In an op-ed published Saturday, Jeb
Bush blamed President Barack Obama for the GOP's lurch to the right
on LGBT rights.
The former governor of Florida and 2016
Republican candidate for president said that he does not believe that
Donald Trump, who is expected to be named the Republican Party's
nominee for president at next week's GOP convention in Cleveland,
“reflects the principles or inclusive legacy of the Republican
Party.”
“As much as I reject Donald Trump as
our party leader, he did not create the political culture of the
United States on his own,” Bush
wrote.
“Eight years of the divisive tactics
of President Obama and his allies have undermined Americans’ faith
in politics and government to accomplish anything constructive. The
president has wielded his power – while often exceeding his
authority – to punish his opponents, legislate from the White House
and turn agency rulemaking into a weapon for liberal dogma,” a
possible reference to recent guidelines developed by the Department
of Education on transgender bathroom use.
Bush claimed that Obama's policies
created a competitive atmosphere to “out-polarize” the president.
“In turn, a few in the Republican
Party responded by trying to out-polarize the president, making us
seem anti-immigrant, anti-women, anti-science, anti-gay, anti-worker
and anti-common-sense. Unfortunately, the understandable anger and
fear haven’t given rise to a resurgence of purpose in politics or
renewed a debate in our party about how Republicans win back the
White House with the power of our ideas.”
Bush also reiterated that he wasn't
voting for Trump: “I haven't decided how I'll vote in November –
whether I'll support the Libertarian ticket or write in a candidate
...”
“The Republican Party has always been
the party of hope and optimism, of opportunity and liberty,” he
concluded. “I'm confident we can be that party once again.”