GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush, the self-described “only proven conservative” in the presidential race, slammed rival Donald Trump Monday morning, and stood up for elderly women, including his mother, Barbara Bush.
During a testy exchange in Saturday’s Republican debate, Bush accused Trump of taking away the property of an elderly woman for use as a limo parking lot. Trump denied the accusations, but argued that the legal power of eminent domain, or the right of a government or its agent to take private property for public use—with no compensation—was necessary.
"Without it, you wouldn't have roads, you wouldn't have hospitals, you wouldn't have anything,” Trump said.
Bush argues this defense of eminent domain is proof that Trump isn’t a true conservative.
“Donald Trump isn’t a conservative, at least as it relates to eminent domain,” Bush said in an interview with WGBH News. “He wants to use the police powers of government to take away the property of an elderly woman so that he can use it as a parking lot for limos. He didn’t quite get the difference between that and building a road, but that’s him, and I think it’s important to point out that I’m the proven conservative in the race, that I have a proven record.”
Bush took issue with more of Trump’s attacks, after Trump mocked Bush for bringing his mother out on the campaign trail. During a campaign rally, Trump imitated Bush.
"'Mommy please come—walk in the snow, mom,'" Trump said. "I like his mother but I don't like that stuff, I don't like that stuff.”
On Monday, Bush responded with a diagnosis: “He needs therapy. Seriously, attacking a 90-year-old woman? Really? Come on Donald, raise the level of your game, man.”
