Bush Campaign: 'Longer Hours' Comment Misunderstood

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has made no bones about the economy being one of the pillars on which his 2016 presidential campaign platform rests. His target goal of 4 percent economic growth annually has been well publicized.

Bush on Wednesday explained one of the ways to help achieve that goal during a forum live-streamed on the app Periscope. Now his campaign is backpedaling to better explain the comment while the Democrats are gobbling up the faux pas for political fodder.

When questioned about what’s needed to grow the economy, Bush said, “Workforce participation has to rise from its all-time modern lows,” CNBC reported. That means ”people need to work longer hours and through their productivity gain more income for their families.”

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The Bush campaign, however, insists the Republican was referencing underemployed, part-time workers and the need to get them back to the grind full-time, multiple media outlets have reported..

Even so, Democrats are firing back against the remark. The Democratic National Committee called Bush “out-of-touch,” Politico reported.

Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton took to Twitter to voice her response.

“Anyone who believes Americans aren’t working hard enough hasn’t met enough American workers,” she tweeted.

Bush also took to twitter to fire back.

“Anyone who discounts 6.5 million people stuck in part-time work & seeking full-time jobs hasn’t listened to working Americans @hillaryclinton,” Bush’s tweet read.

What do you think it will take to grow America’s economy? Tell us by commenting below.

Photo courtesy of the Bush campaign