Perhaps one of the most memorable aspects of Jeb Bush's 2016 presidential campaign was just how unmemorable it was. His bid for the presidency was marked by self-deprecating comments, bullying tweets from Donald Trump, a less-than-supportive family, and a sad plea for his supporters to, please, just clap for him. After he didn't win any state Republican caucuses, a disappointed Jeb dropped out of the race.
Although he came from one of the American presidency's legacy families, the 2016 campaign was just the tip of the embarrassment iceberg for Jeb Bush, who's had to deal with his fair share of private family embarrassments as well; by his own father's admission, Jeb typically came second to his older brother and former US President, George W. Bush. His mother also publicly declared she hoped he wouldn't become president. Jeb has since become the butt of many online jokes, memes, and even has his own card in Cards Against Humanity, which simply reads: "Jeb!"
Jeb's Supporters Were So Unenthusiastic, He Had To Ask Them To "Please Clap" After A Speech
The most notorious sad Jeb moment came in February 2016 when he spoke in Vermont. He gave what he seemed to think was a rousing speech about protecting America, which ended with "I won’t be out here blow-harding, talking a big game without backing it up." The assertion was met with total silence. Jeb implored the audience, "Please clap." His tone of voice sounded completely defeated as he asked for the crowd's reassurance. The audience laughed uncomfortably before they finally complied with Bush's wishes and applauded him.
In a campaign video, which shows Barbara Bush and Jeb talking behind the scenes, Jeb's mom blatantly tells him he's not her favorite child. In the exchange, Jeb says "The best news of the day was that my mom finally said I was her favorite." Barbara responds, "Oh no I didn't. You mean of all of the children?" "Yeah," Bush says. "No," Barbara shoots back.
One Of The Most Googled Questions During The 2016 Election Was, "Is Jeb Bush Still Running?"
Jeb's 2016 campaign was so unassuming and uneventful, many people couldn't even remember whether or not he was still in the race. On November 10, 2015, Google tweeted that the most-searched phrase related to Jeb Bush was, "Is Jeb Bush still running for president?" Along with other gems like, "Is Jeb Bush Republican?" and "Where is Jeb Bush today?," it became evident that Jeb was in for a long campaign of reminding his constituents that he was a force to be reckoned with—or at least a force to be remembered.
His Own Mother Publicly Said That He Shouldn't Run For President
In yet another sad signifier of Jeb Bush's relationship to his parents, Barbara Bush displayed little enthusiasm for her son's campaign. In a 2014 interview with C-SPAN, Barbara Bush said that her son was very qualified to run for president, but that she hoped he wouldn't. She justified her statement by saying that other families besides the Kennedys, Clintons, and Bushes should be in office, but it must've been a blow for Jeb regardless. Mrs. Bush's assertion that the country "has had too many Bushes" just as her son announced his bid for the presidency began his campaign on a less-than-hopeful note.
Bush Was Classically Self-Deprecating, Noting That People's Expectations Of Him Were Extremely Low
Jeb seemed to be remarkably self-aware during the campaign, referring numerous times to his status as the saddest candidate on the trail. When asked if he could be a surprise story on caucus night, Jeb replied, "Yes, as the expectations are so low." Even after he bowed out of the election, Jeb continued to take jabs at himself. In 2017, when asked if he thought Trump obstructed justice, Jeb said, "No, I don't, but who cares what I think?" He seemed to be utterly defeated by his plummeting popularity over the course of the election, but Jeb simply didn't know why he was so unpopular. When one publication asked Jeb to explain the slow decline, he said, "Hell if I know. I don't really care,"—the words of a broken man.
When He Lost The Election For Governor Of Florida He Asked His Mom How Long It Would Hurt
Jeb seems to always come in second to his older brother, George W., but perhaps no other time was it more biting than the night he lost his bid for Florida governor the same evening George W. won his bid for governor of Texas in 1994. It was an extremely bittersweet night for Jeb, who claimed he was joyful that his brother won. However, Barbara Bush said in her diary that her younger son was reeling from the loss. She wrote that it "kills [her] that he hurts so," and that Jeb asked "how long it [was] going to hurt." Mrs. Bush called Jeb a "good sport" for his ability to put his sadness aside and be happy for his brother.
