Stephen Colbert preps Jeb Bush for ‘Trumpier’ debate

Jeb Bush appeared on the debut of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” Tuesday, telling the former faux conservative pundit the exclamation point in his 2016 campaign logo is nothing new.

“I’ve been using ‘Jeb!’ since 1994,” Bush said. “It connotes excitement.”

The former Florida governor and current Republican presidential contender used the occasion to relay his town-hall pitch to late-night viewers.

“I think we’re on the verge of the greatest time to be alive,” Bush said. “We haven’t passed budgets, there’s no priorities, no reform. We’re operating not on all cylinders.”

Bush said he would be able to bridge the bitter partisan divide in Washington because, in his experience, “you can be friends with people you don’t agree with — I mean, we have to restore a degree of civility.”

“I’m going to say something that’s heretic, I guess,” he said. “I don’t think Barack Obama has bad motives. I just think he’s wrong on a lot of issues.”

Bush also addressed the issue of family politics, telling Colbert that his brother, former President George W. Bush, “should have brought the hammer down when they were spending way too much, because our brand is limited government.”

“He didn’t veto things, he didn’t bring order and fiscal restraint,” Jeb added.

In a bonus clip that didn’t air on Tuesday’s “Late Show,” Bush was asked a viewer-submitted question about gun violence.

“In Florida, where I was governor, we have a requirement of background checks, a 72-hour waiting period — people aren’t violating any Second Amendment rights. In fact, Florida would be considered a Second Amendment, pro-gun state. Gun violence is way down,” he said. “But we have simple checks to make sure that people that are criminals aren’t accessing guns.”

The “next step,” Bush said, is to figure out how to keep guns out of the hands of “people with mental health issues — which is really the common denominator in a lot of these violent, tragic cases.”

image

Colbert points to his brother in the studio audience. (CBS/Late Show)

Finally, Colbert called on Bush to address what he called the “orange elephant in the room”: Donald Trump.

“You have another debate coming up in about a week on CNN,” Colbert said. “I want to prep you for that debate.”

On the Iran nuclear deal, for instance, Bush was then encouraged to give “Trumpier” answers.

“I will build a wall between the United States and Iran — and make Mexico pay for it,” Bush said, reading off of a teleprompter. “Trucks are strong. I will turn the National Mall into a luxury golf course — and China will respect that. I promise to put Meatloaf on the $10 bill. And give Lil Jon a Cabinet position, which will send the message that this country will never — turn down for what?”