Jeb Bush's 1994 advice to women on welfare, "find a husband."

Courtesy of CNN: 

Jeb Bush insisted during his unsuccessful first run for the Florida governor's office that an alternative to welfare for women is to "find a husband." 

The Republican 2016 presidential contender's comments came in the heat of a 1994 campaign that has come back to haunt him -- particularly as he seeks to run an inclusive campaign aimed at broadening the GOP's appeal. 

That year, Bush, with a more strident style and in a different era in the debate over welfare reform, saw a controversial remark he made in July seized on by reporters and by his opponent. Bush said that marriage is one of three options for women to get off welfare assistance. 

"If people are mentally and physically able to work, they should be able to do so within a two-year period. They should be able to get their life together and find a husband, find a job, find other alternatives in terms of private charity or a combination of all three," Bush said.

Gee, I wonder if Jeb Bush ever told a man struggling to get a job that he needed to "find a wife?"

To be fair this remark may not seem like such a big deal, if we had not also recently learned that Jebbie suggested back in 1995 that a good way to keep women from having premarital sex, leading to babies born out of wedlock, was to publicly shame them.

Hey remember how I said that the 2016 presidential race would come down to Clinton vs Bush, unless something really damaging came out about one of both of them?

Yeah, I think Jeb Bush starting to stray into that territory.

Did you know that George Bush Sr. resigned from the NRA in 1995 due to the hateful statements of its Vice President? You know, the same one they have today.

Back in 1995 Wayne LaPierre sent out a fundraising letter in which he described federal agents as " `wearing Nazi bucket helmets and black storm trooper uniforms' (and) wanting to `attack law-abiding citizens.'

This did not go over very well with ex-President Bush and he replied with the following letter of resignation:

May 3, 1995 Dear Mr. Washington, 

I was outraged when, even in the wake of the Oklahoma City tragedy, Mr. Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of N.R.A., defended his attack on federal agents as "jack-booted thugs." To attack Secret Service agents or A.T.F. people or any government law enforcement people as "wearing Nazi bucket helmets and black storm trooper uniforms" wanting to "attack law abiding citizens" is a vicious slander on good people. 

Al Whicher, who served on my [ United States Secret Service ] detail when I was Vice President and President, was killed in Oklahoma City. He was no Nazi. He was a kind man, a loving parent, a man dedicated to serving his country -- and serve it well he did. 

In 1993, I attended the wake for A.T.F. agent Steve Willis, another dedicated officer who did his duty. I can assure you that this honorable man, killed by weird cultists, was no Nazi. 

John Magaw, who used to head the U.S.S.S. and now heads A.T.F., is one of the most principled, decent men I have ever known. He would be the last to condone the kind of illegal behavior your ugly letter charges. The same is true for the F.B.I.'s able Director Louis Freeh. I appointed Mr. Freeh to the Federal Bench. His integrity and honor are beyond question. 

Both John Magaw and Judge Freeh were in office when I was President. They both now serve in the current administration. They both have badges. Neither of them would ever give the government's "go ahead to harass, intimidate, even murder law abiding citizens." (Your words) 

I am a gun owner and an avid hunter. Over the years I have agreed with most of N.R.A.'s objectives, particularly your educational and training efforts, and your fundamental stance in favor of owning guns. 

However, your broadside against Federal agents deeply offends my own sense of decency and honor; and it offends my concept of service to country. It indirectly slanders a wide array of government law enforcement officials, who are out there, day and night, laying their lives on the line for all of us. 

You have not repudiated Mr. LaPierre's unwarranted attack. Therefore, I resign as a Life Member of N.R.A., said resignation to be effective upon your receipt of this letter. Please remove my name from your membership list. 

Sincerely, [ signed ] George Bush

So all the way back in 1995 there were people of principle that simply could NOT condone the attitude and paranoia of the NRA leadership, and yet today we STILL see those same characteristics on display. 

One has to wonder just how badly does Mr. LaPierre have to behave before he will finally drive away all but the most lunatic fringe of the gun owners in this country. Or perhaps more to the point, has he already accomplished exactly that?