Clinton hits Bush over ‘free stuff’ remark

by Jesse Byrnes - 09/28/15 5:08 PM ET

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Monday blasted GOP presidential rival Jeb Bush’s comment suggesting the government is offering black voters “free stuff.”

{mosads}”That kind of rhetoric is deeply insulting,” Clinton responded during a Facebook Q-and-A, attempting to link Bush with front-runner Donald Trump and 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

“I think people are seeing this for what it is: Republicans lecturing people of color instead of offering real solutions to help people get ahead, including facing up to hard truths about race and justice in America,” Clinton wrote.

Bush on Sunday said he did not mean to suggest that black voters choose Democrats because they receive “free stuff,” saying his original remark from last week was taken out of context.

The former Florida governor instead said he meant to discuss increasing economic opportunity for African Americans, saying, “They don’t want free stuff. That was my whole point.”

But Clinton used the comment Monday to lambast Bush and GOP candidates on other issues.

“Republicans have no problem promising tax breaks and sweetheart deals to their corporate friends, but when Democrats fight to make sure all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care, early childhood education, and job training, that’s giving away ‘free stuff’?! Talk about backwards,” Clinton wrote Monday.

“And that’s not all. I’m calling for an end to the era of mass incarceration, criminal justice reforms, and protecting voting rights, but Republicans across the country are making it harder to vote. That’s wrong and it’s got to change,” she added.

Tags Donald Trump Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton Jeb Bush