Jeb Bush calls Confederate flag a “racist symbol”

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WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Republican frontrunner Jeb Bush made it very clear Monday that he thinks the Confederate flag is a racist symbol and Governor Nikki Haley is doing the right thing by having it removed. The former two-term Florida governor was in West Columbia for a tour and meet-and-greet at Nephron Pharmaceutical Corporation. He addressed a diverse, mostly blue-collar room. Bush has a history with the flag. It dates back to 2001. “I decided to do something politically incorrect.” Bush ordered a flag that included the Confederate symbol to be removed from Florida State Capitol grounds. “I took them off the premises and put them where I think they should be,” he says, “which is in the Museum of Florida History.” The son and brother of two former presidents praised South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley for following suit. “I applaud Governor Haley for doing, more or less, the exact same thing, under pressure.” He says that beyond moral reasons, letting the flag fly is just bad business. Good business is something he identifies the state as being proud of. “Anything that gets in the way of that vision, I think while doing it respectfully, ought to be put aside,” Bush says. Just a few hours before Bush arrived here in the Midlands, his aides say he met with about 50 religious leaders in Charleston near the Emanuel AME Church, where nine people were killed about two weeks ago. “It just breaks my heart to see how a racist would just go into a church and violate the sanctity of that church and kill innocent people.” Bush says it’s not necessarily a gun issue, but one of isolation from a community. “The big issue is why do people reach a point where their hatred overcomes any other impulse?” In recent polls, Bush leads the Republican pack. He’s one of 13 official candidates. Four more are expected to announce in coming weeks.