Bush calls courtship of minority voters integral to campaign

[webfact]

Bush calls courtship of minority voters integral to campaign
By THOMAS BEAUMONT and SERGIO BUSTOS

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) — Following his own advice, Jeb Bush is taking his presidential campaign to the neighborhoods and churches where Hispanics and African Americans live and worship in an effort to broaden his appeal among minority voters.

The former Florida governor was in the central part of the state earlier this week, speaking to a diverse group of 150 pastors and other religious leaders, repeating his oft-stated pledge to campaign in "every nook and cranny" of the country. On Friday, he'll be one of only two Republican presidential candidates to address the National Urban League's annual conference, joining Hillary Rodham Clinton and two other Democrats seeking the White House.

"Republicans need to campaign everywhere. Not just amongst Latinos, but amongst blacks. It's okay to get outside your comfort zone. It's okay that not everybody agrees with my views," Bush said Monday at his event outside Orlando. "It's not okay to not try. That's the difference."

It's a lesson from Bush's time running for office in Florida that he's now applying to his race for president.

In his first run for governor in 1994, Bush campaigned as a self-described "head-banging conservative" who said he'd do "probably nothing" for African Americans, explaining he instead wanted "equality of opportunity" for all people. Bush lost that race, and then took a different tack four years later.

After traveling the state to meet with minority groups that typically align with Democrats, and touring hundreds of schools, he ran a winning campaign focused on schools and spoke often in black churches. William Andrews, executive director of Mercy Drive Ministries in Orlando, credits a statewide program Bush started once in office for helping him conquer his heroin and cocaine addiction.

"Mr. Bush sold me on becoming a Republican," said Andrews, who is black.

Should Bush capture the GOP's presidential nomination, repeating the campaign strategy he credits for his wins in Florida could be essential to his general election success in 2016.

According to exit polls conducted for AP and television networks in 2012, 93 percent of blacks and 71 percent of Hispanics nationally voted to re-elect President Barack Obama. In 2008, Obama won the vote of 95 percent of blacks and 67 percent of Hispanics, who are likely to be especially crucial in the 2016 presidential race because of their growing numbers in swing states such as Colorado, Nevada and Florida.

Democrats are eager to hold onto their decisive advantage among such voters, and argue blacks and Hispanics will ultimately reject Bush because of his support for policies that include repealing Obama's health care overhaul, opposing a federal minimum wage and his record of tax cuts in Florida.

"Bush's failed policies of the past are no different than every other Republican in the field — he wants to divide families, hurt our economy, and let those like Jeb Bush, and only Jeb Bush, get ahead," said Pablo Manriquez, the Democratic National Committee's Hispanic media director.

For his part, Bush said this week his campaign does not have a Hispanic outreach strategy, because "outreach is a term that makes it sound like it's on the periphery."

"There is no outreach plan here, this is an integral part of my campaign," said Bush, who is fluent in Spanish and whose wife, Columba, is a Mexican immigrant. "I have Hispanic children. I have Hispanic grandchildren. I'm part of the community."

Bush isn't alone in making an overt appeal to minority voters. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has addressed historically black universities, held public events at pilot schools for predominantly minority students in inner-city Chicago and discussed revisions to federal sentencing laws, which disproportionately affect minority offenders.

In late June, the same day NBC announced it was severing ties with billionaire real-estate mogul and GOP candidate Donald Trump, who described some Mexican immigrants in the country illegally as "rapists" and "criminals" during his campaign announcement, Bush met privately with a racially mixed group of pastors in grief-stricken Charleston, South Carolina.

Last week, Bush attended another meeting of about 40 pastors in Spartanburg, also split evenly between black and white ministers. Among those in attendance was the Rev. Windell Rodgers, a black Democrat from Greenville, who is supporting Bush in the state's early voting Southern primary.

"He has a love for what I gather are all people, and is willing to go into their areas," he said.

That includes Friday's meeting of the Urban League, one of the nation's oldest civil rights organizations.

"So many lives can come to nothing, or come to grief, when we ignore problems, or fail to meet our own responsibilities," according to Bush's prepared remarks. "And so many people could do so much better in life if we could come together and get even a few big things right in government."

Bush and Ben Carson, a retired, African-American neurosurgeon, are the only two Republican candidates speaking at the event, where White House hopefuls are being asked to "share their visions for saving our cities."

"We have to campaign all across this country with joy in our heart rather than anger," Bush said Monday, "and go to places where Republicans haven't been seen in a long, long while."
___

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-07-31

[Usernames]

Bush, an irrelevant, spineless man who craves public approval. This article points out just what a lapdog he is.

[JakeSully]

hahahaha too bad you have gerrymandered districts Jeb.. appeal to minority voters won't matter.

[Suradit69]

courtship of minority voters

They, or any other person with a net worth not in the $millions or $billions, are only of value to him is as a voter. Actually that applies to 99% of politicians. Once elected they'll only court the billionaires, the mega-corporations and the lobbyists ... until the next election rolls around.

Hardly an original comment on my part, but the so-called developed democracies are run solely for and by big money. For any of them to feel qualified to lecture Thailand, or any other country, on the virtues of western democracy is the height of hypocrisy. Anyone who believes corruption is comparatively bad in Thailand is living in a bubble. Washington is the corruption capital of the world and European politicians & corporations are equally venal.

[elgordo38]

Bush, an irrelevant, spineless man who craves public approval. This article points out just what a lapdog he is.

Knock it off your giving lapdogs a bad name. "Just call me Jeb" real folksy isn't it? is telling you how wonderful things will be down the yellow brick road of the future under his presidency. Its the usual political Alice in Wonderland fairy tale voters have heard for the last 50 years and where has that gotten us and its to long to discuss. That is why The Donald is resonating among voters he is giving you the here and now baby. Voters are tired of these windbag fortune tellers and the rest of the GOP wanna be's are the same. They critize the Donald for not playing by the political Marquis of Queensberry rules. Its funny only during the election campaign can the white gloves come off and the hands are dipped in sh*t and the SB's are thrown at the opposition.

[Traveling Sailor]

Bush, an irrelevant, spineless man who craves public approval. This article points out just what a lapdog he is.

Knock it off your giving lapdogs a bad name. "Just call me Jeb" real folksy isn't it? is telling you how wonderful things will be down the yellow brick road of the future under his presidency. Its the usual political Alice in Wonderland fairy tale voters have heard for the last 50 years and where has that gotten us and its to long to discuss. That is why The Donald is resonating among voters he is giving you the here and now baby. Voters are tired of these windbag fortune tellers and the rest of the GOP wanna be's are the same. They critize the Donald for not playing by the political Marquis of Queensberry rules. Its funny only during the election campaign can the white gloves come off and the hands are dipped in sh*t and the SB's are thrown at the opposition.

Hear, hear! So very true. The last thing we need in the white house is ANOTHER BUSH!

[willyumiii]

The Donald has made is very clear how the GOP feels about minorities in America.

Except for wanting their votes, The GOP wants no minorities.

The GOP wold prefer to get rid of all of the non white non Christian Americans.

Even though the GOP refuses to believe it, the minorities are not stupid.

The minorities will not believe another BUSH.

[BudRight]

courtship of minority voters

They, or any other person with a net worth not in the $millions or $billions, are only of value to him is as a voter. Actually that applies to 99% of politicians. Once elected they'll only court the billionaires, the mega-corporations and the lobbyists ... until the next election rolls around.

Hardly an original comment on my part, but the so-called developed democracies are run solely for and by big money. For any of them to feel qualified to lecture Thailand, or any other country, on the virtues of western democracy is the height of hypocrisy. Anyone who believes corruption is comparatively bad in Thailand is living in a bubble. Washington is the corruption capital of the world and European politicians & corporations are equally venal.

How many votes does a dollar get?

[tajtom]

They should prop old BUSH up on his high CHAIR and let RUN again

[Pinot]

One thing we should remember about all these Republicans candidates. They do have a purpose. They are not worthless. They all serve as a bad example.

The right wing has swallowed the Republican party. They can't get past the dogma of being a right wing conservative to accomplish anything. They're incapable of governing. They can't even pass a highway funding bill because they have to dismantle the social security system and family planning before they can figure out how to pay for it.

There is no room for negotiations. There is no interaction with Democrats. Interaction is capitulation. A moderate Republican doesn't have a prayer, he's immediately labeled a RINO. There is only one way, one path...off a cliff. There is no room for individual choice, there is only the shining way...as provided by Roger Ailes.

Old white guys don't like these Republican candidates...why would a minority voter ever vote for one? Give me a reason minority voters would want a Republican in office?

Here is the plan: Demonize HRC. Destroy family planning and take away women's right to choose. Wipe out social security. Don't talk just bomb our enemies. Arm the entire nation with guns and shoot the raping immigrants. What did I leave out?

Can't wait for the debates.

Something to tie me over until the NFL starts.

Edited July 31, 2015 by Pinot

[Publicus]

Hispanic or black voters, women voters, gay voters or voters such as myself among many other voting constituencies, have no reason to be confident John Ellis "Jeb" Bush or any Republican could respectably represent any of us or all of us as president.

A Republican president would naturally appoint other Republicans to the cabinet, federal commissions, boards, agencies, SCOTUS and to judgeships throughout the federal courts, to include having to mollify the teapot Republicans in the House and the warmonger Republican Senators in Congress.

Evangelical extremists and anti-science rightwingers would seize control of the CDC, HHS, Department of State, Treasury, and be Attorney General, lord over immigration, abortion, "religious freedom" laws in the states, and so on.

Rightwing police conducting their serial murder of black Americans would be given a double green light and immigration would be criminalized which would violate every precept of immigration since the first settlement in 1620 that led to the founding of Boston.

This constitutes the short list of the Republicans and of the extreme marginal right.

[pomchop]

Notice how the Bush Handlers have decreed that it should be just JEB!!.....don't want to use the last name and remind voters that ole Jeb is another Bush Brother. Perhaps some voters will think they are voting for Jeb Clampett of Beverly Hillbillies fame.

[Publicus]

Indeed, but The Donald has the hillbillie vote locked away along with the votes of other politically ingrown or culturally inbred WASP constituencies.

The stinging truth is that if, on election day November 8th 2016, voters are looking at a choice between Clinton and Bush, they will vote Clinton. Voters consider HRC as 'safe.' None of the Republicans running for prez are considered 'safe' by the general electorate throughout the Nation that will vote for president.

Fact is JEB is an anxious and antsy guy who is so afraid to say anything he just stays on the move, fly by night.

[sdanielmcev]

JEB is from a state remarkably similar to the US in population diversity. So he knows how to get the ethnic vote.

[JakeSully]

JEB is from a state remarkably similar to the US in population diversity. So he knows how to get the ethnic vote.

Hispanics are looking for 1 thing.. amnesty for the parents and children who have been in the US for generations. That is one thing the Republican Party cannot offer since it's in direct contrast to the xenophobes. His brother tried to give amnesty and he was shot down by his own party.

So he's not getting elected for just another failure. The only one who can solve the immigration deadlock are democrats and hispanics/ asians know this.

[otherstuff1957]

The first debate is coming soon. At that point Bush will have to alienate the minority vote or the aging white male Republican core. If he loses the first, he will find it difficult to get elected. If he alienates the second, he will not get nominated.

It will be interesting to watch his verbal gymnastics. I predict that his statements will have lots of nice soundbites and as little content as possible.

[spidermike007]

This is something Disgusting Donald has not figured out, or uses deliberately to get more press. Or maybe it is just plain old hatred and xenophobia?