--- description: Barbara Bush, who has been speaking out for her son as he campaigns for president in New Hampshire, said she thinks he is "too polite" title: Barbara Bush Says Jeb Is 'Too Polite' image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt30719bd40d1a23b0/69887c51a988caf6806b6739/barbara-bush-jeb-bush.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Politics](/section/politics/) ## Politics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [jeb bush](/tag/jeb-bush/) ## jeb bush Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Barbara Bush Says Jeb Is 'Too Polite'  by [Katie Reilly](/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 5, 2016 3:15 PM CUT  Barbara Bush introduces son Jeb at a town hall in Derry, N.H. on Feb. 4. Barbara Bush introduces son Jeb at a town hall in Derry, N.H. on Feb. 4.Charles Ommanney—The Washington Post/Getty Images  by [Katie Reilly](/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 5, 2016 3:15 PM CUT Barbara Bush, who has been [speaking out for her son](http://time.com/4189831/jeb-bush-barbara-ad/ "undefined") as he campaigns for President in New Hampshire ahead of Tuesday’s primary, said she thinks Jeb Bush is “[too polite](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/elections-2016-jeb-bush-barbara-bush-new-hampshire/ "undefined").” “He’s almost too polite,” she said during an [interview with CBS](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/elections-2016-jeb-bush-barbara-bush-new-hampshire/ "undefined") on Thursday. “I don’t advise him, but if I gave him advice: I would say, ‘Why don’t you interrupt like the other people do?'” Barbara Bush, who also described her son as dependable and “relatively funny,” clarified that she thinks he should interrupt more during the Republican debates, which have often been [dominated by Donald Trump](http://time.com/4197580/republican-debate-donald-trump-iowa/ "undefined"). “I’ve gotten better at interrupting, mom, come on,” Jeb Bush said in response. **Read Next:** [Barbara Bush Cuts Ad for Jeb](http://time.com/4189831/jeb-bush-barbara-ad/ "undefined") “He’s so polite. We brought him up that way,” Barbara Bush said. “And he does not brag like some people we know.” Asked if she thinks anyone running for president is bragging too much, Barbara Bush declined to name any names. “I’m not getting into a spitting match with him. He can spit further than I can,” she said. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4209300/jeb-bush-barbara-new-hampshire-primary/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4209300/jeb-bush-barbara-new-hampshire-primary/"},"headline":"Barbara Bush Says Jeb Is 'Too Polite'","datePublished":"2016-02-05T15:15:12.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T14:48:18.140Z","description":"\"Why don't you interrupt like the other people do?\"","url":"https://time.com/4209300/jeb-bush-barbara-new-hampshire-primary/","keywords":["jeb bush","2016 Election topic"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt30719bd40d1a23b0/69887c51a988caf6806b6739/barbara-bush-jeb-bush.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Katie Reilly","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt30719bd40d1a23b0/69887c51a988caf6806b6739/barbara-bush-jeb-bush.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"barbara-bush-jeb-bush","caption":"DERRY, NH - FEBRUARY 4: Republican presidential candidate Governor Jeb Bush is introduced by his mother Barbara Bush before holding a town hall meeting at West Running Brook Middle School in Derry, New Hampshire on February 4, 2016. 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