Wednesday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL), a candidate for the 2016 Republican nomination, discussed the back-and-forth going on between his campaign and the campaign of his opponent, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).
Bush was asked by show co-host Willie Geist to react to an attack ad titled “These Boots Are Made for Walking” from a pro-Bush super-PAC, to which Bush said he thought it was fair game, despite potentially helping the potential Democratic opposition in the form of party front-runner Hillary Clinton.
The boots appeared to be a theme of the ad because Rubio wore a pair of high-heeled boots on the campaign trail last week, which drew the attention of his GOP opponents. However, when asked by co-host Joe Scarborough about what boots he would wear, Bush explained he didn’t have a height issue and could wear normal normal cowboy boots.
Partial transcript as follows:
GEIST: Governor Bush, it’s Willie Geist. Good to see you this morning. The super-PAC that’s supporting you put out an add yesterday going after Marco Rubio as a flip-flopper. Rubio’s campaign responded and said that your campaign now exists for the sole purpose of tearing down conservatives like Marco Rubio and said that you’re helping to elect Hillary Clinton. How do you respond to that?
BUSH: Well, first of all, I have no coordination with the super-PAC.
GEIST: Right.
BUSH: Secondly, Marco Rubio’s super-PAC and his campaign has attacked me, has attacked Ted Cruz, has attacked Chris Christie, so let’s — don’t try to feel like the — you know that anybody’s a victim here. This isn’t bean bag, this is politics.
In fact, I would say it’s pretty tame so far compared to previous election cycles. Every candidate will have their record scrutinized and I’m proud to have mine scrutinized because I have a record of accomplishment and I’m going to focus on that.
GEIST: And what do you think, Governor, of the ad? I know you don’t coordinate with your super-PAC, but surely, you saw it. What did you think of the ad about Rubio?
BUSH: Look, I think — I think we need leaders that run to the challenge, run to the fire to try to solve the problem rather than cut and run if there’s a problem, and there are a lot of elected officials these days that don’t accept responsibility for — for the challenges that we face.
I’m a problem solver. I see a problem and I accept responsibility and try to fix things. I don’t try to say the dog ate my homework or there’s — you know, someone else’s fault. And that is an important point because we’re not electing a back venture to the United States Senate. We’re electing president of the United States…
GEIST: Yeah.
BUSH: … which means you have to lead.
SCARBOROUGH: Yeah, but — but Jeb, do you own any platform boots that make you taller?
(LAUGHTER)
BUSH: I’ve got my cowboy boots on, big Joe.
SCARBOROUGH: Do they make you three inches taller or are they just normal cowboy boots?
BUSH: I don’t — I don’t have a height issue.
SCARBOROUGH: Oh, OK. Very good.
(LAUGHTER)
BRZEZINSKI: Oh wow.
SCARBOROUGH: Gene Robinson.
ROBINSON: This is Gene Robinson from the Washington Post. All right, did you watch…
BUSH: Gene, just — let me make it clear here. Just to be clear, I have a height — I’m height challenged. My wife tells me there’s an inverse relationship between height and intelligence. So I’m struggling.
Follow Jeff Poor on Twitter @jeff_poor
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