Was it wrong for Jeb Bush to nickname someone Hurricane Katrina?

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune ^ | Kevin Litten, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

[BBell]

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush's decision to nickname a South Carolina politician "Hurricane Katrina" is being criticized for what political observers say is insensitive to the victims of the 2005 disaster, CNN reports.

According to the cable network, Bush was trying to make a joke about South Carolina state Sen. Katrina Shealy, who's been the only woman in the state Senate for the past three years. But in giving her the nickname, Bush conjured up memories of his brother, former President George W. Bush, and what many called his inept handling of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath that killed more than 1,800 people and caused billions of dollars in property damage.

Here's how CNN quoted the younger Bush, who was campaigning in South Carolina, the first southern primary state in the nation.

"I don't know why your great state senator reminds me of a hurricane. But she does. She's strong and she's fierce, and she's solving problems for you at the state capitol," CNN reported Bush saying. "You should be honored to have her as your elected official. I hope you agree with that. That should be your nickname. In the Bush family, we always give out nicknames. Yours is now Hurricane Katrina."

[BBell]

Really? This is what the media worries about? I went through Katrina and was flooded out. I don't care about this. I guess he should have called her "Typhoon Katrina."

[BipolarBob]

Or “Typhoid Katrina”.

[ClearCase_guy]

Hardly a big deal, but in it’s own way it just reinforces the notion that Bush has a tin ear.

Why remind anyone of one of the episodes that was used to attack Bush? Rightly or wrongly it was not a good moment for big brother.

[Bronzewound]

Jeb is preppy. This is what they do.

 

[TigersEye]

That is so JEB.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

How did this nation of pansies ever win WW II?

[tennmountainman]

Bush has not been the same since Trump crushed him.
Something is wrong with him.

[miss marmelstein]

Only Jeb could actually make a vague witticism and still manage to botch it.

[kiryandil]

I think Yeb! should apologize.

Now.

[Theodore R.]

What’s his beef with this woman state senator? According to Wikipedia, she is conservative.

[kiryandil]

Or maybe Yeb! could do a “WWDTD”? and man up.

[SoFloFreeper]

What an insane question. The media is retarded.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Go CNN! We hate Bush’s guts too!

[RightGeek]

Imagine what Trump would say if the media tried this on him. C’mon Jeb, you can do it. Show us you have a set.

[kiryandil]

Only Jeb could actually make a vague witticism and still manage to botch it.

"WWDTD"?

I think Trump would tell CNN to STFU, explain the "witticism" to their ignorant selves, demand an apology from them, or he would shut them out of media coverage of Himself for the rest of the campaign.

Yeb! will just silently wet _himself.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Yes, this so Yeb!

Somebody came up with that “he’s the smart one” just to make Yeb! feel better

[Theodore R.]

Bush-bots no more, but so many are still for Mrs. Bill.

[kiryandil]

What's his beef with this woman state senator? According to Wikipedia, she is conservative.

Re-read the article [the CNN fogspeak is pretty thick], and see miss marmelstein's post #8. :)

[Crucial]

It would have been wrong if Kathleen Blanco had said it. And this gives me an idea that is terrible to contemplate. What if Blanco balking for help was a manufactured crisis to elect Obama? Couldn’t prove it and anyone saying it in public would be branded a racist forever and yet...

[EEGator]

"What's his beef with this woman state senator? According to Wikipedia, she is conservative."