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Republican message needs an upgrade, Jeb Bush says

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By WILLIAM MARCH

wmarch@tampatrib.com

Published: July 12, 2009

TAMPA - In an interview with Esquire Magazine, published last week, former Gov. Jeb Bush, who is viewed by some Republicans as an important factor in the future of the party, discounts the possibility that he will seek national office any time soon.

But he also vows to remain part of the effort of restoring the party.

Bush says the reason for the Republican Party's losses in the past two elections were not because the party espoused the wrong ideas, but because, "We didn't advocate our positions well enough to win" and failed to modernize its message.

He says the GOP lost on tactics. "In terms of the mechanics of politics ... the Democrats have cleaned our clock."

But, he adds, "There hasn't been any kind of restatement of the organizing principles of our philosophy. ... We haven't upgraded our message. We haven't updated it. If you close your eyes and listen to most Republicans, most conservatives, the same speech could have been given in 1990."

At other points in the interview, done by Tucker Carlson, Bush blasts President Barack Obama, whom he has previously spoken of positively.

Asked why Obama is popular, Bush replies, "First of all, who cares?"

He then contends - inaccurately - that his brother was more popular early in his term as president than Obama is.

Asked about his own political future, Bush replied, "I don't organize my life around political ambition. ... Frankly, I don't wake up each day assuming I'm the solution to life's problems."

Bush says his current goal is "to achieve some degree of financial security for my family."

"When you're talking about running for something, it requires an all-in commitment, and I don't have the luxury of doing that right now," he said.

The last personal financial statement Bush filed as governor showed he had a net worth of $1.4 million in 2005.

In other points in the interview, Bush says:

•The party should stick to its positions against abortion rights and gay marriage. "Those are important issues to not shy away from. And I don't think that's the reason why suburban voters have migrated to the Democrats. I think it's the economic issues."

•Rush Limbaugh is "a hugely important force for the conservative movement ... I feel happy for Rush to get all this attention. He's one part of a mosaic of people and thought in the conservative movement. I don't think you can discount his importance."

•Asked to name the leaders of the Republican Party, Bush included St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker along with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. He didn't include two of the three people considered GOP 2012 presidential front-runners - former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

The interview is in the August issue of Esquire, on newsstands Monday. It can be read online at http://www.esquire.com/ features/jeb-bush-interview-0809.

Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761.

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