The fact that Jeb Bush lied on his 2009 voter registration form is no laughing matter. In fact, it is a 3rd degree felony in Florida to submit false information on a voter registration form.
The New York Times reported that Jeb Bush listed his ethnicity as Hispanic on his 2009 voter registration form:
Mr. Bush, a former Florida governor and likely presidential candidate, was born in Texas and hails from one of America’s most prominent political dynasties. But on at least one occasion, it appears he got carried away with his appeal to Spanish-speaking voters and claimed he actually was Hispanic.
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In a 2009 voter-registration application, obtained from the Miami-Dade County Elections Department, Mr. Bush marked Hispanic in the field labeled “race/ethnicity.”
A Bush spokeswoman could offer no explanation for the characterization.
While the media is giving Bush a free pass on lying about his ethnicity, there is a clause on the form that Bush signed that states, “CRIMINAL OFFENSE: It is a 3rd degree felony to submit false information. Maximum penalties are $5,000 and/or 5
years in prison.”
Jeb Bush is not Hispanic. The all but announced 2016 Republican presidential candidate committed a crime when he lied on his voter registration form.
Republicans criticized Elizabeth Warren for claiming that she was part Native American on a job application, so the hypocrisy should be entertaining to watch as they scramble to defend one of their own who lied under oath.
None of this disqualified Jeb Bush from running for president, but his voter registration form does shed light on the combination of hubris and entitlement that is palpable around Bush as he prepares to launch his 2016 campaign.
Jeb Bush committed a crime in Florida. His representatives can’t explain it, but voters should be asking questions.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
