George W. Bush walks into Trump fire to rescue Jeb

‘Thank goodness this country welcomed Haley’s parents from India.’

Former president George W. Bush waded into the murky waters of the Republican nomination contest to rescue the sagging fortunes of his younger brother Jeb Bush on Monday and has himself become the target of an escalating attack from front runner Donald Trump.  

The elder Mr. Bush used self-deprecating humour and tales from his presidential years to build a case for the younger one’s candidacy but that may not be sufficient to stop Mr. Trump, who continues with his no holds barred attack on the Bush dynasty, in his tracks.  “Excuse me, the World Trade Center came down during the reign of George Bush, right? It came down. That was the greatest attack in the history of the United States — worse than Pearl Harbor.... We weren’t safe,” Mr. Trump said before the Bush brothers appeared together in South Carolina where the Republican primary is scheduled for February 19. 

The agile political gambler that he is proving to be, Mr. Trump appears to have pulled off yet another winning strike with his attack on the Bush dynasty that he began during Saturday’s debate. A poll released on Monday shows him at 35 percent, almost as much his two closes rivals, Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz combined. Both the senators are tied at 18 per cent each. Mr. Trump said the elder Mr. Bush lied about Saddam Hussein possessing weapons of mass destruction, and led the U.S to an unnecessary war in Iraq in 2003 that he called a “big fat mistake” — something that no Republican would dare say, and provoking huge boos from the audience.  

But Mr. Trump is keeping the heat up. “Now that George Bush is campaigning for Jeb, is he fair game for questions about World Trade Center, Iraq War and eco collapse? Careful!” he tweeted after the debate. “Funny that Jeb didn't want help from his family in his failed campaign and didn't even want to use his last name…Then mommy, now brother!” he tweeted on Monday. Former first lady Barbara Bush is also campaigning for her son. 

Risking a nasty appraisal of his presidential legacy within the Republican Party, George W. Bush’s speech for Jeb Bush did not leave anyone one in doubt who the target was, though he did not name Mr. Trump. “I understand that Americans are angry and frustrated but we do not need someone in the Oval Office who mirrors and inflames our anger and frustration,” Mr. Bush said. “We need someone that can fix the problems that cause our anger and frustration, and that's Jeb Bush.” 

“In my experience, the strongest person usually isn't the loudest in the room,” the former President said and also defended his decisions following the 9/11 terrorist attacks terming them “tough calls.” 

Setting a moderate tone on immigration, he said of Indian-origin Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley: “Thank goodness our country welcomed her parents from India when they immigrated here in 1969.” Mr. Trump’s campaign, among other things also calls for restricting immigration. Ms. Haley, a Republican, has not endorsed any candidate yet, but has made comments that were widely understood as against Mr. Trump. 

Mr. Trump’s fire is not entirely focused on the Bush dynasty, however. Jeb Bush is still in the fifth place in the race and the immediate threat Mr. Trump has to deal with is Mr. Cruz. According to a TV channel, Mr. Trump has called Mr. Cruz “dishonest” or “liar” 55 times over Sunday and Monday.