Washington: As Republicans prepare for their first presidential debate, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was forced to retract a statement he made on Tuesday questioning federal spending on women’s health care as he appealed to evangelical voters.
Responding to a question about federal funding for Planned Parenthood, which is under fire over its fetal tissue donation practices, Bush said the federal government should not give money to the organisation.
“You could take dollar for dollar — although I’m not sure we need half a billion dollars for women’s health issues — but if you took, dollar for dollar, there are many extraordinary fine organisations, community health organisations, that exist, federally sponsored organisations, to provide quality care for women on a variety of health issues,” Bush said, speaking to the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville.
As Democrats pounced on the statement, Bush quickly said he misspoke and was referring only to the $500 million (Dh1.8 billion) in federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
“With regards to women’s health funding broadly, I misspoke, as there are countless community health centers, rural clinics, and other women’s health organisations that need to be fully funded. They provide critical services to all, but particularly low-income women who don’t have the access they need,” Bush said in a statement.
The kerfuffle stems from Bush’s at-times freewheeling — and some would argue rusty — campaigning style. He is more likely than some of his GOP rivals to veer from his script and to take questions from voters and reporters.
That has resulted in the occasional gaffe — such as his statement last month that Americans need to work longer hours — that could haunt him in the general election, if Bush is the GOP nominee. Tuesday’s comments could have particular resonance among moderate women, a key voting bloc for any politician seeking the White House.
Democrats seised upon Bush’s words to argue that he is unfit for office.
“Jeb Bush is sure about one thing — he wants to restrict access to affordable health care for women,” said Kaylie Hanson, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee. “This backward ideology isn’t only the exact opposite of what women need from their next president — it could put the health of millions of women in jeopardy. Enough of this.”
Democratic presidential contender and Hillary Clinton criticised Bush too.
Clinton said at a rally in Denver Tuesday that Bush should consider how the money has help women, including those who caught breast cancer early, received contraception, or were protected from HIV by preventive testing.
“He’s got no problem giving billions of dollars away to the super wealthy and powerful corporations,” Clinton said at a standing-room-only campaign rally at La Rumba nightclub in downtown Denver. “But I guess women’s health isn’t a priority for him.”
