Jeb Condemned on Twitter for ‘Stuff Happens’ Remark on Tragedies
Jeb Bush got a ton of immediate criticism on Twitter for two words he said today in talking about tragedies, including school shootings, which were interpreted as comments about the Oregon shooting.
It all started with this tweet by reporter Ryan Lizza:
In Greenville, South Carolina, Jeb Bush, arguing against calls for gun control after major tragedy, says, “stuff happens.”
— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) October 2, 2015
Before video even came out Bush got hammered:
Jeb should combine his horrendous gaffes into a new, better campaign slogan: “Free Stuff Happens”
— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) October 2, 2015
“Stuff happens” — Jeb’s response to gun violence & also Rumsfeld’s response to Iraqi chaos & looting. The white man’s shrug.
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) October 2, 2015
Jeb Bush Shrugs Off Oregon Mass Murder by Saying “Stuff Happens” http://t.co/17Vjv1rohi
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) October 2, 2015
A message for Jeb Bush: 380 Americans have been killed in 294 mass shootings in 2015 alone. “Stuff” doesn’t just “happen.” Inaction happens.
— D Wasserman Schultz (@DWStweets) October 2, 2015
Jeb Bush shrugs off Oregon shooting: “Stuff happens” http://t.co/hsxKcTA0UF
— Salon Politics (@Salon_Politics) October 2, 2015
Here’s the context of Bush’s quote:
“It’s very sad to see, but I resist the notion––and I had this challenge as governor, stuff happens, there’s always a crisis and the impulse is always to do something and it’s not always the right thing to do.”
One reporter in the room told Mediaite, he was not speaking specifically about shootings––let alone the Oregon shooting specifically––but instead to tragedies in general, mentioning examples like a child drowning.
In the press gaggle after his remarks, Bush didn’t think his remarks were a big deal and said “Things happen all the time.”
It’s worth noting here that the videos were initially and quickly tweeted out by the liberal super PAC American Bridge.
UPDATE –– 6:00 pm EST: The Bush campaign fired back in a statement decrying the response from Democrats and the media as “sad and beyond craven.”
[image via screengrab]
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