Reporting on an upcoming foreign policy speech by former Florida governor and 2016 contender Jeb Bush on Wednesday's NBC Today, correspondent Peter Alexander was quick to hype a liability for the Republican: "It's one of the biggest challenges facing Jeb Bush, how he addresses the violence and volatility in Iraq, the country his brother, former President George W. Bush, invaded more than a decade ago."
Fill-in co-host Willie Geist introduced Alexander's report by noting: "Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush will deliver a high-profile speech as he tests the waters ahead of a likely run for the White House. It's an address that comes with certain challenges for the son and brother of a couple of former presidents."
Wrapping up the segment, Alexander touted Hillary Clinton being ahead of Bush and fellow GOP frontrunner Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in key states: "As for a potential general election match-up, Hillary Clinton leads both Jeb Bush and Scott Walker in those crucial battlegrounds of Iowa and New Hampshire."
However, Alexander never suggested that Clinton had her own Iraq war problem to overcome. Her vote in favor of the war as a senator in 2003 was a major factor in her losing the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama in 2008.
Here is a full transcript of Alexander's February 18 report:
7:13 AM ET
WILLIE GEIST: Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush will deliver a high-profile speech as he tests the waters ahead of a likely run for the White House. It's an address that comes with certain challenges for the son and brother of a couple of former presidents. NBC national correspondent Peter Alexander is in Chicago. Peter, good morning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Jeb Bush Wades Into Foreign Policy; To Lay Out Global Approach for First Time]
PETER ALEXANDER: Willie, good morning to you. Here in Chicago, Jeb Bush will give his first major foreign policy, national security speech since signaling real interest in becoming the next President Bush. Aides tell me he will criticize President Obama's leadership as indecisive and inconsistent.
And as for distinguishing himself from his own father and brother, he'll say the following, we just got these excerpts moments ago, he'll say, "I love my father and brother, but I am my own man and my views are shaped by my own thinking and own experiences."
It's one of the biggest challenges facing Jeb Bush, how he addresses the violence and volatility in Iraq, the country his brother, former President George W. Bush, invaded more than a decade ago. The former Florida governor could offer new clues today, but just last week insisted he'd rather talk about the future than the past.
JEB BUSH: We have some big, hairy, complicated things we need to fix and one of those is what the role of America is in the world.
ALEXANDER: The Washington Post reports Bush has consulted several members of his brother's and father's administrations. Among them, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. But conservatives expect Bush will set his sights on the current administration.
GARY SCHMITT [AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE]: Governor Bush is going to spend most of his time laying out a future agenda which will be an implied critique of President Obama.
ALEXANDER: Bush hasn't distanced himself from his brother in the past.
BUSH [CNN, STATE OF THE UNION, NOVEMBER 14, 2010]: I'm the only Republican that was in office when he was in office as president that never disagreed with him. And I'm not going to start now. Til' death do us part.
ALEXANDER: Last Friday, Barbara Bush skyped into a Gala while her son was speaking, to make sure she changed her mind about another Bush in the White House, as she told Matt on Today.
BARBARA BUSH [APRIL 25, 2013]: We've had enough Bushes.
BARBARA BUSH [FEBRUARY 13]: I said our problems are so big that it doesn't matter what your last name in America – if America needs you as long as you can help.
ALEXANDER: Bush has already galvanized Republican donors.
ROBERT COSTA [THE WASHINGTON POST]: Their ahead of everyone else to make sure that he can send the signal to everyone of his rivals that he's going to have the money faster and sooner than everyone.
ALEXANDER: The latest NBC News/Marist poll shows Bush and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker are the early Republican front-runners. The only two potential candidates in double digits in three key states.
Bottom line, the race is still pretty wide open on the Republican side. As for a potential general election match-up, Hillary Clinton leads both Jeb Bush and Scott Walker in those crucial battlegrounds of Iowa and New Hampshire. Willie.
GEIST: And a friendly reminder, only twenty-one months til' election day.
[LAUGHTER]
ALEXANDER: Yeah, exactly right.
GEIST: Peter Alexander in Chicago. Peter, thanks so much.
