Former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., came out swinging on Sunday against former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clintons comments on religious freedom. Clinton is the favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination. Bush started an exploratory bid for the presidency in December and is expected to officially enter the race soon.
Bush took aim at comments Clinton made last week that women in Africa and less developed parts of the world need more health care and legal protection.
W have cut the maternal mortality rate in half, but far too many women are still denied critical access to reproductive health care and safe childbirth, Clinton said on Thursday at the Women in the World conference held in New York.
All the laws we passed dont count for much if they are not enforced, Clinton added. Rights have to exist in practice, not just on paper. Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will, and deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed.
Over the weekend, Bush pounced on Clintons remarks.
This week Hillary Clinton said that people's deep-seated religious beliefs need to be changed in order to advance her own personal political agenda. Wow, Bush emailed supporters on Sunday. America was founded on religious freedom, and that freedom is woven into the Bill of Rights as the first guarantee. And strengthening families is an important element to helping people rise up.This shouldn't be a partisan political issue, but unfortunately for Hillary Clinton it sounds like it is.
In the meantime both presidential possibilities are increasingly turning to Florida to help raise funds. Politico reported on Monday that Clintons team will be holding a strategy session in Miami next week with Florida donors able to meet former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta, Clintons campaign chairman, and Amanda Renteria, her national political director.
Bush held a meeting in Miami on Sunday night with his top fundraisers. According to the Washington Post, Bush says his Right to Rise PAC has raised more in 100 days than any other political group has ever brought in. Republican sources told the Washington Post that Right to Rise is on target to raise $100 million by the end of next month.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
