Jeb seems to be shedding all possible labels. Money man? Corporatist? Naw!
Conservative? Not Jeb. No way! Or at least, not that kind of conservative.
Likely 2016 presidential candidate Jeb Bush has declined an invitation to speak at a conservative summit in Iowa hosted by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa.), a sometimes controversial figure in the GOP. A Bush aide told The Hill that the former Florida governor appreciated the offer to speak at the Iowa Freedom Summit in late January but that he would not be able to attend.
The Washington Post first reported on Wednesday that Bush had declined the invitation to the summit, which will feature a host of other potential GOP presidential contenders, including Gov. Chris Christie (N.J.), Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), Gov. Rick Perry (Texas), former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, and Dr. Ben Carson.
The summit in the early-voting state is a rite of passage for many Republican candidates seeking to shore up their support among the conservative base. Bush’s absence could fuel attacks against the governor from some on the right who say he’s too moderate to make it through the Republican primaries. …TheHill
So okay. We know Jeb doesn’t want to be seen as a conservative. Does he prefer the liberal label? Or what?
Here’s the thing: Americans like to call themselves “conservative.” But, when it comes right down to issues, more actually identify with liberal choices. Go back and look at the details of Pew Research polls since the Reagan era. “I’m wearing a suit and tie but I’m really just a work shirt and clean jeans kinda fella.”
How this will work for the pudgy ex-governor of Fla. is another story, one that’s developing right now as Jeb Bush moves from being a sonuva and a brotheruva to being a newborn Mr. Right. Worked for George W.; might work as well for Jeb.
Cross posted from Prairie Weather
graphic via shutterstock.com