They haven’t discovered the gene for this rare syndrome yet, but it seems to be passed along by the Y chromosome. It’s the “I’m going to run for public office gene,” and it is being studied in two prominent families—the Kennedy’s and the Bush’s.
George P. Bush, nephew of former president George W. Bush, grandson of former president George H.W. Bush, and son of former Florida governor Jeb Bush, filed papers with the Texas Ethics Commission in Austin on Wednesday to appoint a campaign treasurer. This is a first step in running for office in Texas, a position that the young Bush, now 36, has not decided on.
George Prescott Garnica Bush is an attorney, U.S. Navy Reserve officer and real estate developer. He’s also Hispanic—his mother, Columba Garnica Gallo, is a naturalized citizen from Mexico. Given the course of the 2012 presidential election, and the Latino vote in particular, Bush’s timing is not a surprise.
The Republicans got pummeled by Latinos in the election. According to the Pew Research Center, Latinos voted for Obama and Biden over Romney and Ryan by a margin of more than two-to-one—71 percent to 27 percent. The handwringing among GOP supporters over their party’s losses points to a change of strategy directed toward the new 21st Century demographics in America—the growth among the Latino population, African Americans, Asians and single women.
Whether or not the GOP can shed its retro “Mad Men” image and become a more enlightened and inclusive party will be a heavy lift. But it seems some are willing to pick up the barbells and start training.
