AP
July 27, 2015
Jeb
Bush implored his Republican presidential rivals Monday to reject the
"crazy message of hate" that he sees at play in the campaign and cast
himself as a "committed
conservative," but not an "angry" one, in remarks rooted in Donald
Trump's inflammatory rhetoric and the backlash that followed.
As
conservatives, he said in a speech to pastors, "if we act with our
heart, people will rise." Afterward, Bush gave his call for political
civility a harder edge in a
raucous rally where he urged other GOP contenders to quit scolding each
other.
"We
have to campaign with joy in our hearts - not anger," Bush said. "We
shouldn't say outrageous things that turn people off to the conservative
message. Our message
is the one of hope and opportunity for everyone."
"We must reject this crazy message of hate."
Trump
wasn't mentioned in his remarks but it was a conspicuous dressing down
of the billionaire who roiled the race with his comments about Mexico
and Mexican immigrants,
setting off a round of name-calling between Trump and some others in
the field. Bush, as he often does in campaign speeches, switched to
Spanish at both events though the crowd at his rally was mostly
English-speaking.
Bush
told the crowd of clergy earlier at Centro Internacional de la Familia,
a nondenominational church with a congregation made up Puerto Ricans
and other Hispanics,
that as president he would build a robust economy to lift people out of
poverty, give children a good education and encourage families to stay
together. Some pastors traveled from as far away as New Jersey and
Puerto Rico to hear the remarks by the Republican
presidential contender and former Florida governor.
In
a casual and open exchange with nearly 150 pastors, Bush fielded
questions about protecting religious freedom at home and abroad,
supporting statehood for Puerto Rico
and overhauling the "broken" immigration system as a moral issue. He
said his goal of growing the economy 4 percent annually would do more to
help struggling Americans than any government program. Many economists
doubt 4 percent is attainable.
"I'm
a committed conservative," he said. "But I'm not angry. I want to help
people rise up." That line was borrowed from the name of his super PAC,
Right to Rise.
"My message is one of optimism, inspiration," Bush said in Spanish and again in English. "We have to restore hope."
His
message of political civility resonated with church leaders in
attendance, including David L. Outing, an African-American from the
Kingdom Church in Orlando. He said
he was especially heartened by Bush's plan to campaign in black
churches across the country.
"I believe him when he says he's going to be involved in my community and not just during political season," he said.
Wanda
Rolon, one of six pastors who traveled from Puerto Rico to meet Bush in
Orlando, said she felt reassured to hear Bush would assist her island
homeland out of its
debt crisis.
Bush
said Puerto Rico should be given "more flexibility" to deal with its
$70 billion debt burden. "It could become like Greece, but without
relief," he said.
Gregory
Brewer, the Episcopal bishop of Central Florida, asked Bush about the
persecution of Christians in foreign countries, saying he personally
knows victims in Egypt,
Iran and Iraq.
"I don't think foreign policy should leave human rights behind," Brewer said.
Bush faulted the Obama administration for "lack of commitment to persecuted Christians."
"If not us, who?" Bush asked rhetorically about the U.S. obligation to protect religious freedom everywhere.
Bush
also reiterated his plan to fix U.S. immigration laws and extend legal
status to people in the country illegally, an issue that places him at
odds with several of
his Republican rivals. "Yes, for crying out loud," he said when asked
about overhauling immigration. "It's a broken system used as a wedge
issue for political purposes." Bush places the first priority on
securing the borders, a standard position in the GOP
field.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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