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Jeb Bush: 'I Don't Know What Was On The Mind' Of Charleston Shooter

Jeb Bush: 'I Don't Know What Was On The Mind' Of Charleston Shooter
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Senior Politics Reporter, HuffPost

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Senior Politics Reporter, HuffPost

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Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush said Friday that he isn't sure what motivated a young white man to walk into a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, Wednesday night and kill nine people.

"I don't know what was on the mind or the heart of the man who committed these atrocious crimes," the former Florida governor said at the Faith & Freedom Coalition conference.

The shooter, 21-year-old Dylann Roof, was crystal clear about his motive: He reportedly announced he was there to kill black people, saying at the church, "You rape our women, and you're taking over the country. And you have to go."

In a Facebook picture, Roof sported patches on his jacket representing Rhodesia, a former apartheid state in East Africa, and apartheid-era South Africa. He also reportedly told his roommate he was planning to ignite a civil war.

Republicans, however, are having a hard time attributing the mass shooting to racism. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) said in a statement on Thursday that "we do know that we'll never understand what motivates anyone to enter one of our places of worship and take the life of another." And conservative analysts on Fox News floated the theory that Roof was targeting Christians, rather than African-Americans.

Bush's spokesman, Tim Miller, responded on Twitter to criticism of Bush's comments, telling reporters Friday that "of course" Bush believes the attack was racially motivated.

Roof was captured by authorities Thursday morning in Shelby, North Carolina, more than 200 miles from the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church where he opened fire during a weekly Bible study.

Reacting to the news in a press conference on Friday, President Barack Obama suggested America could do more to address gun violence -- namely through legislation.

"Once again, innocent people were killed in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun," he said. "At some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence doesn’t happen in other countries."

"The fact that this took place in a black church also raises questions about a dark part of our history," he added.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) disagreed with Obama at the Faith & Freedom Coalition conference on Friday, arguing that it was the American people and not the government who could do the most to stop such atrocities.

"This type of conduct is something that only our display of our own love and good faith that’s in our heart can change," he told the gathering of Christian conservatives. "Laws can't change this, only the good will and love of the American people can let those folks know that act is unacceptable, disgraceful, and we need to do more to show them we love each other. Open our chests, open our hearts, show love to each other. That’s what leadership is about, too."

UPDATE, 6/19, 12:05 p.m. -- The Huffington Post asked Jeb Bush on Friday whether the shooting was racially motivated. "It was a horrific act and I don't know what the background of it is, but it was an act of hatred," Bush said.

Asked again whether the shooting was because of race, Bush added, "I don't know. Looks like to me it was, but we'll find out all the information. It's clear it was an act of raw hatred, for sure. Nine people lost their lives, and they were African-American. You can judge what it is."

Watch Bush answer the racism question:

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Before You Go

Politicians On Charleston Shooting
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)(01 of12)
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“Our prayers are with the families of the victims and the people of Charleston. We are all heartbroken by this tragedy.“To the families of the victims, please know that you are being prayed for and loved by so many in the community and across the nation. I pray that God will provide you healing in the coming days. “There are bad people in this world who are motivated by hate. Every decent person has been victimized by the hateful, callous disregard for human life shown by the individual who perpetrated these horrible acts. "Our sense of security and well-being has been robbed and shaken.” (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R)(02 of12)
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"Michael, Rena, Nalin and I are praying for the victims and families touched by tonight's senseless tragedy at Emanuel AME Church. While we do not yet know all of the details, we do know that we'll never understand what motivates anyone to enter one of our places of worship and take the life of another. Please join us in lifting up the victims and their families with our love and prayers." (credit:Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images)
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R)(03 of12)
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"There can be no trying to understand or explain away this evil behavior," Jindal said in an interview on CNN."I do hope this community will be able to find some comfort in their faith," he added. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.)(04 of12)
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"Today, the nation mourns as we learn more about the harrowing shooting at the historic Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. As law enforcement continues its work and as the victims' families and community begin to heal, we are heartbroken and painfully reminded that our work is far from done. No one should ever have a reason to be afraid to go to their place of worship. We must recommit to ensuring our communities are safe from senseless and hateful acts of violence." (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)(05 of12)
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"The Charleston church killings are a tragic reminder of the ugly stain of racism that still taints our nation. This senseless violence fills me with outrage, disgust and a deep, deep sadness. The hateful killing of nine people praying inside a church is a horrific reminder that, while we have made significant progress in advancing civil rights in this country, we are far from eradicating racism. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and their congregation."
 (credit:Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)(06 of12)
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“My heart and prayers go out to the entire Charleston community and the families and loved ones of victims in this horrific hate crime, as gun violence again grips our nation. Mass murder and gun violence have killed children and educators in their Sandy Hook school, moviegoers in Colorado, and men and women in their workplaces and neighborhoods across America. Last night gun violence invaded yet another sacred place – a site of ultimate sanctity and safety. We are far beyond saying ‘enough is enough’ and in danger of being numb to the scourge of gun violence plaguing our country. Numbness to gun violence is consummate complicity."
 (credit:Andrew Burton via Getty Images)
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.)(07 of12)
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“The brutal killing of nine innocent African-Americans at the historically black Emmanuel AME Church in South Carolina, including pastor and State Senator Clementa Pinckney, is an unspeakable and horrific tragedy by any measure. These individuals simply gathered to worship and study the Bible in a sanctuary and place of refuge as they did every week, but were senselessly killed. My most heartfelt condolences go out to all of the families and friends of the victims as well as the entire community. “It is my hope that all levels of state, local and federal law enforcement work together to capture this brutal killer before any more senseless violence occurs. I commend the Department of Justice for their swift determination to open a federal hate crimes investigation.”
 (credit:Drew Angerer via Getty Images)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)(08 of12)
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“Like all Americans, Marcelle and I are shaken by the horrific tragedy in Charleston. We all deserve to feel safe regardless of who we are, who we love, or what religion we choose to practice. Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving families and parishioners whose right to feel safe in their community and their place of worship was taken from them yesterday. “I appreciate the swift engagement by the Department of Justice to monitor the situation and to assist in any way possible. Today, we stand with the people of Charleston and with the brave law enforcement officers and agents who are working to bring to justice the person or persons responsible for these heinous acts.”
 (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)(09 of12)
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"My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of last night's shooting in Charleston, who were tragically taken from us as they gathered together in prayer inside their place of worship. While details are still emerging, I have faith in law enforcement that the perpetrator of this evil and senseless act will be brought to justice and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
 (credit:Mark Wilson via Getty Images)
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D)(10 of12)
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"This was an absolutely troubling and heart wrenching moment. The fact is that nine innocent lives are lost. Our hearts go out to the people of Charleston. Our hearts go out to the members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. We in this city feel the pain of people anywhere in this country, anywhere in this globe, because we’re so connected to each and every part of the country and the world. There are so many people here who hail from South Carolina, and it’s a very, very painful moment for all of us. I want everyone to know there’s no place in New York City for this kind of hatred, and that we, through the NYPD, have increase our resources directed at protecting African-American churches in this city as a precaution."
 (credit:Spencer Platt via Getty Images)
Vice President Joe Biden & Dr. Jill Biden(11 of12)
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"Hate has once again been let loose in an American community. And the senseless actions of a coward have once again cut short so many lives with so much promise. Our hearts ache with sorrow with the entire Emanuel AME Church family as they seek solace and comfort in the shadow of a gunman’s act of pure evil and hatred. Our love and prayers are with them."We last saw Reverend Clementa Pinckney less than a year ago at a prayer breakfast in Columbia. He was a good man, a man of faith, a man of service who carried forward Mother Emaunel’s legacy as a sacred place promoting freedom, equality, and justice for all. We pray for him and his sister as we do for the seven other innocent souls who entered that storied church for their weekly Bible study seeking nothing more than humble guidance for the full lives ahead of them. "We have no doubt the coward who committed this heinous act will be brought to justice. But as a nation we must confront the ravages of gun violence and the stain of hatred that continues to be visited on our streets, in our schools, in our houses of worship, and in our communities."As Mayor Riley made clear, all of Charleston’s heart bleeds today—but the overwhelming display of unity will bring forth the city’s healing. We will never forget those innocent souls who lost their lives. We will be there with all the strength and support and prayers we can offer to the families who now grieve. And as a nation we will come together." (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.)(12 of12)
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“I commend law enforcement officials for their work to apprehend the suspect in the shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. There are no words to express the anguish and shock felt by people across the nation from this massacre. As the son of two preachers, I know the sanctity and security the church offers for people of faith. It is unimaginable that someone would commit such an act of violence in a place of worship that resulted in the loss of nine lives.“My prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who were killed and for the Charleston community as they begin the healing process.” (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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