Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush is facing criticism after stumbling over an answer to what might have seemed like a perfectly innocuous question: who’s your favorite Marvel superhero?
Speaking to a Las Vegas audience that had just sat through an hourlong policy discussion at the Libre Institute, the former Florida governor first named Batman, who, it should be noted, is a DC Comics hero.
“I’m kind of old school,” he said. “I kind of like the old-school guys, like Batman.”
He then moved on to Supergirl, who is the subject of an upcoming CBS series starring Glee actor Melissa Benoist. Supergirl, too, is a DC Comics character.
“Supergirl is on TV – I saw that when I was working out this morning,” he said. “She looked pretty hot. I don’t know what channel it’s on, but I’m looking forward to that.”
He paused, and added: “That’ll make the news.”
For the record, Jeb was asked who his favorite superhero is. He named Batman then added this. https://t.co/tXQ2wb8w48
— Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) October 22, 2015
Ahh. Jeb said he saw ads for Supergirl and "she looks pretty hot, I'm looking forward to that." Pauses and adds, "That'll make news."
— Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) October 22, 2015
Bush’s comment did not seem very presidential, and he has been soundly mocked online.
Well, Jeb Bush just made thinking Supergirl is hot uncool. Will the Bush family ever stop destroying America?
— DreddPirateRoberts (@ABillionSuns) October 22, 2015
Jeb Bush: "I saw the new Supergirl" *everyone prays he won't make it weird* Jeb: She's hot
— Alex McClintock (@axmcc) October 22, 2015
Recently, the former Florida governor has drawn anger from the public for several off-the-cuff remarks often boiled down to a few words.
In the aftermath of the Oregon college shooting, as many politicians signaled a need for gun control legislation, Bush said during a campaign event: “It’s very sad to see, and I resist this notion because we had this challenge as governor – stuff happens. There’s always a crisis, and the impulse is always to do something and it’s not necessarily the right thing to do.”
In August, Bush joined the conservative backlash against Planned Parenthood, claiming the women’s healthcare organization does not actually help women.
“I for one don’t think that Planned Parenthood ought to get a penny,” Bush told an audience at an Englewood, Colorado, town hall. “Because they’re not actually doing women’s health issues – they’re involved in something way, way different than that.”
He was disparaged for both the “stuff happens” and Planned Parenthood remark – even drawing criticism from Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who responded “Jeb is just wrong” in a tweet noting the many services Planned Parenthood provides for women.
