Jeb Bush Calls Immigration Debate ‘Hurtful’
Posted on Apr 4, 2006
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| From floridagovernorsmansion.com |
Jeb Bush and his wife, Columba, who immigrated legally from Mexico. Bush has broken ranks with many Republicans on the issue of immigration.
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The Florida governor calls the anti-immigration “chest pounding” of politicians hurtful to him and his Mexican-born wife, Columba.
Hats off to Jeb for breaking ranks on this one.
Funny how it can take personal, familial experience for right-wingers to show some compassion on social issues. (See: Dick Cheney, father of a lesbian, breaking ranks with Bush on gay marriage.)
L.A. Times:
WASHINGTON—Accusing politicians of “pounding their chests” on immigration for short-term political gain, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday that the tone of the debate had been “hurtful” to him and his Mexican-born wife, Columba.
Bush, the younger brother of President Bush, reserved some of his sharpest criticism for conservatives in his own Republican Party, calling it “just plain wrong” to charge illegal immigrants with a felony, as a provision passed by the Republican-led House would do. He also opposed “penalizing the children of illegal immigrants” by denying them U.S. citizenship, an idea backed by some conservatives but not included in the legislation.
“My wife came here legally, but it hurts her just as it hurts me when people give the perception that all immigrants are bad,” the Florida governor wrote in an e-mail exchange with The Times.
Gov. Bush has generally avoided injecting himself into national political fights, and he rarely invokes his soft-spoken wife of 32 years in such a public way. But his comments reflect the concern among many Republicans that calls by conservatives for an immigrant crackdown risk alienating Latino voters.
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By Snertsmom, May 24, 2006 at 7:21 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I have been told many times that Jeb’s wife Columba is a relative of Vincente Fox’s...anyone know if this is true?
Report thisThe story I heard is that Columba is Fox’s wifes sister. Ever hear this?
By carlos, April 19, 2006 at 8:14 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
That is the reazon why I voted for Jeb, Thank you Jeb.
Report thisBy Stephen Pitt, April 5, 2006 at 5:47 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Until the day Jeb Bush publicly admits that the Project for a New American Century was immoral, unlawful, and intellectually dishonest, I’ll not consider the worth of his word.
The implimentation of the PNAC was, is, and will be a living disaster for many years to come, so that American corporatism and it’s military can control the globe.
Blood and bone: As long as it’s not genetically related to the Bush family, it’s just other people’s problems.
Like his “big brother” Jeb claims to be a Christian. Go get’em, killer.
Report thisBy tallymebanana, April 5, 2006 at 1:35 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Hurtful schmurtful! Hey Jebby Boy, no one is complaining about those who pay their fees and apply for legal passage into this country, as my parents and my brother did (I was born here). It is the lawbreakers who create the angry response. And yet I can understand their plight. But if they can pay a coyote several thousand to bring them here, they can file legal application and wait their turn as others have done. And what is Vicente Fox doing about this major problem? Not a heckuva lot, except maybe gloating over the gringo dollars that pump up his country’s economy, thanks to the money the illegals send home. And, Jeb, tell Columbo to toughen up, America has never been a place for the fainthearted.
Report thisBy Nabil Al-Murabit, April 5, 2006 at 9:38 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
I don’t give a rats ass if this debate is f’n hurtull, something needs to be done about this. Whatever happened to the tough conservative and the wimpy liberal? We need to get a handle on these illegal aliens now, before its too late.
My maternal grandparents came here from Mauratania and they had to play by the f’n rules. The didn’t get a guest worker visa or amnesty. They were discriminated against becuase they didn’t look like everyone else, didn’t worship like anyone and they didn’t speak the language, but they did it legally and overcame.
I wonder if Jeb would be so hurtful, if he didn’t have a latin wife or live in a state that has a sizable latin population, with 33 electorial votes (that he passed on to his brother).
Report thisBy JP, April 5, 2006 at 3:42 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
I’m surprised..but good for Jeb!
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