Bush on Popularity: ‘I Don’t Care’

President Bush said that he doesn’t care his approval ratings are as low as they are before he leaves office, saying that he never compromised on what he thought was right.

“I’ve had, hell, a lot of serious challenges,” Bush said in an interview on FOX News. “What matters to me is I didn’t compromise my soul to be a popular guy.”

In the interview, Bush defended his legacy on the economy–particularly the recent bailouts of the financial and automotive industry his administration has supported–as well as his prosecution of the war on terror.

Bush said he has “absolutely” governed as a conservative, in particular as a “compassionate conservative,” referencing a catch phrase during his 2000 campaign for the White House.

Bush was asked if he is conservative in the model of President Ronald Regan or Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.).

“I’m a George W. Bush conservative,” the president said.