When asked about the federal government’s role in addressing tension between the police and minority communities during a meeting with the Des Moines Register editorial board on Wednesday, Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush brought up black-on-black shooting rates.
The Republican presidential candidate talked specifically about whether the government has a role in addressing police shootings when it comes to civil rights issues. He said he supported the government becoming involved when there is “overt discrimination.”
“Putting aside a police officer shooting a black man, most of the crimes are black on black in the communities. Most by far,” Bush added. “The police shooting of unarmed black males, which is what the conversation is about as I understand it, is very small.”
“So I’m not sure that that’s necessarily a civil rights issue, but if it is, yeah, of course the federal government, the justice department has a right and a responsibility to enforce the law,” he said. “But I think it’s gone beyond that.”
Bush was initially asked if it was correct that he sees a limited role for the government in easing tension between the police and minority communities.
“Yeah, I do,” the governor said before he was interrupted by accidentally answering a call on his Apple watch.
“The gun violence in our urban areas is clearly up in most big areas. Police violence in that is a small, tiny part, but it is an important part to restore trust for the police departments,” he later continued. “The president has a role to be a uniter in these regards and to rebuild trust and to participate in that.”
“But I worry that every time there is an instant [sic] and it’s all videoed in some fashion, not necessarily completely showing the full story — you all see that every day now, you’re in the digital world — and then the Justice Department comes in with a quick, ‘We’re going to have to investigate,’ it furthers the distrust [sic] that we need to build,” he added.
Bush also said he would support the federal government funding body cameras for police departments.
H/t Mediaite
Yeah, he’ll be as bad as his brother.
I think worse than Dubya. GWB at least had a little bit of empathy when confronted with things head on.
“Putting aside a police officer shooting a black man, most of the crimes are
black on blackwhite on white in the communities. Most by far," Bush added.There, fixed it for you, Jeb.
WTF, is this code phrase for keep the bigotry on the QT and we’re good? Fucking asshole.
Then when you add in the children, women, seniors, teens, professionals, indigents, urban, rural… wow, it suddenly becomes “overt.”
What was Josh talking about last week, with the GOP theme about scary inner-city blacks with their guns killing everyone? You’d never think crime has gone anywhere but up.
Jeb thinks that, what the hell, black people kill black people, so what’s it matter if a few extras are killed by police now and then?
(hashtag) blacklivesdon’tmatter