Krauthammer hits Jeb comments

By TAL KOPAN | 04/08/2014 06:13 AM EDT | Updated: 04/08/2014 04:58 PM EDT

Conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer says comments from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush about immigration being an act of love were "bizarre," predicting that when the Republican enters the presidential race, those words will come back to haunt him.

"If he was feeling any optimism before that interview, I think it's gone away after the interview," Krauthammer said on Fox News's "Special Report" Monday night of comments Bush made to Fox News Channel over the weekend.

Bush had told the network in the interview that illegal immigration should not be a felony, but is "an act of love. It's an act of commitment to your family."

(Also on POLITICO: Kristol: 'No way' Jeb Bush is 2016 nominee)

"I mean that statement he made about illegal immigrants being an act of love is kind of bizarre," the conservative columnist said. "I grant him the complete sincerity and honesty of his view, he's always had that kind of approach. But that's leading with your chin."

Krauthammer said lots of would-be immigrants care for their family and children just as much but wait for their turn to enter the country. The problem, he said, are that 11 million people have "jumped the fence" and entered the country illegally.

"I believe in immigration, but I believe that we set the parameters and criteria for who gets in," Krauthammer said. "If we're ever going to have a solution to the immigration problem, and I believe in legalization, it will only happen when a Republican stands up and says, 'Yes, we will legalize, but we're not going to get swindled like Reagan in '86 with a promise of closing the borders.' You close the border, you prevent the compassionate parents who want to better the lives of their children but who want to jump the fence, and then you legalize the 11 million who are here."

Krauthammer predicted that Bush will enter the 2016 presidential race but that he will be surprised by the reaction his comments on immigration will provoke.

"I think there will be a reaction against this particular issue," Krauthammer said. "I think he will, but I don't think he's going to be as well received as he hopes."