Media Zeroes in On Two Words Jeb Bush Said in Response to Oregon Shooting, but Here's the Context

Jeb Bush was skewered Friday by critics who zeroed in on two words he said  during an off-the-cuff response to Thursday's deadly shooting at an Oregon Community College.

“We’re in a difficult time in our country, and I don’t think more government is necessarily the answer to this. I think we need to reconnect ourselves with everybody else," Bush said, according to BuzzFeed. "It’s just — it’s very sad to see. But I resist — I had this challenge as governor. We had — look — stuff happens — there’s always a crisis. The impulse is to do something, and it’s not always the right thing to do.”

Reporters immediately jumped on Bush's use of the phrase "stuff happens."

New Yorker reporter Ryan Lizza's tweet on the comment was widely circulated on the Internet, amassing more than 1500 retweets:

Politico followed up with a similar tweet:

Jeb Bush on gun violence: 'stuff happens' https://t.co/njeOSnoDEE | AP Photo pic.twitter.com/bd1Nk4fAcy

— POLITICO (@politico)

October 2, 2015

As did others:

NEW: When asked about school shootings, @JebBush says: 'Stuff happens' https://t.co/zfUG3VBTxZ

— Ed O'Keefe (@edatpost) October 2, 2015

Jeb Bush delivers eloquent speech on school shootings: "stuff happens." https://t.co/iNaiXlWQcL

— Gawker (@Gawker) October 2, 2015

Jeb, after Oregon shooting: 'stuff happens' https://t.co/YcijStUaWz

— Tim Mak (@timkmak) October 2, 2015

Some reporters, however, noted that Bush's comments were seemingly taken out of context. The Washington Examiner's Becket Adams was one of them.

Ultimately the issue made its way to President Barack Obama, who was asked about the comment during an afternoon press conference.

"I don't even think I have to react to that one," the president said. "I think the American people should make their own judgements based on the fact that every couple of months we have a mass shooting."

UPDATE, 6:17 p.m. ET: Bush responded, saying liberal Democrats and some reporters "distorted" his quote to "advance their agenda."

(H/T: BuzzFeed)

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