Yesterday, Jeb Bush’s official twitter account posted this.
I agree with Jeb’s sentiments.
This is heartbreaking and infuriating. It is also un-American, in that it is not in keeping with our foundational documents. Though of course, it is not the first time a US administration has violated the human rights of a powerless people.
But why stop at a tweet? A tweet may get some attention, but it is surely not the most effective mechanism for someone in Jeb Bush’s position. Coming from someone with Jeb’s resources, such a tweet is almost pure virtue signaling, nothing more than that.
Mainstream US media is largely ignoring the reporting around the treatment of children in these CBP facilities. Jeb lives in Coral Gables, Florida. There is a CBP camp holding children in Homestead, a 45 minute drive away. A protest/vigil was held at the camp last week.
If Jeb picked up a sign and offered to join protesters at Homestead, he would likely get wall to wall coverage across major TV networks. Elizabeth Warren is going to Homestead tomorrow. Perhaps Jeb Bush could stop tweeting for a bit and drive 45 minutes to join the vigil as well.
And Jeb could easily go to the protest. He is currently unemployed/retired, and given his personal wealth, he has no need to work. He’s the former governor of a major swing state, and a major Republican candidate, heir to a dynasty. Ex-presidents seem to be sticking with the unspoken tradition of refusing to criticize the incumbent. It is unlikely Trump will return that favor when out of office, but that’s no reason to destroy every norm. Jeb Bush, unlike his brother, has the benefit of not being a former president. He has more leeway to criticize the incumbent.
For that matter, other former presidential candidates from both parties, who’ve been tweeting up a storm about this could get up and join the protests as well.
— @subirgrewal