As governor of Florida, Jeb Bush establish a track record of homophobia that ranks up there with the best. He opposed gay adoption, on the grounds that “If you’re going to have permanency, it should be with a loving couple that is a man and a wife.” He supported a federal constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality that his brother proposed. When the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013, Jeb Bush reiterated that he’s “a supporter of traditional marriage.”
Now that marriage equality is a reality in Florida, Bush is saying the same things he’s always said. And the mainstream media is proclaiming that Bush is now suddenly sounding much more sympathetic than ever before.
Don’t you believe it for a moment.
On Sunday, Bush was saying exactly the same thing he’s been saying about marriage equality for years:“it ought to be a local decision.” By which Bush means that the state should have the right to let voters enshrine bigotry if they so wish.
How about we take this to the next level?
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After a federal judge ruled Monday that marriages have to begin in Dade County today, Bush issued a statement that The New York Times quickly proclaimed “conciliatory.”
“We live in a democracy, and regardless of our disagreements, we have to respect the rule of law,” Bush said. “I hope that we can show respect for the good people on all sides of the gay and lesbian marriage issue – including couples making lifetime commitments to each other who are seeking greater legal protections and those of us who believe marriage is a sacrament and want to safeguard religious liberty.”
It’s an artful statement. For one thing, it makes same-sex relationships about “greater legal protections,” not the same legal protections that heterosexual couples enjoy. But more importantly, Bush is signalling his support for the right of religious conservatives to ignore those very same protections if they so choose.
In essence, Bush is saying that everyone should respect the rule of law–except religious conservatives.
Now how conciliatory is that?
Jeb Bush has always been the most conservative of the public Bushes, which should give anyone who lived through George W’s presidency pause. Twenty years ago, Jeb was arguing against “sodomy be[ing] elevated to the same constitutional status as race and religion.”
But that may not be good enough for Bush’s presidential hopes. Since announcing last month that he was exploring a White House run, Bush has met with reactions that could best be summed up as “meh.” Moreover, as conservative as Bush has been, the modern GOP is even further to the right. When Bush makes moderate sounds, such as he has about immigration reform, he’s committing heresy to the true believers who are the party’s base.
As a result, Bush is going to have to pick something to shore up his conservative credentials if he really is running for president (which isn’t a certainty). Being a homophobe is certainly one way to go. Now that Mike Huckabee has thrown his hat into the ring, antigay rhetoric is going to be a staple of the GOP presidential primary. Bush is going to have to up the volume if he’s to be competitive.
Judging from his latest statement, Bush looks to be walking a fine line. He wants the media to think he’s a moderate (after all, they fell for that line from his brother). But he wants to let the base know that he’s really with them. So expect more dog whistles from the candidate. Just don’t expect any change.
UWSguy
If another Bush gets elected president I’m moving to another country
BJ McFrisky
He’s as homophobic as Eve?
Shame on Eve.
LadyL
Actually he doesn’t care what WE think; he knows we’re not buying his bullshit. He’s talking to straight voters and counting on the ever-reliable mainstream media to help him shovel the message.
LadyL
@UWSguy: I wish I had that option.
Ron Jackson
The last thing this country needs is more bush! Ugh!
onthemark
Uh… I’m not sure I understand the Eve reference. Is that in Genesis someplace? Was Adam bisexual? Was Eve always jealous of Steve?
lauraspencer
It’s too early to tell where Bush 3 stands on gay issues. People do evolve.
If we look back to less than 5 years ago both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama didn’t come out in support of gay marriage. Let;s not forget that Bill Clinton instituted “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and DOMA but he now seems to support gay marriage.
As for George W. Bush he certainly did use gays and fear to win elections, but when in office he didn’t isntitute legislation against GLBT. He was talk (to get elected by conesrvatives) but no action (thankfully).
petensfo
He’s a politician & he’s used plenty of veiled phrases to make clear his distaste for gay equality so that he can continue to woo all those conservative primary voters he thinks he’s going to be needing soon.
He’s definitely not what this nation needs as leadership.
polarisfashion
@UWSguy: My first choice would be Argentina. God help us all if we get a Republican President.
Desert Boy
It’s interesting, isn’t?
The Bush women, Barbara Sr., Laura, Jenna, and Barbara, Jr., are all pro-gay and support same-sex marriage with the exception of Laura, but who still supports civil rights.
The Bush men, the Ranch Chimp, Jebby and George P., do not support same-sex marriage which suggests they’re all closet cases.
Even Poppy Bush presided over the marriage of two lesbians a few years ago. In any case, as voters, none of the Bush men should ever be allowed near the White House.
1EqualityUSA
Do you remember when Geo W spouted on about compassionate conservatism? He was anything but compassionate. Always ask yourselves, “What kind of Supreme Court Justice would he want.” -yeah.
1EqualityUSA
televangelisteyes, scary.
GayEGO
Frankly I would be shocked if Jeb Bush supported any LGBT right as he is a religious conservative. Just to recap the time when Massachusetts supported marriage equality, the governor at that time, Mitt Romney, wanted it put to a vote as he did not support marriage equality, no surprise as he is a Mormon. The Massachusetts politicians did not put it on the ballot and we have enjoyed over 10 years of marriage equality here.
customartist
@1EqualityUSA:
Yeah, those dead innocent Iraqui women & children are feeling the Bush compassion
Dan P
I’m not a fan of Jeb Bush, but one has to remember that Obama also supported DOMA (marriage only between a man and a woman) when he first ran, as did Clinton who signed it into law. Am I the only one that remembers this? They do that to get votes in certain states. Sort of an inconvenient truth, huh?
customartist
People may evolve, but they do not likely do so in direct sinc with the time that they are about to run for office.
If Jeb were at all sincere about his position moderating, then he would have already expressed a desire for people to “show respect for the good people on all sides”, before now,…but he didn’t. He is fake.
And he has been perfectly fine with HIS political allies fighting tooth and nail in the courts, the legislatures, the media and the churches against gays having our Constitutional rights all along.
Now he wants us to play nice for His benefit, and the benefit of His political party?
Fat chance! They would just as soon kill us as to look at us.
Derek Williams
If someone changes their position, we should take it at face value and behave accordingly. Otherwise activism is pointless.
robho3
While I would never vote for him, he is much more moderate than all the other republican hopefuls. I think we will see his stance on many gay issues change as we get into the election. He is someone to watch out for as he can go after the Hispanic vote- they like the Bushes and his wife is Hispanic. We democrats need to come up with a better candidate then Hilary Clinton if we are going to beat this man. I vote for Elizabeth Warren.
customartist
@Dan P:
The difference being the Party Platforms.
customartist
@Derek Williams:
Like we took his Brother at face value?
“No new nation-building”?
This is where we part ways.
A Republican President will vote the Party Platform.
Derek Williams
@customartist: I take your point, and I am not fully across all Jed Bush’s pronouncements on LGBT issues. But if he says he supports:
1. LGBT equality to housing and employment
2. LGBT right to serve in the military
3. LGBT inclusion in ENDA
4. Repeal of DOMA
5. Repeal of Prop 8 and all other marriage ban reversals in the states
then he is going against his own party’s express policy which is against every single one of these. If he reverses his position on any or all of these, then he should be treated as though this is genuine, and all his actions and policies scrutinized thereafter in that light. This is the way to catch out hypocrisy.
Derek Williams
@customartist: I forgot to add LGBT adoption, so you can make that #6 in my list above.
connorlarkin19
Jeb Bush’s soul brother in hypocrisy is Pat Boone–drug user,
serial adultry, and drove daughter to drugs. Yes, Jeb’s daughter spent tim in Florida jail
for crack possession.
Fundamentalism is opposed to honesty in family relations and communication.
beachcomberT
Fine, focus on Jeb if you want, since he is headline material these days. But let’s not forget the damage caused by Obama’s decision to duck the gay marriage issue in 2008, when Florida voters had a referendum before them. That was the time to speak up. Instead, Obama knuckled under to conservative pastors, many of them black, so the one-man, one-woman amendment prevailed by 2 percentage points. And has Obama really evolved since then? What has he done for ENDA? To what degree has he made Social Security gay-tolerant? And is Hillary any better? Let’s stop being hoodwinked by these fake progressives.
Creamsicle
Gay rights and marriage equality is going mainstream, especially with young people and young voters. If the GOP insists on making opposing marrriage equality as a Presidential race topic then they will destroy their partparty’s future. I don’t think that they are that dumb and short sighted.
Derek Williams
Surely that’s a good thing. Their party deserves to be destroyed. They are a disgrace in every sense.
Kieran
Barbara Bush had it right when asked if she’d like to see Jeb as President. She said America has had more than enough Bushes by now. Amen Barbara.
Doughosier
With Republicans you never know if they themselves are stupid or they are just pandering to the stupid voters. Either way, if you’re gay, you’d be stupid to vote for a Republican.
Mark Jenkins
In the first place, Bush’s comment about supporting gay marriage and then “supporting religious liberty” are juxtapositions. Religion and politics Do Not Mix- or so our constitution says “A separation of Church and State”- that phrase IS in there somewhere- isn’t it? Barbara Bush, an elegant lady (for all that she’s a republican (poor thing)- said it best- “America has had enough Bushes in the White House!”- And in response to Creamsicle- Of course they’re that dumb and shortsighted- they’re republicans, for crying out loud! the very definition of the word!
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
That bitch Eve!
1EqualityUSA
I hate to see a bush smirk…..odd childhoods, for sure. A whole row of bushes, all smirking. I wonder who he would want as the next appointee on the Supreme Court, likely a man who smirks. I could see him turning thumper after his failed runs. What were these young persons taught? creepy group.
jwtraveler
@BJ McFrisky: But much more homophobic than Steve.
Bryguyf69
I’m no fan of the Bushes, but I’d like to believe that most of the Bushes are not against gay marriage, but must play politics to placate their base. I base this on a single event. The Bush patriarchs — George H and Barbara Bush — served as witnesses for a lesbian wedding in 2013. They didn’t didn’t just attend, but served as witnesses. That indicated to me that they celebrate gay marriages at heart, and were willing to publicly semi-acknowledge it.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/wp/2013/09/25/george-h-w-bush-is-witness-at-same-sex-marriage-in-maine/
LadyL
@Bryguyf69: I suppose… Or maybe we’re all supposed to be keeping that in mind as Jeb prepares a White House run. But even if the Bushes are not really homophobic and are just playing to the base, what do they say to their gay friends and staffers? And family members? Don’t they have any gay family members? How do they look those people in the eye? Obama came around on gay marriage because he had to–he couldn’t continue to insult the people who’d supported him and worked so hard to get him elected.
Could we ever count on the same from a President Jeb Bush (or for that matter from a President Chris Christie)? I don’t think so.
tjr101
Bringing Obama into this and comparing him to the likes of the Bushes is an insult to people’s intelligence. He’s nothing like the Bushes and thank goodness for that because our community has benefited tremendously during the past 6 years. Obama has never had an anti-gay track record. He supported same-sex marriage when he was a state senator and has the pro-gay track record to back up with his policies. The Bushes are just slimy and to this day not one of them have voiced support for same-sex marriage.
jimontp
@lauraspencer: WHAT BS! It is a matter of recognizing equal rights under the Constitution. No matter how long it took for certain Democrats to grasp that, the GOP has moved more away from that principle. No Republican can get his party’s nomination unless he promises to treat gays differently than other Americans. Any gay person who supports them needs to have his/her head examined.
jimontp
@Bryguyf69: Another BS comment. NO BUSH has ever spoken up for EQUALITY for gays. So the old ones “stood up” at a lesbian wedding. Whatever the elders do in private, ever find anything they said about equality? And shrub ran for re-election in 2004 by stressing his support for banning gay rights. To win the GOP nomination, ANY candidate has to be homophobic. Jeb is just carrying on a family tradition. Face it. This is not a gay friendly party.
Bryguyf69
@jimontp: What the hell are you talking about? First off, what is “BS” about my comment? Please quote. I said nothing about voting for any Bush, nor did I ever claim that they were advocates of gay rights. READ CAREFULLY. All I said was that I don’t think they’re homophobes at heart. Nor do I think they especially like gays. I think most of the Bushes just don’t care. And any pro- or anti- gay actions are based on purely on politics. So where is the BS? Do you have mindreading abilities into the Bushes that I don’t?
Read my post and then read your reply. Why are you arguing against points that I never made? Read your last two sentences: “Face it. This is not a gay friendly party.” Where exactly did I mention ANYTHING about the GOP, or implied that they are gay friendly? What exactly are you telling me to “face”? Here’s some advice: Read. Think. THEN post. Duh.
mgkbus
@Bryguyf69: Hey there! I understand what you trying to say before you were verbally assaulted. But, I have first and second-hand knowledge of the Bushes racism and homophobia. Those of us who lived in New England have had to deal with the Bushes for years. They’ve (collectively) have gotten away with more petty crimes than one might think, and the people of the towns disserviced by 3 generations of robber barons. We know when junior was sent to Texas to avoid local prosecution and then it was obivioused that he had monied his way through any real service in the Armed Services. I can’t identify my friends and associates ( and family) to offer you witness. You’ll have to trust that history bears me out. Research before responding.
mgkbus
I just have to mention this: I was a black, gay registered Republican from New Hampshire. I was proud and out and didn’t care who said what. Until you have experienced NH politics, don’t judge!
Sluggo2007
Ellen DeGeneres should run because we need someone who can lick Bush!!!
Dakotahgeo
Bush evolves… just like ebola!
Chris
@Dakotahgeo: ooooooooooooooooo ….. I like!
Desert Boy
I’ve already heard comments like, “Jeb’s a moderate”. Ah, no, he’s not a moderate.
Bryguyf69
@Desert Boy wrote:
“’ve already heard comments like, “Jeb’s a moderate”. Ah, no, he’s not a moderate.”
===
By GOP standards, he’s indeed a moderate. In fact, Conservative Republicans would even consider him liberal on some social issue. For example, he allows for abortions in cases of rape, in.cest and health of the woman. He also claims to support the principles in the defunct Equal Rights Amendment. One reason the ERA never passed was its implicit support of gay rights, including marriage. Although he was against hate crimes status for gays and spoke out against gay marriage in the 1990’s, he seems to have evolved on marriage. In 2013, he said that traditional marriage is best, but that he would recognize same-sex marriages.
As for race, he claims to have left Texas in the 1980’s because of discrimination against his Mexican wife. He ordered Spanish versions of licensure exams, angering “English only” supporters. He even spoke in favor of Affirmative Action in 1998, although he later got rid of the program in Florida in 2007. In 2013, he asked for more racial and gender diversity in trial judges. And of course, his views on immigration are at odds with Conservatives, and is often seen as the major hurdle for winning a Presidential nomination.
It’s difficult to gauge how moderate he truly is since he has to first win the nomination before the Presidency, And he can’t win the nomination by appearing too moderate/liberal.
NateOcean
Another one of the monsters that oozed out of Barbara Bush’s fetid womb.
I don’t think the country could survive a third Bush presidency.
Desert Boy
@Bryguyf69: Well, then Jebby sounds like YOUR kind of Republican for president.
Bryguyf69
As a liberal, I wouldn’t vote for him, but there’s no denying that among GOP frontrunners, Bush is the best hope for LGBTs. While no gay advocate, he would probably take a hands-off approach to LGBT issues,. His rival Christie has spoken out against gay marriage, and unlike the Bushes, has shown no personal involvement with gays. To Christie’s credit, however, he refused to appeal a judicial decision allowing gay marriages in NJ. He claimed that appealing was useless since it was clear that he’d lose. Whether that was just an excuse to placate conservative Republicans is unknown. Equally unknown are his true views on LGBT rights since he must appear moderate to govern NJ. I’d go for Bush over Christie simply because Christie has shown an inability to negotiate, and his lack of diplomacy is problematic for international dealings.
As for the other probable nominees, the most pro-gay is Rob Portman. HE has a gay son and has urged the GOP to accept gay marriage. Unfortunately, he rarely even shows up on GOP polls. Tea Party libertarian Rand Paul is second. He told Peter Hamby that although he is for traditional marriage, he doesn’t think it’s the government’s business, and would welcome opposing views into the GOP. When Hamby asked if he would change his views, he shrugged and “half-grimaced.” In contrast, the repulsive opportunistic demogogue, Ted Cruz, has said that he intends to mount a defense of “traditional marriage,” which he says, is “under assalt.”
Bryguyf69
@Desert Boy wrote “Well, then Jebby sounds like YOUR kind of Republican for president.”
===
It’s sad how you chose to personalize this without any basis in fact. Where exactly did I say that I’d vote for him or support him? Did I ever say that I’d even vote Republican (which I’ve never done)? Perhaps most insulting is your implication that I’m a one issue voter. I only wrote about gay, and incidentally, other social issues. But my world is so much more complicated. I care about the economy, world events, education, the environment, etc. So stop projecting your simplistic approach to politics onto me.
Clark35
*Yawn* Honestly, who cares? They are all the same in both major parties now.