A pro-Rand Paul super PAC is out with a new video giving Jeb Bush the nickname “Bailout Bush,” accusing the former Florida governor of being a big supporter of government bailouts.
America’s Liberty PAC says they spending five figures to show the 60-second spot running online to targeted voters in early primary states. The PAC has also acquired the domain BailoutBush.com.
The video shows Bush offering support to the 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, for example.
“Several of Gov. Bush’s conflicts with the Republican base have been well documented, but no one seems to be talking about perhaps the most damaging issue: Jeb’s long history of support for bailouts,” said John Tate, the president of the super PAC.
“Opposition to bailouts launched the Tea Party movement and is a key issue uniting and defining the modern Republican Party,” Tate added.
Super PACs, like this one, can accept unlimited contributions. While they can run advertisements in support and against candidates, they cannot coordinate with campaigns under federal law.
America’s Liberty PAC is run by Jesse Benton, who is also married to the senator’s niece and is a former top political adviser to Ron and Rand Paul.
During the 2014 election, Benton was campaign manager to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell during his primary race against Republican Matt Bevin. McConnell’s campaign memorably labeled Bevin “Bailout Bevin.”