Trying to get his presidential bid back on track, former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., tried to rally Florida Republicans at the Republican Party of Florida’s (RPOF) Sunshine Summit.
Fading in the polls at the national level and in key states, Bush reminded Florida Republicans that he had fought for conservative values in Tallahassee.
“We win because we’re united, we win because we believe in conservative principles,” Bush said.“I want to win this election in 2016 so we can restore America’s greatness again.”
Insisting he has a “proven record” and “applied conservative principles,” Bush said he had the “record to take on Hillary Clinton.” Bush ripped Clinton’s record in the Senate, contrasting that with his work on school choice during his two terms in Tallahassee.
Bush called for a “six year lobbying ban on elected officials” in Washington, a line item veto, a balanced budget amendment and freezing the federal workforce. Calling for “reducing taxes for everybody,” Bush called for tax reform and insisted Democrats’ tax policies were hurting businesses.
“Cutting taxes and reforming regulation will create a boom in this country,” Bush insisted.
Bush took aim at Clinton’s support of President Back Obama and insisted Democratic policies were hurting the economy.
Turning to international policy, Bush insisted Obama did not believe America “was a force for good” and had made the global situation far worse. Bush promised to back a far stronger foreign policy if he follows his father’s and brother’s steps to the White House. “I promise you I won’t be a divider in chief, I won’t be an agitator in chief, I will be a commander in chief.”
On the domestic front, Bush called for more accountability to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and vowed to respect life, including opposing abortion. Bush took exception to the “black lives mantra” from the left. “Every life matters, every person matters,”Bush insisted.
While he did not mention any of his Republican opponents by name, Bush said leadership required more than just making brash statements and insults directed towards opponents, a jab at businessman Donald Trump who is far ahead of the former Florida governor in the polls “Listening and learning is the way you lead,” Bush insisted. “It’s not about the big personalities on the stage.”
Bush closed by reminding Florida Republicans of the “mighty struggle” against the teachers unions over school choice.
State CFO Jeff Atwater introduced Bush, cheering the former governor’s education and economic records while noting he supported defunding Planned Parenthood during his time as governor. State Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, spoke after Bush, expressing his support of the former Florida governor.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
