1 of 10 | Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush smiles while speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, February 27, 2015. Photo by Molly Riley/UPI |
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NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Former Florida governor and presidential hopeful Jeb Bush was met with boos Friday as he took the podium at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland.
Bush's moderate views, including support of Common Core K-12 education standards and immigration reforms that are fiercely opposed by many Republicans, have chafed CPAC attendees, who said they planned to stage an informal walkout during his 20-minute question-and-answer session with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
"We are going to get up en masse, and we are going to walk out on him," William Temple, a member of the Golden Isle Tea Party, told the Washington Times. "We are not going to interrupt anyone's speech, but we are all going to exercise our right to [use] the bathroom at the same time."
The planned walkout didn't come to fruition -- the Washington Post reported it "seemed to fizzle," and New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin tweeted "Jeb walkout petty much a bust. A handful left. But obscured by many coming in." Bush was met with boos during his session, though. His supporters, who were bussed to the event from Washington, D.C., cheered through the boos in order to drown them out.
"It's a record of accomplishment, of getting things done," Bush said of his efforts to end affirmative action and cut the budget. "They called me Veto Corleone."
Despite the hecklers, Bush was praised for his energy on the stage and a reluctance to back down from his opinions despite opposition.
"I'm marking you down as neutral and I look forward to being your second choice" he told one heckler.
In its second day, CPAC 2015 -- a gathering of core conservatives and Republican presidential hopefuls -- has seen Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and N.J. Gov. Chris Christie answering one-on-one questions. Hannity asked the crowd who they supported for a 2016 run. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., got loud applause while Bush and Christie drew some jeers.
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry took the stage early in the day, slamming President Obama for not being tougher on the Islamic State.
"Egypt and Jordan recognize that they are at war with radical Islam, isn't it about time that our president proclaimed the same?" Perry asked. "We didn't start this war, nor did choose it, but we will have will to finish it."
By noon, Paul tackled concerns that his foreign policy lacked the teeth to take down the IS, saying he supports "unparalleled, undefeatable" national defense.
"Without question, we must be strong. Without question we must defend ourselves. I envision an America with a national defense unparalleled, undefeatable, and unencumbered by nation building," he said.
