Jeb Bush says there's nothing wrong with the term 'anchor babies'
Breaking rank with an organization that he helped launch, Jeb Bush told reporters on Thursday that he doesn't think the term "anchor babies" is offensive.
"Do you have a better term?" he asked. "You give me a better term and I'll use it." One person willing to share some suggestions was Hillary Clinton, who tweeted, "How about 'babies,' 'children,' or 'American citizens.'"
"Anchor babies" has been used to refer to people who come to the U.S. without documents and give birth so their child can have citizenship. The Hispanic Leadership Network, a group working to increase support for the GOP among Latino voters, has told Republican lawmakers discussing immigration reform to avoid terms like "anchor babies," "illegals," and "aliens." Bush helped launch the organization, The Washington Post reports, and is still listed on its website as a member of the national advisory board.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Bush first uttered the words Wednesday during a radio interview when asked about fellow Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's use of the term. Bush said he "didn't use it as my own language," and claimed that concerns about the term are "a political wedge issue the left uses to win elections."
-
Quentin Deranque: a student’s death energizes the French far rightIN THE SPOTLIGHT Reactions to the violent killing of an ultra-conservative activist offer a glimpse at the culture wars roiling France ahead of next year’s elections.
-
Secured vs. unsecured loans: how do they differ and which is better?the explainer They are distinguished by the level of risk and the inclusion of collateral
-
‘States that set ambitious climate targets are already feeling the tension’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Labor secretary’s husband barred amid assault probeSpeed Read Shawn DeRemer, the husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, has been accused of sexual assault
-
Trump touts pledges at 1st Board of Peace meetingSpeed Read At the inaugural meeting, the president announced nine countries have agreed to pledge a combined $7 billion for a Gaza relief package
-
NIH director Bhattacharya tapped as acting CDC headSpeed Read Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of the CDC’s Covid-19 response, will now lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Hyatt chair joins growing list of Epstein files losersSpeed Read Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
