Jeb Bush: 'I don't know' if Obama is a socialist

CNN ^ | 7/9/09 | CNN Political Producer Rebecca Sinderbrand

[Nachum]

(CNN) – Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told an interviewer that he could not say whether or not President Barack Obama is a socialist, and that the president would not have been elected if he had been honest with Americans about his agenda.

Bush would not answer the question of whether he agreed with the assessment of some congressional Republicans that the president is a socialist. "I don't know. Define socialism for me," he told Esquire magazine. "It's a word… I believe he's a collectivist. He believes that through collective action, through government, you can solve more problems." He added that he believed the word "socialism" was a pejorative, and "didn't help" the GOP make its case.

[Nachum]

Jeb Bush: 'I don't know' if Obama is a socialist

But we do Jeb, we do.

[exist]

“I don’t know”. Translation: I might be running for Senate or President one day.

[brownsfan]

Just the kind of response I expect from a GOP politician.

Gutless.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

Yet another Republican who can’t or won’t call a spade a spade.

[US Navy Vet]

Go away Jeb!

[The_Reader_David]

Actually, the matter is somewhat ambiguous: Obama might not be a socialist, he might be a fascist.

[DoughtyOne]

If Jeb is still left wondering what Obama is, then I'm no longer in need of doubting what Jeb is.  Jeb, bud, buy a clue will ya.

                          The following is directed to Freepers who haven't donated or signed up for monthlies yet...

14% is good.  100% is better.  You know you're going to do it.  Pull the trigger!  You don't have to pay it all now.  $5 now, $25 next week, $10 later... keep the ball rolling.

Monthly donorship is a good way for us to avoid having to do the Freepathons.  Besides, it's a great way to pony up in style.
If you're on the verge of becoming a monthly donor or you think you would like to up your monthly donation a bit, has Jim got a deal for you. 
Check this out.  There's an added incentive for a limited time only.  (Always wanted to type that...)

Thanks to Freepers who have been frequenting the Freepathon thread to ham it up with folks over there.  It helps to raise the visibility of the Freepathon.

Jump into the Monthly Donorship special thread too.  There are horderves, hot women with short skirts, and beer too.  Alert, the pizza just showed up!  It's a partaaaee...
Ladies, there were 15 lifeguards over there a few minutes ago.  (I'm beginning to feel a bit guilty... heh heh heh...)

[library user]

Obama is a Fascist.

[SoConPubbie]

Then you are not qualified to be President Jeb.

[cranked]

Jeb lives in Gray so much, he has a difficult time determining White and Black....apparently, he is color blind.

[Westbrook]

Being a Fabian Socialist himself, Jeb doesn’t really see any difference.

No surprises there.

The GOP is toast, if these are the cream of their crop.

RINO pond scum is what it is.

[DoughtyOne]

I think he is, but that doesn’t preclude him from being a socialist to boot does it.

[MrB]

“I don’t know... I think he’s already transcended socialism to fascism.”

[Joe Boucher]

Jeb Bush backs amnesty.
He did a reasonable job as my Gov. by simply holding back taxes by he is a RINO.

[EyeGuy]

Go buy some man danglers with the family oil money, Jeb.

[truthguy]

'I don't know' if Obama is a socialist

If you can't discern this from what's happening around us, then you aren't intellectually qualified to seek higher office. But what I really suspect is that you know he is a socialist but are afraid to say it. Either way you lack the right stuff.

[Jagdgewehr]

Indeed.

[indylindy]

I wonder if Jeb knows if he himself is a socialist? Surely he is smarter than that.

[counterpunch]

Has he not been paying attention to 0bama’s agenda in office so far?
Of course it doesn’t matter what anyone calls 0bama.. what matters is that they make a case against what he’s doing.

Labeling someone a ‘socialist’ with no context doesn’t help us any.

[MrB]

People need to get it firmly in their minds that the political conflict isn’t between the ‘rats and the gopers. It’s not even between the “liberals” and “conservatives”.

It’s between the ELITES and the INDIVIDUALISTS.

[KoRn]

Then what IS Jeb’s idea of a Socialist?

I’d love to know....

[Chi-townChief]

“’I don’t know’ if Obama is a socialist” but he plays one in Washington.

[Seaplaner]

Define socialism for me," he told Esquire magazine. "It's a word… I believe he's a collectivist.

All-in-all, a pretty reasonable and reasoned response.

I might have added something like..."you people in the media never asked Mister Obama in-depth and probing questions on what his views on socialism, Marxism, and capitalism are...but there is STILL TIME FOR YOU TO DO THAT!"

.

[phoenix07]

Another RINO waffling on the question. Obama is a socialist and a facist and so are Pelosi, Reid, Frank, et. al. We’d better get our tails in gear and throw these creeps out in 2010 midterms and in 2012 or we will NEVER recover...........

[HerrBlucher]

When did it become fashionable to be a castrati?

[brushcop]

This is why FReepers (the truly conservative ones anyhow) have been saying NO MORE BUSHES. Enough of these namby-pamby remarks.

[yoe]

Jeb is exactly the kind of POLITICIAN that is killing the conservative movement. If he can't answer honestly, he has no place in governing for conservatives. Ask a lib and most will tell you "...this country has been becoming a Socialist Country for years and YES we know Obama is a Socialist/Marxist....but maybe he can do it right for once....give the man a chance."

Conservatives will do well not to get near the Jeb Bush type of RINO politicians.

[xp38]

Maybe he is being polite like his brother at the end of his Presidency when he said he expected the O to be a good leader.

[stevem]

I don't know that I would call Obama a socialist. Just about everything he has said and done makes me think he is a fascist.

My personal favorite is his desire to build a national police force as powerful as the United Staes military. Here's a suggestion of what to name them: Gestapo.

While they are training he can call them 'Brownshirts.'

[boomop1]

Maybe Jeb should research this a little instead of being a wimp.

[RexBeach]

You know, Jeb, Mr. Obama may be a martian! Whaddayya think?

[Houghton M.]

You know, you guys frost me, posting something from CNN without reading the original interview. Even what you posted from CNN ought to have raised questions about the interpretation you are putting on it. In the interview Bush repeatedly pointed out tactics: it’s not wise to use the word “socialist” because it doesn’t have the effect you want it to. So he used “collectivist” instead and he was damn critical of Obama. He was simply offering a different rhetorical tactic. The interview includes a lot of intelligent comments on the mess the party is in.

CNN spins this as an exoneration of Obama and you fools fall for it and spit on Jeb Bush.

The comments on this thread are a disgrace.

[Noumenon]

Well, Jeb, it’s like this: I “don’t know” if I could ever vote for your sorry weaselly ass. It’s just that simple.

[meyer]

Dear Jeb,

Yes, Obama's a socialist. And, he's also a fascist. The reason that you don't recognize that he's a socialist is that your entire family is also socialist, though to a lessor extent.

Signed,
Meyer

[wk4bush2004]

“Jeb Bush: ‘I don’t know’ if Obama is a socialist”

YOU DON’T KNOW???? Isn’t it QUITE OBVIOUS????

The only major Republican figure that has flat-out called Obama a socialist is SARAH!!!! And THAT is who we need as POTUS!!!

[broncobilly]

I think Jeb doesn't know, because Obama himself is a bit confused. Obama can't make up his mind whether he is a socialist, fascist, or simply a statist.

[freespirited]

My reaction is completely different.

If Jeb had any positive regard for da One, he’s say “Of course not.”

By saying “I dont know” he’s effectively saying Yes.

I will betcha the RATS are fuming about this.

[Recovering_Democrat]

"It's a word… I believe he's a collectivist. He believes that through collective action, through government, you can solve more problems."

The word, as Jeb! said, is indeed a pejorative (did I spell that right?)...and if Jeb! wants to walk around the word, that is fine with me.

Mark Levin uses the word "statist" in his latest book, which is probably more accurate...a pile of CRAP by any other name would still stink.

So, whether one uses:
communist,
socialist,
collectivist, or
statist,
it all points to the same thing:
HUSSEIN'S PHILOSOPHY IS BANKRUPT.

[Catholic Canadian]

Obama’s definitely not socialist. He’s a communist.

[Seaplaner]

My personal favorite is his desire to build a national police force as powerful as the United Staes military. Here's a suggestion of what to name them: Gestapo.

Either that or the Neo-KGB.

.

[Will88]

In outlook, Obama is a Third Worlder. His politics are a mish mash of a Third World view of the USA and a lot of sixties racalism mixed in, with a big dose of Chicago sleaze and corruption to help get things done. And some form of socialism is the way to accomplish his Third Worlder goals.

[yoe]

Nw, now....don’t get your knickers in a wad....Jeb could have pointed out that Obama follows the Socialist venue and trashed the US Constitution etc, etc,....I will fax J.B. that he should be more clear as to where he stands....however, you truly have a point and it is well taken...you might find a less offensive word for fool *~*

[wintertime]

Gov. Jeb Bush told an interviewer that he could not say whether or not President Barack Obama is a socialist,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jeb Bush’s nose is growing!

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

And, as if there were any doubt, JUST SAY NO to Jeb Bush in 2012 or 2016 or whenever. No more Bushes in the White House.

[Ikemeister]

Another ideologically-confused Bush.

[jacknhoo]

Fascism has its roots in Marxism/socialism, there is no denying this truth. Obama is a Marxist as are most of his appointments and nominees for his administration and the U.S. in general. For Jeb to not admit that he does know this is simply Jeb being disingenuous.

[LottieDah]

The other translation is...”If I come right out and say Obama is a socialist, I will be branded a racist for life.”

[MrB]

FA Hayek asserts that fascism is the step beyond communism,
when the real totalitarian crap kicks in.

It’s when the failure of communism becomes obvious, and the gov’t is fighting to keep control. It does so through brutal tactics and scapegoating.

[wintertime]

Conservatives will do well not to get near the Jeb Bush type of RINO politicians.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I agree! And...We should include Mitt Romney in that RINO group!