Speaking in Mount Pleasant, S.C., Thursday night, Jeb Bush uttered a line that has the potential to embroil his campaign in controversy. Responding to a question on GOP outreach to African-Americans, the former Florida governor said: “Our message is one of hope and aspiration. 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. We’re on your side,” he said.
The remark is certain to draw comparisons to Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” comment in 2012 about voters on government assistance that many think doomed his campaign, fairly or not.
Bush was making the argument that it was worth it for Republicans to still seek the African-American vote, despite the party’s deep unpopularity and poor election showings within that demographic.
“There is a way to do this. Republicans get 4 to 7 percent of the African-American vote for president. … If you double that, you’re still at a low number, right? But if you double that, you win elections in places like Ohio and Virginia,” Bush said.
“Our message needs to be heard across the country. It can’t just be in the places where people already agree with us.”
