Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said that if he gets into the 2016 presidential race, he will set out to define his brand of conservatism as hopeful, optimistic and cheerful and also successful in providing leadership to boost the economy, cut taxes and fix troubled foreign relations.
Talking to Secrets after his question and answer presentation to this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday, Bush said he would move quick to detail his conservative actions taken as governor and layout a positive model to being president.
His message: “Hey, there are a few big things that we’ve got to fix, and once we do, this is going to be the greatest time to be alive as an American. That’s the premise of a successful campaign, I believe. And people will embrace it.”
With a Reaganesque approach to running, Bush said he welcomes talking to the conservative movement, some of whom don’t back his candidacy. A small handful protested his CPAC address, but Bush wasn’t miffed over it and even joked that he would put them down as “neutral.”
“We are a rambunctious, alive, conservative movement. Part of the primary process, should I get involved in it, would be to define my version of conservatism,” he said.
Then he did. “I think we need to be more hopeful and optimistic about the greatness of our country. Less angry, less reactionary, more believing that if we implement sound conservative policies about economic growth, about national defense, about the foundational aspects of a successful society, that we are going to lead the world for a long, long time,” said Bush.
He said that his message will find a home among Americans. ‘There’s a ton of people who are conservatives, they just don’t know it yet,” he said.
Bush admitted to being surprised that some conservatives don’t think that he is one of them, considering his actions as governor Florida. But he isn’t angry about it.
“It surprises me. It surprises a lot of liberals in Florida. Their heads explode when they see this. When I was governor, I wasn’t angry. I was impatient for sure. I think we win by being cheerful,” said Bush, whose brother George W. Bush and father George H.W. Bush have been president.
He also surprised many in the CPAC crowd, with many leaving his speech impressed that he addressed many of the concerns conservatives have with him.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
