An exasperated Jeb Bush lashed out at critics of the term "anchor babies" and, taking a page out of the Donald Trump playbook, advised politicians and the press to "chill out a little bit as it relates to political correctness."
"This is ludicrous for the Clinton campaign and others to suggest that somehow I am using a derogatory term," Bush said after meeting with local officials in McAllen, Texas, on Monday.
"What I’m talking about is the specific case of fraud being committed where there’s organized efforts – frankly it’s more related to Asian people, coming into our country, having children in that organized effort, taking advantage of that noble concept, which is birthright citizenship," he said,
The Hill reports.
"I support the 14th Amendment."
He then added,
according to Time, "This is all how politics plays."
"And by way, I think we need to take a step back and chill out a little bit as it relates to the political correctness that somehow you have to be scolded every time you say something," he said. "It's not fair to be taken out of context. That’s the nature of politics, but I just don’t think that this is appropriate."
Video of the remarks was posted by NBC News.
Story continues below video.
Trump has repeatedly lambasted political correctness since announcing his candidacy last June.
Bush faced repeated questions in both English and Spanish about his use of the term "anchor baby" last week – and noted, "my background, my life, the fact that I’m immersed in the immigrant experience.... Nothing I’ve said should be viewed as derogatory toward immigrants at all."
Bush's wife, Columba, is a native of Mexico; the couple have three children.
The Hill notes Bush's trip to the U.S.-Mexico border comes about a month after the day of Trump’s own border trip. But in his own visit, Bush bashed the front-running GOP candidate's plans as "not grounded in conservative principles.
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