Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush called out Martin O’Malley on Thursday for flip-flopping on an issue that has been tripping up Democrats in recent weeks.
While campaigning in New Hampshire, Bush was asked whether O’Malley should have apologized for saying "all lives matter" at the Netroots Nation conference. The former Maryland governor was greeted with boos when he repeatedly said, "Black lives matter. White lives matter. All lives matter."
"No. For crying out loud, no. I mean, we’re so uptight and so politically correct now, we apologize for saying lives matter?" Bush said. "Life is precious; it’s a gift from God. I mean, I frankly think that it’s one of the most important values that we have. I know in the political context, it’s a slogan I guess, and should he have apologized? No."
The Republican challenged O’Malley to stand up for his principles, rather than wavering on his initial beliefs.
"If he believes that white lives matter, which I hope he does, then he shouldn’t apologize to a group that seem to disagree with it. Gosh."
Soon after Bush’s event, American Bridge released a video of his response, seizing it as a "gotcha" moment.
BREAKING: @JebBush weighed in on #BlackLivesMatter and showed how truly out of touch he is. Wow. https://t.co/eKqxwKjUB0
— American Bridge (@American_Bridge) July 23, 2015
The liberal PAC, founded by David Brock, did not explain how Bush’s comments on life being precious and a gift from God were "out of touch."
Hillary Clinton said the very same phrase at Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant, Missouri, one month ago. While some were upset at her statement, the frontrunner was never booed or hissed at like her counterparts and has yet to offer an apology.