CNN’s Ashley Killough reported a major supporter of former Florida governor, Jeb Bush, is taking out full-page newspaper ads targeting Donald Trump as a “BULLYionaire,” who he says is wooing crowds with “forked-tongue hatefulness.”
In the ad, Cuban immigrant and billionaire who founded MBF Healthcare Partners, L.P., Michael Fernandez, writes a personal letter to potential voters, urging them to reconsider what he sees as the dangers of electing the bombastic billionaire businessman. “See the ‘hater’ for what he is – an insecure, narcissistic BULLYionaire with a hunger to be adored.” The hard-hitting letter, first reported by Politico, also draws comparisons to Adolf Hitler.” History reminds us that when governments promise enticing favors, and fail to deliver, the people lose confidence. They become scared and seek out strong – and frequently despotic -leaders. We saw that in the Great Depression and many other moments in history. Look at Hitler in Germany, Mussolini in Italy and Peron in Argentina. When people lose hope, they are susceptible to those who offer to think for them.”
Fernandez declined to say how much he’s paying for the ad buy but said he plans to spend seven figures by Election Day next year. He has donated $3 million to Right to Rise, the super PAC supporting Bush. His ad hardly mentions Bush, focusing solely instead on the GOP frontrunner who have maintained a steady position at the top of the GOP field for months. In the ad, a deeply-worried Fernandez writes about his own immigrant story and laments about the direction he sees the country taking, saying he “cannot stand by and accept demagoguery that would separate us.” The ad, which will run in newspapers in Des Moines, Miami, and Las Vegas, comes as Trump secured a 20-point lead over his nearest competitor in a new CNN/ORC poll released Friday. Trump came in at 36% among Republican voters, while Bush dropped to sixth place at 3%.