Jeb Bush: GOP Must Be More Than The "Old White Guy Party," "Party Of No"

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush had some critical words for Republicans in a recent speech, saying the GOP needed to become more than the "old white guy party" and the "party of no."

The GW Hatchet reported on the speech, given to a group of College Republicans:

Bush said he believes the Republican Party needs to cater its message to include everyone in America, and become more than the "old white guy party."

"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize that in order for a political party to be successful it has to reach out to everyone," Bush said. "In politics, you never win when you say 'us and them.' We need a more welcoming message."

"I sense that our party is kind of in a nostalgic mode where we look back to the good old days," Bush said. "However good they were, and there were some good days, is completely irrelevant in 2009."

He added, "We just can't be the party of no."

A spokesman for the GW College Republicans confirmed:

Andrew Clark, a spokesman for the GW College Republicans, who hosted the speech, confirmed the accuracy of the account to our reporter, Beth Marlowe, though he qualified that Bush also said the "party of No" label was not accurate, which doesn't materially alter his assessment of the party's political travails. "

The former governor's comments resonate with growing GOP concern over the party's chances to gain congressional seats in the upcoming midterm elections.

It's not the first time Bush has critiqued his party's direction. In May, he said Republicans need to look to the future and "beyond the heyday of the Reagan era."

"You can't beat something with nothing, and the other side has something. I don't like it, but they have it, and we have to be respectful and mindful of that," he said at the time.

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Comments

[LaurenMarie984]

......says the "old white guy" embodiment of the Duh-bya administration

[atexasdem]

I wonder if and when the "true conservatives" will label Jeb Bush a RINO? That could be interesting. His dad has actually been seen in public with Bill Clinton after all. Maybe they'll declare the entire Bush family as RINO.

[rf dude]

But it'll forevermore be the party of " No Bush "...

[ProudMilVet]

Look out Jeb, Rush is not going to like this one bit !

[IntellectuallyHonest]

And the Party of wars in the Middle East.

[loki]

But they are already more than the party of No. They are the party of Disruption. The party of Hate. The party of promoting lies and deceptions. The party of Racism. The party of Polarizing the country.

[JohnWilliam]

Disruption implies a potential of achievement.

[pantherburns]

Yes! The Repubs must become the party of NO WAY, NO HOW!

[gotovt]

Daddy Bush is till crying the wrong son was elected president.

[Superstretch18]

We all should be. Jeb is actually rather moderate and in all likelihood would have done an exponentially better job than W...

[nexxtep54]

Until he gets in office.

[Sukami]

I'll never support a member of the Bush family for any office in this country. That said, I have to wonder if Jeb has ideas about how to make his party better, but is just afraid to express them. The republicans have a reputation for turning against their own when the individual is not marching in lock step with the rest of the party leadership. If he truly cares about changing his party he should outline the changes that need to be made. I have to agree with most posters here. These statements were just another weak attempt at regaining power.

[Okieborn]

Your right Jeb old boy !!
The party of No under your brothers presidency was the party of YES to BIG OIL !!

[daninastoria]

No they don't.

[justoverit333]

Jeb - they are more than The Party of No. They
are The Party of No New Ideas, The Party of
No Middle Class, The Party of No Clean Energy,
The Party of No Gay People, The Party of No
Bank Regulations, The Party of No Minorities,
The Party of No Freedom of Choice

[Ron44]

How can the Repubs be anything other than the Party of No, THEY ARE OWNED AND OPERATED BY RUSH LIMBAUGH!!!!

[bluemike]

Look on the bright side. At least Jeb doesn't have beady little eyes and a perpetual smirk.

[DaveyDavey]

The GOP will always be the party of "No Soul."

http://www.republicansforrape.org

[roblabrousse]

Exactly....this spouting off mentioned nothing about the concerns and values the party should have, the integrity that it has lost or the lack of honesty it is missing towards the American people. As usual it is simply about winning back power and how they have to do it. Usually you ask what do we truly stand for and what do we offer the voters. What are we going to to do to make it better in this country. Not how are we going to connive to get back our lost strength. No, Jeb is a Bush first, a Republican second and power hungry all the same. He serves his pocket and those of his upper- hierarchy Republicans. This is about strategy not doing the right thing for America.