George P. Bush plays it safe in first public speech as candidate
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George Prescott Bush, nephew and grandson of two former U.S. presidents, gave his first public speech as a candidate for Texas Land Commissioner.
The 47th annual Texas Legislative Conference was a coming out party of sorts for Bush, who played it safe, focusing on education and supporting veterans.
The Texas Legislative Conference, a nonpartisan group comprised of local business and political leaders, meets each year in New Braunfels to discuss public policy. This year’s discussion ranged from Medicare to transportation.
Bush delivered the conference’s keynote address.
"In my opinion, regulations and taxation is stifling entrepreneurship and it's killing small businesses," Bush said.
On the national level, reeling Republicans are looking for a way to modify their message, but pundits say Republicans in the Lone Star State—led by freshman Senator Ted Cruz—may be moving even more to the right.
"What causes soul searching is losing and in Texas, Republicans haven't lost, so there is no reason to question the philosophy that has gotten them so much success over the past decade," Christy Hoppe with the Dallas Morning News said.
True to that form, Bush's first major speech as a politician offered no surprises.
"As Texans, we are an exceptional people and I truly believe that,” he said. “I can't contain my burning optimism for being a Texan, for being born here, for being educated here and for having the opportunity to create opportunity here."
With the help of his father, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, George P. Bush has already collected more than $1 million to fund his 2014 campaign for Land Commissioner.