Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will tell the Detroit Economic Club Wednesday that too many Americans “live on the edge of economic ruin” and that he plans to offer a “new vision” and plan of action different than what has been coming out of Washington, D.C.
“It is a vision rooted in conservative principles and tethered to our shared belief in opportunity and the unknown possibilities of a nation given the freedom to act, to create, to dream and to rise,” Mr. Bush will say, according to excerpts of prepared remarks.
The speech in the hard-hit city is to be delivered several days after the state’s native son, 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, announced he would not be running for president in 2016.
Mr. Bush also says that the recovery in the country has been “everywhere but in the family paychecks,” as both parties try to grapple with stagnant wage growth that has hung over a slowly rebounding economy.
The trip to Detroit — not exactly friendly Republican territory — is perhaps indicative of the kind of campaign Mr. Bush intends to run if he ultimately does decide to make a bid for the White House (he also spoke at an auto dealers event in San Francisco last month).
“I know some in the media think conservatives don’t care about the cities,” he says. “But they are wrong. We believe that every American and in every community has a right to pursue happiness. They have a right to rise.”
Mr. Bush has dubbed his recently-created political committee the “Right to Rise” PAC as he explores a presidential bid.
“This morning, 320 million Americans got up … and they are on 320 million different paths of life,” he will say. “It’s our goal to see them succeed. And it’s our responsibility to do everything possible to help them.”
Mr. Bush was not among the host of possible 2016 presidential contenders to attend GOP Rep. Steve King’s recent “Iowa Freedom Summit,” but the Des Moines Register reported that he intends to speak at an agricultural summit along with a handful of other potential candidates in the early presidential state next month.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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