(CNN) – One of the GOP's leading voices said Monday that former President Ronald Reagan, considered an idol among Republican politicians, would struggle to mesh with today's hyper-partisan attitude among some elected officials.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, speaking to editors at Bloomberg, also said his father, former President George H.W. Bush, would have trouble fitting in with today's Republican Party.
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"Ronald Reagan would have, based on his record of finding accommodation, finding some degree of common ground, as would my dad – they would have a hard time if you define the Republican party – and I don't – as having an orthodoxy that doesn't allow for disagreement, doesn't allow for finding some common ground," Bush said, according to the website Buzzfeed.
The remarks were nearly immediately highlighted by President Barack Obama's re-election team, which emailed the comments to a press distribution list. Obama's team has itself struggled in recent weeks with off-message comments from campaign surrogates, including former President Bill Clinton and Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Cory Booker.
Jeb Bush said an attitude of bipartisanship existed during the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations.
"Back to my dad's time and Ronald Reagan's time – they got a lot of stuff done with a lot of bipartisan support," Bush said, according to Buzzfeed.
Today's White House and Congress don't reflect the same attitude, Bush said, placing much of the blame on Obama.
"His first year could have been a year of enormous accomplishment had he focused on things where there was more common ground," Bush said.
Last week Bush made headlines when he broke with many in his party on taxes, saying he favored slight tax increases in return for large cuts in spending.
When pressed in the hearing, Bush said he also disagreed with popular pledges authored by Washington anti-tax heavyweight Grover Norquist and his group, Americans for Tax Reform.
"I ran for office three times. The pledge was presented to me three times. I never signed the pledge. I cut taxes every year I was governor," Bush said.
Also see:
Axelrod weighs in on Obama's private sector comments
Romney video goes after Obama's comments on economy
Daniels, Walker want Romney to go bold
McCain: Obama responsible for leaks, Holder has no credibility
From CNN Politics
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Reagan is closed to Obama than anyone in the GOP
It is true that the Tea Party has a remarkable amout of power and MONEY which is going to change everything. There is no clear leadership only the threat of losing your seat if you don't do what the Tea Party wants. This latest group to join Congress just followed the Tea Party line: shut the gov't down rather than compromise on taxes – no compromise. Only their way. It is beyond being childish; it is stup$d. Regean & the Speaker of the House (Tip O'Neal) did not agree on anything – other than NOTHING was more important than the success of the US. And they worked to find common ground to move the country forward. Unfortunately that is no longer the case.
I was always confused by the far right comparing them selves to President Reagan. I always admired how he maintained his conservitive values while reaching common ground. I always thought Ronald Reagan rocognized that if you were in congress or the senate you were sent there by people who voted and therefore should be respected. Palin and othe teabaggers who want to emulate the man should develop some class and dignity. I always told my family and friends that I hardly ever agreed with Ronald Reagans politics but I always liked Ronald Reagan and his style I can not say that about many from ethier house of congress on either side of the ilse.. He was a great statesman and a great negotiator these right wing radicals could not shine his shoes yet the have come to act in a way that he would clearly disapprove of. You speak the truth Jeb Bush.
Jeb is correct, Reagan was never a conservative, he was an actor, pushing the agenda, killing the only labor union that endorsed him(remember the FAA ir Traffic Controllers Union?) while raising taxesm approving abortion in California and spying on his fellow actors for the FBI while President of The Screen Actors Guild. He was a great actor.
"His first year could have been a year of enormous accomplishment had he focused on things where there was more common ground," Bush said.
You mean if Obama had just done what the GOP wanted him to do.
And, PJ, the elderly don't matter much to the GOP. Kasich in Ohio denied funding to nursing homes and that will mean a loss of jobs. They are a great bunch. Ask Romney what he would do since he said "I'm not concerned about the very poor."
I'll bet they pull RMoney out at the convention and put Bush in when it's to late to fully vette him. Dollar to a Donut.
Karl Rove is one sneaky b..t..rd.
Oh come on now, Jeb. It's obvious to everyone that the GOP was NEVER going to compromise or work with Obama on anything. Even if there's common ground, they won't admit to it or act on it. Their primary (and maybe only) goal is to get him out of office.
The GOP touts Reagan as a great tax cutter, bt they never mention the following:
1. While Reagan did in fact lower the percentge of the brackets, he closed abusive loopholes and shelters at the same time.
2. Reagan enacted the largest tax increase in 20 years when he doubled the SS tax from 3.125% to 6.25%.
I think Jeb Bush is on to something.
I somewhat agree. However, Regan took care of the rich as well. When he set out to change the country, he had no mercy on the poor. So if your poor, and republicans get in office, get ready for the next great depression, they will through you in the street!. They have no plan for the future of this country, don't care about education, as sure as heck don't care an equal distribution of wealth. Oops!that does sound socialist (who cares). Don't you read, "The World is Flat" everyone is catching up with us, and passed us in some cases. Stop thinking about the good old days and live in the present.
What this NeoCon isn't revealing is that the GOP's primary focus was not bipartisanship but that Pres. Oboma fail, make the healthcare reform his "Waterloo" and don't forget their number one job...to make him a one term prez!
Blaming Obama for this??? Well, doesn't that just show that Jebbiepoo is contributing to the problem himself. It's HIS guys who declared a war on the American people because the American people elected the Black Guy, and it's HIS guys who said their primary aim in the first four years would be to make sure he can't accomplish anything.
If your old, poor( and don't have to be minority), or have no education, your in trouble. This climate and lack of working together to move this country forward the worst I have seen. Its all about making money on politics! All the stations markets news and we buy it, oh how ignorant we are! I know we have the love, skill, and talent to move forward
yeah repubclians back then were more moderate-right, not extreme right like today. i wish we had some of them around still. id feel a lot safer
Finally, something somewhat smart coming from a Bush.
I think Jeb is blowing his chance at getting a job on FoxNews like other Republican hacks have done. He talks too much sense and is willing to reach across the aisle if needed to and agrees with the American people to a certain extent that revenue on certain classes should be increased. In fact he could teach some of our resident right wingers that post here on a regular basis a thing or two about politics.
Dave, what in the name of Barack Obama is a "repubclian?" Is that some sort of bird?
I think Jeb Bush needs to talk about his brother, George W. Bush and let Reagan rest in peace because I'm sure if his brother was like Reagan you wouldn't hear a word about Reagan, it would be all GWB.
From the mouths of babes.......
Of course he's absolutely correct. Reagan would be like Olympia Snowe today, outcast by the party.
The Repubs have worked very hard to block anything that Obama attempts. It's too bad that they aren't working as hard for our country.
Ronnie would be too liberal; besides jelly beans don't go with tea.
He blames the President for the lack of bipartisan cooperation in Congress????? Has FL already legalized marijuana?
Absolutely correct, Jeb!