Jeb Bush appeals to GOP grassroots and tells party: 'stop acting stupid' courting Hispanics

With Mitt Romney trailing Barack Obama badly among Hispanic voters in the polls, Republicans paraded out their top Hispanic political celebrities Tuesday and tapped the financial and influential heft of former Gov. Jeb Bush to help suture the gap. \

Speaking at a panel discussion at the Republican National Convention, Bush repeated his frequent warning that the party must change its tone, an admonition he has frequently raised about the party’s hardline position on immigration.

“The future of our party is to reach out consistently to have a tone that is open and hospitable to people who share values,’’ he said, adding “the conservative cause would be the governing philosophy as far as the eye could see … and that’s doable if we just stop acting stupid.”

Bush was joined by two Latino governors in an event organized by the Hispanic Leadership Network, a newly formed advocacy group associated with the American Action Network. The group will finance issue ads and promote what it calls a “center-right” agenda.

Bush’s youngest son, Jeb Bush Jr, announced the emergence of SunPac, a Coral Gables–based organization that targets young Hispanics in Florida to support their issues and get involved in politics.

And the prime time television schedule included two of the convention’s five Hispanics headliners: Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and Texas Senate candidate Ted Cruz. The others, Gov. Luis Fortuño of Puerto Rico and Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico, will follow Wednesday. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio will introduce Mitt Romney on Thursday.

The top draw for Republicans showcasing their Hispanic bonafides: Rubio. More here.

Jeb Bush on NBC: Romney can win with focus on a positive tone

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush conceded that President Barack Obama is enjoying a political advantage but he predicted on NBC's Meet the Press that Mitt Romney will overcome it with a positive tone. Among the tones that needs changing, is the GOP's approach to immigration.

As the nation's democgraphics are changing, he said, the nation must also change it's approach to focus on recruitment of "young aspirational people" who want to come to this country "so we can grow over a sustained period of time at a high rate that will allow us to create jobs, without raising taxes, balance the budget, do all the things that we want to do."

He conceded that it "may be a useful tool politically for some Republicans to focus on the political issue, the wedge issue -- it might be, I don't know -- but I don't think it's right for our country."

The latest nationwide poll of Hispanic voters released last week by NBC News, The Wall Street Journal and Telemundo shows Obama with a large majority, 63-28 percent, over Romney. It was the first poll of Hispanics following Ryan's VP announcement.

"Gov. Romney can make inroads if he focuses on how do we create a climate of job creation and economic growth," Bush said. "And that's what I think this fall campaign's going to be about for their campaign. And I think people will move back toward the Republican side.

"But we've got to have a better tone going forward over the long haul for sure," he told David Gregory. "You can't ask people to join your cause and then send a signal that 'you're really not wanted.' It just doesn't work."

The former Florida governor, whose brother and father both served as presidents, said as Obama is "constantly attacking, constantly using negative messaging, I think his connectivity with people will drop."

Bush said his speech on Tuesday will focus on education, his special passion, and cautioned Republicans to better explain their plans for Medicare.

"You can't just say, 'I'm for Medicare reform and leave it at that,' because then the attack machine on the other side says 'you're throwing granny off the cliff with - in a wheelchair,'" he said. ""You have to explain that the Romney plan does not change anything for anybody that is 55 years old and older."

More here.

VP candidate Ryan, Jeb Bush, McCain and Bondi to speak at RNC on Wednesday night

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus announced the line up of speakers for the third night of his party's convention on Wednesday, Aug. 29. And the speeches will center on the theme, "We Can Change It."

Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan will give the keynote address. Also on the speakers list: Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, former Republican Presidential candidate John McCain, Puerto Rican Gov. Luis Fortuno and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"We want to remind Americans that we don't have to settle for four more years of high unemployment, low pay and deep debt," Priebus said via a news release.  "We will devote Wednesday night to showing the country that Mitt Romney's 'Plan for a Stronger Middle Class' will restore our country as the best place in the world to find a job, start a business or hire a worker."

Here is the full schedule for the session scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 29 (speakers and times subject to change):

Jeb Bush commends Obama on education reform, chastises on deportations

After Mitt Romney addressed the NALEO conference of Hispanic leaders in Miami, Jeb Bush took the stage and drew a much more enthusiastic reception than the former Massachusetts governor. Switching back and forth between English and Spanish, Bush spoke about the importance of reforming the education system through higher standards, more accountability and school choice.

"To me this.this is the great civil right, and you as leaders in your communities need to take a stand and to be strongly supportive of education reform, to move to a child-centered system where children truly have a greater chance of gaining the power of knowledge,'' Bush said, arguing for higher standards, accountability and more school choice.

Education reform is one area where Bush often agrees with the Obama administration, and the Republican former governor said he was proud to introduce President Obama last year at a Miami high school.

"I don't know about you, but when we find common ground we shouldn't fight any more. We should move on and build on that success,'' Bush said. "Apparently one can get in trouble when they say these kinds of things, but I happen to believe it's the American Way. There's enough to fight about."

Bush was considerably less charitable about the president's move last week to halt some deportations.

"it was a purely political move to pre-empt, and that’s exactly what the motive was," Bush said of Obama. "He’s had supermajorities in the House and Senate to fulfill his promise he made in the last campaign, and what we’ve heard are crickets. I mean, not a single move. And then to do this was a good political move. Bad policy in the sense that it’s a stopgap -- it creates continued uncertainty for a whole lot of people who don’t deserve it.”

-- Adam C Smith, Tampa Bay Times

Jeb: my dad, Reagan would struggle in a GOP primary these days

From BuzzFeed:

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush said today that both Ronald Reagan and his father George H. W. Bush would have had a difficult time getting nominated by today's ultra-conservative Republican Party.

"Ronald Reagan would have, based on his record of finding accommodation, finding some degree of common ground, as would my dad — they would have a hard time if you define the Republican party — and I don’t — as having an orthodoxy that doesn’t allow for disagreement, doesn’t allow for finding some common ground," Bush said, adding that he views the hyper-partisan moment as "temporary."

"Back to my dad’s time and Ronald Reagan’s time – they got a lot of stuff done with a lot of bipartisan suport," he said. Reagan "would be criticized for doing the things that he did."

Bush cited, in particular, "the budget deal my dad did, with bipartisan support — at least for a while — that created the spending restraint of the ‘90s," a reference to a move widely viewed now as a political disaster for Bush, breaking a pledge against tax increases and infuriating conservatives. It was, Bush said, "helpful in creating a climate of more sustained economic growth."

More here

Connie Mack: I don't need to debate Republicans in Senate primary. It's over

Basking in high poll numbers and the major endorsement of Gov. Jeb Bush, Connie Mack has declined an invitation to participate in a statewide prime-time televised debate, effectively declaring the GOP U.S. Senate primary over.

"It’s clear the race for the U.S. Senate in Florida is now between Connie Mack, the Republican, and Bill Nelson, the Democrat," Mack campaign manager Jeff Cohen wrote in a letter to Jeanne Grinstead, deputy managing editor of the Tampa Bay Times.

Grinstead is organizing the July 26 debate with co-hosts Bay News 9 and Florida PBS and its member stations. The primary is Aug. 14. But Florida voters won't have an opportunity to hear from Mack, who has a big lead in the polls.

"A primary debate among Republicans would only serve to benefit Bill Nelson," Cohen wrote adding that a debate between Mack and Nelson "makes all the sense in the world."

Mack has faced aggressive questions over his credentials by rival George LeMieux. Other candidates include Mike McCalister and Dave Weldon.

Posted by Alex Leary, Tampa Bay Times

GOP Senate kill shot: Connie Mack endorsed by former Gov. Jeb Bush.

Most endorsements don't really mean much in a political campaign. We blog them because they're indicative of a certain aspect of a candidate's campaign and constituency.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush isn't one of those endorsements.

He's a big effing deal in Republican circles. There's a reason guys like Rep. Connie Mack and former interim Sen. George LeMieux call themselves "Jeb Bush Republicans." Not "George Bush Republicans."

Too bad for LeMieux that Mack is getting endorsed by Jeb Bush, whose son Jeb Bush Jr. is solidly in Mack's camp already. If Mack's name ID and double-digit lead weren't enough to polish off LeMieux, this is the kill shot. To quote Othello before he strangles Desdemona: Put out the light, and then put out the light.

Jeb Bush presided over one of Florida's most-prosperous periods and had strong poll numbers throughout his tenure. The Republican candidates for president would have died to be endorsed by him in the just-ended GOP primary. Sure, Jeb has relatively soft immigration stances (considering the state of the GOP) and recently criticized the tax pledge of Grover Norquist, who said the former governor doesn't know how the"game" of Washington is played. But stances and comments like that are what make Bush such an attractive figure in politics and media.

Here's the press release:

“Connie Mack is the principled conservative that the people of Florida deserve representing them in the U.S. Senate. Connie has the courage, conservative values, experience and determination to confront the tough issues facing our nation. We must return conservatives to the majority in the U.S. Senate.  Connie is the person Floridians’ need in Washington working with Senator Marco Rubio to reduce our national debt and limit out-of-control spending.”
 
Thanking Governor Bush for his endorsement, Mack stated:
 
“I am truly humbled to receive the support of Governor Bush, a man whose service and dedication to this state serves as an example to anyone in public service. His tireless efforts on behalf of Florida’s children, particularly in the area of education, are unmatched, and his strong support in communities across Florida is a testament to his leadership ability. It is an honor to call Jeb Bush a friend. I thank him for his support and his leadership, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him in the months and years ahead.”
 
Governor Bush’s endorsement follows a series of conservative endorsements for Mack, including Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Governor Luis Fortuño and a growing number of the Florida Congressional delegation.

 

 

Jeb Bush: Mitt Romney should pick Marco Rubio as VP

WASHINGTON -- If there were any doubts that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has no intention of returning to a ballot anytime soon, he laid them to rest Friday, in a rare appearance at a congressional hearing.

The Republican former governor was invited to speak to the House Budget Committee by the committee's chairman, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., author of a federal budget despised by Democrats in part for its proposed changes to the Medicare program for seniors. Bush's remarks focused on removing barriers to free enterprise, but throughout the hearing, he was free with his opinions on all sorts of other policy matters.

"This will prove I'm not running for anything," Bush said, when talking about how he could support a bipartisan commission to examine the tax code for loopholes. He also noted that he thought immigration reform could be a strategy for sustained economic growth -- a position that he said puts him "a little out of step with my own party."

Bush's candor made it clear that he sees his place as a senior Republican whose opinions carry a lot of weight in his party, but whose private sector life gives him a measure of independence. In Washington, that ability to speak freely makes him a refreshing figure. He was followed out of the hearing to his taxi by a throng of reporters so deep that, in the crush,  one camerawoman tumbled backward in the hallway of the Cannon Office Building.

No, Bush told the scrum, he's not interested in being vice president. "I'm going to support Gov. Romney, he's a great guy," Bush said. "I believe he has an excellent chance of being elected. I'm going to do what I can to (help him) be elected."

But from the window of his taxi, Bush said he does think highly of his friend Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., for the job.

"That would be my choice, but I’m not Mitt Romney," Bush said. "Marco would bring an incredible energy, he’s the most articulate spokesman for conservative principles I think in America today, and he’s my friend. So I’m a little biased. But I think he would be extraordinary."

Bush also said he likes Rubio's immigration proposal, a Republican alternative to the DREAM Act. He said that Republicans need to work on attracting Hispanic voters by highlighting their economic policies over those of Democrats.

Bush hasn't testified in front of a congressional hearing since he talked about disaster preparations during the brutal 2005-2006 hurricane season -- and it's a good guess that he won't return any time soon. "This is a gotcha kind of environment," he said, seemingly taken aback by the shrill partisan tone of the hearing.

Jeb Bush to Congress: "Strong sense in business community...that the economy is stalling again."

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told the House Budget Committee Friday morning that he fears the economy "is stalling again, and growing well below its historic potential." The Republican governor was invited to speak by the committee's chairman, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., author of a budget despised by Democrats in part for its proposed changes to the Medicare program for seniors.

Ryan took an immediate political approach. President Barack Obama's policies "take us in the wrong direction," Ryan said, before introducing Bush. "He has called  for higher hurdles and greater complexity in the tax code. He insists on wasteful spending on his political allies and regulatory monstrosities that protect the entrenched at the expense of the entrepreneur."

Not to be outdone, the top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., fired back. Former President George W. Bush's financial policies "lifted the yachts," Van Hollen scolded his brother, but not the rest of the boats.

Bush, perhaps unused to the partisan tone of House politics, told them he wasn't at the committee to criticize anyone, and said he wasn't used to the "9 am. food fight" that begins when the sun comes up in Washington. Politics don't get such an early start in Florida, Bush said.

Bush's full remarks, after the jump:

Jeb Bush to speak at Paul Ryan's House Budget Committee

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will speak Friday morning at the House Budget Committee in Washington. He was invited by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., who saw an op-ed the former Florida governor wrote about removing barriers to free enterprise.

Committee spokesman Conor Sweeney said the discussion will explore the question recently posed by Bush in his op-ed: "Have we lost faith in the free-market system of entrepreneurial capitalism?"

But lest you think it's all about big business, the discussion will also look at how bloated federal budgets, tax loopholes, and regulatory favoritism have "tilted the deck in favor of the well-connected at the expense of the average citizen," Sweeney said. The hearing "will focus on how best to remove the barriers to upward mobility and put an end to cronyism in Washington."