Laura Bush makes rare fundraising appearance in Orlando on Oct. 8 to support brother-in-law
Laura Bush, one of the most popular members of the Bush family, will be hitting the fundraising trail for her brother-in-law next month. The former First Lady hosts a luncheon reception for the Jeb Bush campaign on Thursday, October 8. Bush’s event, which begins 12:30 p.m., is at the home of former Florida U.S. Senator Mel Martinez and his wife Kitty, 140 Fawsett Road in Winter Park. It is one of a pair of fundraisers featuring Laura Bush next month in Florida. Bloomberg reporter Michael Bender writes that Laura Bush will also host an event in Palm Beach with Jeb Bush’s wife Columba the day before. For entry to both a host committee reception and the luncheon, supporters need to raise $5,000; a ticket to the event itself is $1,000. In the past, Laura Bush has been somewhat reluctant to appear on the fundraising circuit, but the family has been increasingly visible in raising money towards a third Bush presidency. Much of the boost in Bush fundraising comes as a result of the rising prominence of Donald Trump as GOP frontrunner. “This has absolutely heightened people’s awareness concerning the choice: a proven, reform-minded conservative versus a liberal, Democrat socialite masquerading as a Republican,” Bush campaign manager Danny Diaz told Bloomberg in an email. “As a result, we are getting a great response from donors.” Other Bush family events include a fundraiser hosted last week by former President George W. Bush in New York, as well as two events later this month in Texas and one in Arkansas in October. W will also join his father, former President George H.W. Bush, at a donor retreat supporting Jeb Bush, scheduled for October 25 in Houston.
Jeb Bush returns to South Florida for grassroots PAC fundraiser
Jeb Bush returned to his South Florida political roots on Monday with a $25-a-person fundraiser for his political action committee, a contrast with recent private high-roller events. The Republican former Florida governor appeared at the Right to Rise PAC event in a local community center wearing a white Cuban-style guayabera shirt and frequently shifted from English to Spanish. About 450 people attended in a heavily Hispanic suburb west of Miami, including Bush’s wife Columba and son Jeb Jr. Neither of them addressed the crowd. Bush has not yet officially declared his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination but has been raising money for the PAC. A recent two-day retreat at a swank Miami Beach hotel was closed to the press and open mainly to 300 invited, wealthy donors. The Monday event, meanwhile, was dubbed the “Miami Hometown Reception” and was held at a building named for Jorge Mas Canosa, a prominent Cuban-American exile leader. Former U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart introduced Bush to the friendly crowd. In his speech, Bush discussed familiar conservative themes such as lower taxes, immigration reform, fewer regulations and a more robust U.S. foreign policy. Bush also said that voters want political parties to cooperate in tackling issues. “I know for a fact we need to start solving problems again in Washington, D.C.,” Bush said. “This is going to be an extraordinary time, but first we have to fix these things.” Bush has headlined more than 60 fundraisers this year and claims he has already set a record for raising GOP cash. Right to Rise does not plan to release fundraising figures until July. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Jeb Bush: Give 11 million immigrants chance to stay
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush declared Wednesday that 11 million immigrants in the country illegally should have an opportunity to stay, wading yet again into his party’s contentious immigrant debate. In tone and substance, Bush stands out among the many Republicans lining up for the GOP’s next presidential primary, where conservatives who oppose an immigration overhaul often hold outsized influence. As he moves toward a presidential campaign, the brother and son of former presidents has not backed away from his defense of immigrants in the country illegally and a policy that would allow them to attain legal status under certain conditions. “We’re a nation of immigrants,” Bush said at the National Christian Hispanic Leadership Conference that brought several hundred Hispanic evangelical leaders to Houston this week. “This is not the time to abandon something that makes us special and unique.” A successful immigration overhaul is more than simply strengthening the border, Bush said, referring to “11 million people that should come out from the shadows and receive earned legal status.” He said such immigrants should be required to pay taxes, work and not receive government benefits. Republicans have struggled to win over the nation’s surging Hispanic population in recent years. Not since the 2004 re-election campaign of President George W. Bush, Jeb Bush’s older brother, has a Republican presidential candidate earned as much as 40 percent of the Hispanic vote. Mitt Romney earned a dismal 27 percent in losing what was widely considered a winnable 2012 contest. Bush’s mother and father, former President George. H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush, were on hand for the speech. It was Jeb Bush’s second Hispanic outreach event this week. He spent Tuesday campaigning in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory that will hold a presidential primary contest, yet is not included in the Electoral College that decides the general election. At both stops, Bush moved seamlessly from English to Spanish in remarks that highlighted his deep personal connections to Hispanic culture. He opened his Houston speech in Spanish, referring to the crowd of Hispanic Christians as “the hope of this country.” And as he often does in public appearances, Bush recounted the story of meeting his Mexican-born wife, Columba, while studying in Mexico. It was Columba’s influence, he said, that pushed him to obtain a degree in Latin American studies and later spend about two years living in Venezuela early in his business career. Bush converted to Catholicism after moving to Miami. The Democratic allied group, EMILY’s List, issued a statement shortly before Bush’s appearance charging that his platform “hinders the ability for Latinas to make personal health choices and their economic security.” Bush, his advisers said, say he supports efforts to strip federal financing from Planned Parenthood because of its connection to abortion services. To be sure, Bush is not completely in step with activists who want accommodations made for people illegally in the U.S. Like other Republican presidential prospects, he has said he would overturn President Barack Obama‘s executive order shielding millions of immigrants from deportation. Yet Bush was received warmly by the Hispanic crowd in Houston. He was introduced as someone who understands Hispanic culture and literally speaks its language. Of the large field of likely Republican White House prospects, only Florida Sen. Marco Rubio also speaks fluent Spanish. Bush said the nation’s economy depends on a restructured immigration system. “This country does not do well when people lurk in the shadows,” Bush said. “This country does spectacularly well when everybody can pursue their God-given abilities.” Organizers say Rubio was invited to address the conference, but declined because of a scheduling conflict. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was scheduled to appear Wednesday night. Republished with permission from The Associated Press.
Women of Influence: Alabama’s First Lady Dianne Bentley
The most fitting woman for our inaugural Woman of Influence profiles is Alabama’s first lady Dianne Bentley. Watch out Tennessee: If our first lady has anything to do with it you won’t be the only Volunteer State. Assuming the role Jan.17, 2011, Bentley is the perfect role model to inspire Alabama women to find a local cause they can invest their time in to make a real difference in the lives of others. Long after Gov. Robert Bentley‘s term ends the first lady’s work to improve and bring attention to Alabama’s Domestic Violence Prevention and Family Justice Centers will continue to save and change lives. We don’t like to talk about it, but domestic violence affects men, women and children across Alabama and the nation. Dianne Bentley isn’t offering shallow photo op or bumper sticker solutions: She has pushed for real changes to the system, and she’s not doing it alone. Among her resources is former Florida first lady Columba Bush, well known and nationally recognized for her efforts in the Sunshine State to strengthen the system to protect victims and prevent violence. After visiting every shelter in the Alabama and talking to advocates, victims and professionals, Bentley said last month that she’s advocating domestic violence prevention legislation to strengthen Alabama’s system. According to her office, “The First Lady Dianne Bentley Domestic Violence Prevention Legislation aims to modernize domestic violence laws, increase state funds toward lifesaving services for victims and their children, and strengthen victim protection through law enforcement and judicial provisions.” Working with the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence Bentley is helping those who need it most. However, she’s not going to spend her time leading our state with only a singular initiative – no matter how large it is. Bentley is also working to bring attention to adoption and foster care issues. In her official biography, the Office of the First Lady tells about her and the governor’s children: “Two of their sons are adopted but they have been loved so long no one remembers which two.” The Bentleys have committed to ensuring every child in the state welfare system receives the same kind of love as their children. She has headlined events, discussed this important issue with the media, and has made it a focal point of her time as first lady. Every community, every woman, every man, every child deserve to be loved and cared for, and our first lady is providing the leadership to do it. So we salute you, first lady Dianne Bentley. Thank you for being a woman we all admire, a woman we can all emulate in bestowing the gift of our time and talents to tackle tough subjects. There’s is no one more appropriate to be Alabama Today’s first Woman of Influence. Victims of domestic violence can call the state’s hotline at (800) 650-6522 to receive information about the nearest available domestic violence shelter. More resources can be found on the website for the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
