving office in January of 2009. He kept a low profile for the first two years of Obama's presidency, and declined to campaign for any Republicans during the 2010 campaign. Bush notably scheduled the release of his book,! "Decision Points," after the Nov. 2 election.

The role Bush has chosen for himself differs starkly from his former vice president's choice. Former Vice President Dick Cheney has been a frequent and vocal critic of the Obama administration when his health has permitted.

Bush's approach also differs from his own predecessor's; former President Clinton has been an active surrogate for Democrats consistently since leaving office. He even made a remarkable pitch for Obama's tax-cut plan in December, returning to a spot behind the podium in the White House briefing room.

Obama tapped both former presidents to lead a joint effort for earthquake relief in Haiti â€" arguably Bush's only official engagement since leaving office. Bush has also been at work building his presidential library and creating his think tank.

"It's tough enough to be president as it is, without a former president undermining the current president," he told C-SPA! N. "Plus, I don't want to do that. In spite of the fact that I! 'm now o n TV, I don't want to be on TV."