A resolute George W. Bush offered a ringing endorsement of his brother Jeb on Monday, saying he’s got the “backbone necessary to make the tough decisions”as president.
“I’ve seen Jeb in action. He’ll be a strong and steady hand when confronted with the unexpected,” the former president told a cheering crowd in North Charleston, SC.
Out of the public spotlight for more than seven years, George W. Bush debuted on the campaign trail by vouching that his younger brother has the credentials and measured temperament to serve as commander-in-chief.
While not mentioning GOP front-runner Donald Trump by name, Dubya reiterated qualities needed for the White House that seem antithetical to Trump’s persona: quiet conviction, humility and strength to “rise above the petty name-calling.”
“Strength is not empty rhetoric. It is not bluster. It is not theatrics,” said Bush, 69. “Real strength, strength of purpose, comes from integrity and character. In my experience, the strongest person usually isn’t the loudest one in the room.”
In another refutation of Trump, who has called Jeb “weak,” George W. lauded his 63-year-old brother as tough in times of crisis.
“He has the backbone necessary to make the tough decisions on behalf of the American people,” the elder Bush said.
He reminded the crowd that the common consensus isn’t always right, as polls show Jeb Bush in fifth place in South Carolina.
“I’ve been misunderestimated most of my life,” Dubya said to laughs.
Seeking to steal his thunder, Trump spent the day trying to discredit the former president.
“What does that mean, he kept us safe after 9/11? . . . What about during 9/11?” Trump asked at a press conference in Hanahan, SC.