Bush: Crist on stimulus ‘unforgivable’

Jeb Bush (R) called it “unforgivable” for Gov. Charlie Crist (R) to have supported President Obama’s stimulus program last year.

“He is the only statewide political leader that embraced the stimulus package when Republicans were fighting to suggest an alternative,” the former governor said in an interview with Newsmax TV. “That alternative would have been a focus on infrastructure and a focus on broad-based tax cuts.”

Bush said Crist’s timing hurt Washington Republicans.

“He did it the day before the vote, it was a mistake. I got a problem with that,” he said. “With all do respect, the governor got that one wrong.”

Crist brushed off the criticism during an appearance Wednesday morning. “Well, everybody has a right to their opinion,” he told reporters. “I understand that different people view it in a different way. In the shoes that I stand in right now, I’ve got to look out for the people, and that’s what I’ doing.”

Bush hasn’t yet officially endorsed Crist’s primary opponent, Marco Rubio, but he told Newsmax he “might” soon. His son, Jeb Bush Jr., is already backing the former Florida House Speaker.

Updated at 9:27 a.m.