Ex- President Bush seeks to rescue brother Jeb in S. C.
Says ‘ integrity,’ not ‘ bluster,’ needed in White House
NORTH CHARLESTON, S. C. South Carolina saved George W. Bush in 2000. Now the former president looks to save his brother Jeb 16 years later.
“There’s no doubt in my mind Jeb Bush has the experience and the character to be a great president,” the former president told more than 1,000 backers during a rare political appearance Monday, further joking that South Carolina should support the candidate with “the most opinionated mother” in Saturday’s primary.
Jeb Bush told the crowd that half- filled the convention center space that he was “so honored that my brother is here.” Jeb said he would emulate George’s “steady hand to keep us safe” when it came to the nation’s economic and national security challenges.
The former Florida governor defended his older brother against attacks by Republican front- runner Donald Trump, saying it was “weird” that the New York businessman once suggested impeachment of President Bushover the Iraq War.
In his speech, George W. Bush did not mention other Republican candidates — or President Obama for that matter — but did say, “We do not need someone in the Oval Office who mirrors our anger and frustration.”
The former president said strength is not “bluster” or having the loudest voice in the room but rather the “integrity and character” of people such as Jeb Bush.
While extolling his brother’s experience as governor and businessman, the former president told stories about his past political life.
He recited “fond memories” of South Carolina that include visits to military bases, the “okra strut” in Irmo and breakfast at Tommy’s Country Ham House in Greenville — the latter anevent at which a PETA protester poured manure into the parking lot.
“It was kind of a sign of things to come,” he said.
The ex- president repeated old jokes — “I’ve been mis-underestimated most ofmy life” — and trotted out new ones about his pastimes as writer and painter. Of the latter pursuit, Bush said he knows that “the signature is worth more than the painting.”
Jeb Bush defended his brother’s legacy in the face of continued attacks by Trump.
As Trump assailed the former president over 9/ 11 and Iraq, Jeb Bush repeated his line from last weekend’s debate that “while Donald Trump was building a reality TV show,” his brother was “building a security apparatus to keep us safe” after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Trump, who held a news conference near North Charleston hours before the Bush event, questioned whether George W. Bush kept the nation safe.
He echoed his debate statements that the 9/ 11 attacks happened and “the World Trade Center came down during his reign.” Trump also criticized Bush’s decision to invade Iraq in 2003, saying it destabilized the Middle East.
George W. Bush may never have been president if not for South Carolina, or at least its Republican primary.
On Feb. 19, 2000 — 18 days after his blowout loss to John McCain in the New Hampshire primary— the then- Texas governor defeated McCain in the Palmetto State. The win stabilized Bush’s campaign and sent him on to the Republican nomination.
Hogan Gidley, a Republican political adviser based in South Carolina, said state party members feel as if George W. Bush is one of them nearly two decades after the primary that bound them together.
“We rescued his campaign back in 2000,” Gidley said. “We have ownership— he’s our guy.”
Whether that translates into actual votes for Jeb Bush remains to be seen, he said.
“We rescued his campaign back in 2000. We have ownership — he’s our guy.”
Hogan Gidley, Republican political adviser in South Carolina on George W.
Bush