Jeb Bush in CNN 2015 GOP primary debate
On Abortion:
I defunded Planned Parenthood in Florida; do same federally
Q: You recently said while discussing Planned Parenthood that you're "not sure we need a half billion for women's health issues."BUSH: I'm the most pro-life governor on this stage. Life is a gift from God. And from beginning end we need to respect it
and err on the side of life. And so I defunded Planned Parenthood. And I would bring that philosophy to Washington. So here is a solution to this. Title X of the HHS funding, there is something that was the "Reagan Rule." It was passed in 1988.
And the courts approved this, that a Planned Parenthood, you couldn't separate the money between the actual abortion procedures, and there are 330,000 abortions that take place in this clinic, and their promotion of it. He interpreted it the right way,
the courts ruled in his favor, and Planned Parenthood did not get funding during that time until President Clinton came in. When I'm elected president, we will restore that interpretation of Title X. And this deal will be finished.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
On Civil Rights:
Accommodate conscience on gay marriage at local level
I think there needs to be accommodation for someone acting on faith. Religious conscience is a first freedom. It's a powerful part of our Bill of Rights. And, in a big, tolerant country, we should respect the rule of law. I was opposed to the decision,
but we can't just say, "well, gays can't get married now." But this woman, there should be some accommodation for her conscience, just as there should be for people that are florists that don't want to participate in weddings, or bakers.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
On Drugs:
Opposed medical marijuana on Florida ballot question
What goes on in Colorado, as far as I'm concerned, that should be a state decision. But if you look at the problem of drugs in society today, it's a serious problem. It is appropriate for the government to play a consistent role to be able to
provide more treatment, more prevention. In Florida, there are drug courts to give people a second chance. Medical marijuana on the ballot was opened up, there was a huge loophole, it was the first step. As a citizen of Florida, I voted no.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
On Foreign Policy:
Give Israel sophisticated weapons to send message to Iran
As it relates to Iran, it's not a strategy to tear up an agreement. A strategy would be how do we confront Iran? And, the first thing that we need to do is to establish our commitment to Israel which has been altered by this administration.
And, make sure that they have the most sophisticated weapons to send a signal to Iran that we have Israel's back. If we do that, it's going to create a healthier deterrent effect than anything else I can think of.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
On Government Reform:
Fight for Supreme Court nominees who uphold our Constitution
Q:After Chief Justice John Roberts voted to uphold ObamaCare twice, Senator Cruz criticized your brother for appointing John Roberts to the Supreme Court. Did your brother make a mistake?BUSH: Well, I'm surprised Senator Cruz would say that since he
was as strong supporter of John Roberts at the time. I will talk about what I will do as it relates to appointing Supreme Court Justices. We need to make sure that we have justices that, with a proven experienced record of respect for upholding the
constitution. That is what we need. The history in recent past is to appoint people that have no experience so that you can't get attacked. I'm willing to fight for those nominees to make sure that they get passed. You can't do it the politically
expedient way anymore.
CRUZ: Yes, it was a mistake when John Roberts was appointed to the Supreme Court. I supported his confirmation. That was a mistake and I regret that
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
On Gun Control:
99.999% of people should be able to keep their guns
Hillary Clinton, after one of these horrific violent acts, said we need to have federal gun laws. President Obama almost always says the same thing. And the result is you're going to take away rights of law-abiding citizens, 99.999% of the people.
That's not the right approach. In Florida, we have a background check. We have concealed-weapon permit holders. We have a reduction in violent crime because we put people behind bars when they use a gun in the commission of the crime.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
On Health Care:
Fund good care providers for women, not Planned Parenthood
There are 13,000 community-based organizations that provide health services to women, 13,000 in this country. I don't believe that Planned Parenthood should get a penny from the federal government.
Those organizations should get funding, just as I increased funding when I was governor of the state.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
On Homeland Security:
My brother kept us safe after 9/11
TRUMP [to Bush]: Your brother's administration gave us Barack Obama, because it was such a disaster, those last three months, that Abraham Lincoln couldn't have been elected.BUSH: As it relates to my brother, there's one thing I know for sure.
He kept us safe. You remember the fire fighter with his arms around it? He sent a clear signal that the United States would be strong and fight Islamic terrorism, and he did keep us safe.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
On Homeland Security:
Stop the craziness of the sequester & rebuild the military
I'm going to create a strategy that is based on the simple fact that the United States needs to lead the world. The first thing that we need to do is to stop the craziness of the sequester. Rebuild our military so that we
don't deploy people over and over again without the necessary equipment to keep them safe, to send a signal to the world that we're serious. If we're going to lead the world, then we need to have the strongest military possible.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
On Immigration:
When students ask questions in Spanish, I answer in Spanish
Q [to Trump]: You have criticized Governor Bush for speaking Spanish on the campaign trail. You said, "He should really set an example by speaking English in the United States." What's wrong with speaking Spanish?TRUMP:
We have a country, where, to assimilate, you have to speak English. I'm not the first one to say this: This is a country where we speak English, not Spanish.
BUSH: Well, I've been speaking English here tonight, and I'll keep speaking English. But the simple fact is, if a high school kid asks me a question in Spanish,
I'm going to show respect and answer that question in Spanish. Even though they do speak English, and even though they embrace American values.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
On Immigration:
My wife is Mexican and she wants a wall on Mexican border
My wife is a Mexican-American. She's an American by choice. She loves this country as much as anybody in this room, and she wants a secure border. But she wants to embrace the traditional American values that make us special and make us unique.
We're at a crossroads right now. Are we going to take the Reagan approach, the hopeful optimistic approach, the approach that says you come to our country legally, you pursue your dreams with a vengeance, you create opportunities for all of us?
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
On Tax Reform:
I am a real conservative
People are supporting me because I have a proven record of conservative leadership where I cut taxes $19 billion over eight years. We shrunk the state government work-force, we created a climate that led the nation in job growth seven out of eight years.
We were one of two states to go to AAA bond rating. People know that we need principle-centered leadership.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
On War & Peace:
When we pulled back in Iraq, ISIS filled the void
When we pull back, voids are created. We left Iraq. We should've had an agreement to stay there with a small force, and instead of that, we politically and militarily pulled back, and now we have the creation of ISIS. 36 days ago in this very library,
I gave a speech with a comprehensive strategy how to take out ISIS, and it requires American leadership and engagement. We don't have to be the world's policemen. But we certainly have to be the world's leader.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
On Welfare & Poverty:
4% growth strategy to lift people out of poverty
For the first time in modern history, more businesses are failing than are being created. We can reverse course by creating a 4% growth strategy where we reform how we tax, fix the broken regulatory system,
embrace the energy revolution in our midst, fix the immigration system so we can turn it into an economic driver, deal with the structural fiscal problems that exist because of our entitlement problems that will overwhelm and create way too much debt.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Sep 16, 2015
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018