In December, Jeb Bush said "a Republican can win" the White House if the candidate "was much more willing" to "lose the primary to win the general" without violating your principles." In other words, the candidate can't afford to pander too far to the right.
Recognizing the paradox, he added, "It’s not an easy task, to be honest with you.” His latest political ad shows how he's going to try.
How Many Times Does This Jeb Bush Ad Say "Conservative"?
Aware that Bush's positions on immigration and education are hurting him among conservative primary voters, the new 2-minute spot from the Right to Rise PAC emblazons the word "conservative" on the screen four separate times. On top of that, Jeb is seen on a stage in front of podium with a sign conveniently placing the word "conservative" over his shoulder. And the ad begins with Jeb saying "Florida is a place where conservative principles have helped ... everybody."
The ad is a montage of excerpts from Bush's recent speech to the annual conservative convention known as CPAC. The first half we hear Jeb tick off his conservative accomplishments as Florida governor: billions saved in a rainy day fund, lots of line-item vetoes to cut spending and a school choice voucher program.
But all that is a build-up to help cushion his conservative apostasies, which Bush's political consultants believe he needs to address head on.
First he couches his support for "Common Core" education reforms, without repeating the program's name, by insisting that "the federal government has no role in the creation of standards, either directly or indirectly." While it is true that the federal government did not create the standards, it later
offered financial incentives for states to adopt the standards, which some might say gives it an indirect role, albeit retroactively.
Is That Cheering For Jeb Bush's Immigration Position?
Bush is less cute when it comes to defending his immigration position. The ad flat out quotes him saying of the currently undocumented: "We should give them a path to legal status," quickly adding, "where they work, where they don't receive government benefits [and] where they learn English." In the ad, we hear cheers from the crowd intensifying as Bush ticks off his list of conditions, but other reports say his statement was greeted with a
mix of cheers and boos. (Critics also charged Bush with
stacking the room with supporters.)
The former Florida governor certainly has a case to make that his past record is as conservative as they come. And every successful presidential candidates breaks with ideological orthodoxy on something.
But it is often said that, "if you have to say you are, you aren't." The last Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, was slammed for overcompensating, insisting at CPAC that he was a "severely conservative" governor. Bush's latest political ad may be greeted with a similar response.
