HOUSTON - Speaking at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Monday, Republican presidential candidate and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was interrupted by immigration activists who chanted about the importance of the Latino vote and asked him if he stands with them or against them.
Holding up a sign that showed Bush taking selfies with Hispanic students juxtaposed with another of him giving a low-five to Donald Trump, the protesters said they wanted the real Jeb Bush to stand up.
At first it seemed Bush would continue his speech as the first activists began chanting. But as the group of 20 or so protesters got into place, Bush responded.
"I've been for comprehensive immigration reform regardless of the political ramifications," Bush said to loud applause from the crowd of Hispanic business leaders.
Bush was then able to continue undeterred and seemingly stronger after the confrontation, aided by security that only allowed the interruption to last five minutes, quickly escorting the protesters out.
He said he was glad to move on to honoring women entrepreneurs, which was the focus of the luncheon, and invoked Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner who has sparred with Bush repeatedly.
"If one of the candidates is looking to "Make America Great Again" he should just look at the Latina entrepreneurs in this country," Bush said.
The protesters, from Mi Familia Vota Texas, SEIU Texas and Immigrant Families and Students In Struggle, argued to BuzzFeed News that he says different things to different crowds and were particularly upset about his recent use of the term anchor babies, his steadfast opposition to Obama's executive actions on immigration, and how he has previously supported a path to citizenship but now is in favor of a more limited earned legal status.
Jeb Bush speech to Hispanic Chamber of Commerce interrupted by DREAMers in Houston
Trump was clearly on Bush's mind Monday.
Earlier in the day, during a half-hour-long private meeting with 75 Hispanic business leaders, Bush brought him up as well, according to three sources at the meeting.
After opening the question and answer session with greetings in Spanish, Bush joked, "Is Donald trump here? Is he going to tell me speak English?"
Bush was referring to Trump's controversial comments on the trail that Bush should speak English, which they butted heads on during the second GOP debate last week as well.
Becoming serious, Bush told the business leaders he was not going to apologize for how he is, and the country needs someone who is going to bring it together, not divide it.
During his luncheon remarks, Bush again brought up the issue. He noted that the protesters' signs showed him at the same Florida school where he spoke to students in Spanish.
"Donald Trump said I should not speak Spanish to them when they speak Spanish to me," he said, as the crowd buzzed. "They speak English, too, in case you're worried. They're bilingual."
As he did in a speech to Hispanic evangelicals earlier this year, also in Houston, Bush focused on his work in education in Florida that improved the high school graduation rate by 50% during his time as governor, helping Latino students.
"Don't let anybody tell you that kids can't learn," he said. "It's up to us to organize ourselves around them so that they do."
But with where Trump has dragged the Republican primary on immigration, Bush was forced to talk about where he stands in relation to the increasingly rightward tilt of the candidates on immigration.
He said he was for an immigration overhaul, which "apparently is somewhat out of the mainstream currently in my party."
"Yeah, we need to enforce the border, of course we do," Bush continued, adding that it should be easier for people to come to the country legally than illegally.
But, he said, "we don't need to build a wall, we don't need to deport every person that is in this country. That would cost hundreds of millions of dollars."
Earning legal status over time — while not receiving federal government assistance — is "the dignified American way," he added. Bush framed himself as the one that can forge consensus, while calling out the politics of "striking fear in people's hearts."
The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce did not hide its annoyance with the protest, telling BuzzFeed News in a statement that it "does not protest, especially against candidates that have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to the Hispanic community."
"While we do not see eye to eye on all issues with any of the presidential hopefuls, those who treat our community with respect deserve the same," the statement read. "We thank Governor Bush for addressing our members, and look forward to our other planned engagements with candidates from both parties."
While the protesters were booed by some Hispanic business leaders — the members support both parties — privately, those who met with the former Florida governor told him they too want to see more of the real Jeb Bush.
Asked when he was going to communicate to the rest of the community that his story is "inextricably linked" to Latinos because of his Mexican-American family, Bush said Hispanic issues are already a core part of his campaign.
"We're in the beginning process, I'm going to be ramping it up," he said, according to sources in the meetings, and pointed to his campaign manager Danny Diaz and head of Latino engagement, Jose Mallea, who was in the room, as evidence of this focus.
After the protest, and after the repeated Trump mentions, Bush sought to separate himself not just from Republicans he doesn't agree with, but also the president.
Calling Obama a "gifted man," he said the president has used his talents to divide the country, the same way some in his party are doing, but argued that he would be more inclusive.
"We need a candidate that does this with joy in his heart. That will campaign like this," Bush said, opening his arms wide, "and not like this," he concluded, bringing his arms closely together.