Bush fails to excite evangelical crowd

[spanone]

LYNCHBURG, Virginia — At Liberty University on Saturday, a surprise proposal got a better reception than the commencement speech by likely presidential candidate Jeb Bush.

The former Florida governor struggled to impress the evangelical audience at the university founded by Southern Baptist pastor Jerry Falwell. That could signal trouble for Bush, who, as seen in recent polls, is already struggling to woo evangelical and far-right conservatives. Saturday’s address did nothing to change that, as the governor delivered a speech about faith and religious persecution to a subdued audience that didn’t always acknowledge applause lines.

That same crowd cheered boisterously when Falwell’s grandson proposed to his girlfriend, however. (She said yes.)

Speaking at the largest Christian university in the world to a total of 34,000 in attendance and watching online, Bush’s oratory was largely uninspiring. He earned the most applause for arguing that leaders must be guided by their faith – even if it’s not politically correct – but in a handful of instances, talked through cheers or waited for applause that never came.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/bush-fails-excite-evangelical-crowd-liberty-university

[dembotoz]

1. not really surprised. that crowd might a stretch for him this early

If the nominee they will cheer and support just as they did Romney

[BrotherIvan]

15. Thread win on the first post

[kentuck]

2. Mr Excitement!

He should have mentioned his brother. He could have gotten a standing ovation.

[bigtree]

3. so, Jeb thinks leaders must be guided by their faith

...while at the same time arguing for legal, government protection in the exercise of those beliefs. It's clear he wants to carve out room for the imposition of those beliefs on the rest of the public in the name of 'religious freedom.' What a disgusting hypocrite.

I'm not surprised his triangulation didn't impress the congregation at Falwell U. They want a religious crusader, not a stealth candidate looking to modulate and moderate his views in order to get elected.

[NuclearDem]

4. So what? He's not president anymore.

Oh wait, the next bush.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

5. "I will not excite anybody or anything!"

Jeb's new campaign slogan.

[okaawhatever]

6. I'm actually surprised at that one. Maybe they're holding out for Huckabee nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. they like Ted Cruz

[Exilednight]

14. I'm not. George II became deeply religious after

Becoming an alcoholic, so the one thing I will say about W is that he was sincere in his belief when it came to his religion. Jeb will do it strictly for the votes, not because he believes what he is selling.

[elleng]

7. Not good enough that he said Obama/administration anti-christian???

[UTUSN]

8. Maybe this has something to do with it:

[spanone]

11. most likely!

[True Blue Door]

9. Don't worry. Governor Unelected in his old state would help him out just as he helped his brother.

[Gothmog]

10. Jeb's shock and awe campaign is not working

[sadoldgirl]

12. It is surprising that he went there this early.

He should have remembered that Romney did not
have to count on this kind of audience.

And he was a bore too, except for his bloopers.