Jeb Bush: Win black voters with aspiration, not ‘free stuff’

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. -- Jeb Bush said here Thursday night that Republicans can win more African American voters by emphasizing a positive message that does not involve promising "free stuff," a remark that bore echoes of comments by Mitt Romney that drew criticism in 2012.

"Look around this room," a man told Bush, who spoke to a mostly white crowd. "How many black faces do you see? How are you going to include them and get them to vote for you?" asked the man, who was white.

Bush pointed to his record on school choice and said that if Republicans could double their share of the black vote, they would win the swing states of Ohio and Virginia.

"Our message is one of hope and aspiration," he said at the East Cooper Republican Women’s Club annual Shrimp Dinner. "It isn't one of division and get in line and we'll take care of you with free stuff. Our message is one that is uplifting -- that says you can achieve earned success."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/09/24/jeb-bush-win-black-voters-with-aspiration-not-free-stuff/

---

...because that message worked so well for Mitt Romney.

[underpants]

1. This is the 21st Century Repub PC version of "picking up welfare checks in Cadillacs"

Good grief

[Person 2713]

2. Wow just wow

He really needs one of his specialities - voter fraud
IMO they will try it in swing states no matter the nominee

[hibbing]

3. disgusting

But I guess it isn't that bad considering he's one who pulled himself up by his own bootstraps and all that if you disregard whatever tens of millions he has in his trust fund.

Peace

[global1]

4. Hope And Aspiration - My Butt.....

Look at how the Repugs treated our President - the first Black President. One whose message was one of -- Hope and Aspiration.

As President Obama was taking his oath of office - the Repugs were plotting to make him a one term President and not cooperate with him or give him any wins. It was their message of 'division'. And they did everything in their power over the last 7 years to make good on their plotting. Unfortunately for them and fortunately for us - President Obama was and is smarter than them.

Jeb's words here are hollow and meaningless. The Repugs - and especially Jeb - don't have a message that is 'uplifting'. It is only one of pushing down the youth, the old, the poor and the middle class. The only 'uplifting' Jeb and the Repugs are for is the 'uplifting of the 1%ers.

[apnu]

5. They still think welfare queens exist

Despite all the evidence to the contrary, and exactly one case, Linda Taylor, where that came from. So they're still flogging an outlier as the norm. Buffoons, the whole Republican party is full of buffoons.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

12. I talked to this guy I used to work with a few days ago

He loves Trump! I had no idea he was a nutjob. He went on and on about people taking welfare, food stamps, etc. He didn't mention Cadillac's but he may as well have. I told him that there will always be people trying to cheat, but you need to identify those people and throw them in jail. I said, "you don't want to kick everyone off food stamps just because some people cheat, do you?" He says, "Of course, not", but then continues his rant.

It's like they can't keep 2 related thoughts in their mind at the same time! MORONS!!

[Tommy2Tone]

6. Another idiot who did nothing but choose his parents well

Now sees himself as some kind of expert to advise people who have had the deck stacked against them their whole life to strive to do better.

Jeb Bush is a buffoon who thinks because he married a Mexican woman he can talk about Mexican issues. Now he has gotten a brain fart that allows him to tell black folks to get over being black and don't expect "free stuff", like quality schools, not being targeted by law enforcement, and many other things he will never face.

The guy is like his village idiot brother and as such is sitting there to be used by another Dick Cheney.

[Lychee2]

7. Actually, some "free stuff"would be nice, too.

You know, like free higher education? Just saying.

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Is Bushco trying a

rope-a-dope strategy? Appearing mentally challenged unless or until
victory is within his grasp?

I don't happen to think he's as dumb as he sounds every day.

I hope I'm wrong.

[Darb]

9. That stupid fuck is soooo tone deaf it is laughable.

He just doesn't get it. I'd clue him in but he wouldn't listen.

[brush]

10. Yeah, that's the way to get black votes, insult them . . .

with "free stuff" remarks.

Repugs who say this stuff have to be the stupidest people walking the earth.

[Yavin4]

11. African Americans never bought into the trickle down bullshit

Not under Reagan, and not now. Only gullible, racist White voters buy into the notion that if you give the uber wealthy a tax cut, then they will create jobs.

[erpowers]

19. Did They Really?

Did white people really fall for the idea that if money was give to the wealthy jobs would be created? It is possible that the white people who voted for Reagan realized that trickle down economics would not work, but voted for Reagan based on his negative comments about black people. It has been said that you could keep some white people poor as long as you told them they, no matter how poor, or uneducated, would always be better than black people.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. The only ones getting "free stuff" are his family and their bankster friends. nt

[rladdi]

14. Does Jeb Bush realize what created more help for all people. It was his brother G. Bush who

almost took this nation to its knees with the lost of jobs and the economy. No party, in our history, ever failed the people and nation as the Republicans have. When in office they created the largest governments, biggest debt, wars, and never worked for peace but was was their goal. Destruction of other countries and killing of millions of people. This is the agenda of the GOP. History has proven that. And we speak of Education, The GOP controlled states have the worst record on education, funding of schools and higher education. We just need to look at the recent action of Gov. Walker of WI, taking away $350 million from education to help build a sports arena.

[Gothmog]

15. This line did not work for Romney and it will not work for Jeb

[Geronimoe]

16. Oil and Gas subsidies

Jeb try this with your oil and gas sponsors by ending the free stuff like Federal subsidies. See how that works out for you.

The Blacks gave the Whites 246 years of free stuff. Oh about returning what is owed to them and Native Americans?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

17. This is typical of the stupid rich....

They know they're stupid and they figure if they got rich easily it should be easy for everyone.

I remember running into one of these guys whining that the trust fund his daddy gave him only paid him four grand a month and he thought EVERYONE'S parents gave their kids a trust fund.

[Javaman]

18. yet another bush with a silver foot in his mouth. nt

[riderinthestorm]

20. Nobody is having any luck pulling themselves up with their bootstraps

Especially people of color!

How insulting as well to think assistance is "free stuff"!

[PatSeg]

23. Yes, its "free stuff"

when it goes to OTHER people (lazy, shiftless moochers). However, if a conservative gets laid off or seriously ill, THEY earned that assistance and THEY are entitled. They tend to be empathy deficient.

[Dont call me Shirley]

21. So a living wage is just "free stuff"? Jeb is delusional.

[xocet]

22. The JEB! : "Our message is of hope and aspiration. If elected, I hope to aspirate a pretzel!"

Would that be the message that "The JEB!" intends to convey?

[Dawson Leery]

24. Another slanderous dog whistle saying that minorities are lazy.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027203108

Jebby thinks he is the smarter one. It seems he is not.


The legacy of Tricky Dick haunts us today.It may very well lock the GOP out of the Whitehouse for sometime.

[SummerSnow]

25. fuck you Jeb Bush

And you will NEVER be President

[ShrimpPoboy]

26. "School choice"

is just another way of saying "free religious school tuition". What a dumb response.

[Paladin]

27. Entitled little shithead.

Not a tough economic day for him or his family for generations, and he's spewing about the benefits of "earned success." Piss up a rope, Jeb!

[The Wizard]

28. The clueless dickwad

makes bigoted statements and doesn't know it. Unqualified to be anything other than the loser brother of the worst president in history.

[JCMach1]

29. Created a nice little FB page if you want to ask JEB about this 'free stuff'

https://www.facebook.com/jebwheresmyfreestuff

[6000eliot]

30. Remember how well this line of reasoning went for Romney?

And by "reasoning," substitute "racism."

[longship]

31. With this, he is oh so fucked!

He might as well join the Jim Crow support marches.

JEB? Is screwn.

[StevieM]

32. The point to that statement is not to reach out to black voters, but rather to enforce the narrative

that black voters are supposedly always looking for free stuff. And he wants that narrative enforced in order to win over angry white voters.

In other words, his comments about reaching out to African-American voters are being made with the intention of attracting more white votes.

[louis-t]

33. So, lower taxes for corporations isn't "free stuff"?

edit: When you got off easy during the Silverado savings and loan scandal, that wasn't "free stuff"?

edit again: (insert) you asshole?

[wolfie001]

34. Red meat racism for.....

.....stupid, knuckle-dragging repukes.

[McKim]

35. Free Stuff? God Forbid!

Giving the descendents of freed slaves free stuff? Heaven Forbid! You mean like the free stuff Jeb got just by being born a Bush?

[Chemisse]

36. This guy is pathetic.

Does he get briefed each day on the worst possible thing to say?

Of course all the Republicans think this way, but these things usually come out inadvertently. Bush just says it; he doesn't even realize that this is wrong!

[erpowers]

37. Why Do They Keep Saying This?

I do not understand why Republicans keep promoting the idea that black people only vote for the Democratic Party in order to get free stuff. Maybe black people vote for the Democratic Party because for the last 50-60 years the Democrats have been the ones fighting for civil rights and voting rights. Maybe if Republicans want to attract more black people they should stop attacking civil rights and voting rights.

In addition, I do not know of any Democratic Party event one can go to and hear a Democrat claim black people should be thankful for slavery because slavery was good for black people in that white people gave them food, clothing, and housing. I do not know of any Democratic Party event that one can go to where one can hear a Democrat say they do not feel the need to apologize for slavery and that black people should apologize for not appreciating all the things white people did for black people during slavery. Those two statements were made at least one Republican Party event. If Republicans want to attract more black voters maybe they need to more forcefully denounce the people making these statements.

Finally, if the Republican Party wants to attract more black voters they probably should stop insulting black voters. The Republican Party will likely never get a larger amount of black votes if they keep claiming the only reason black people vote for the Democratic Party is because Democrats give them free things.

[davidpdx]

38. I hope someone is getting this shit on tape

Because it would make for GREAT commercials if he is the nominee.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

39. No, dammit! Jeb! meant respiration!