Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush delivered a message to President Obama Thursday night at the Republican National Convention: Stop blaming my brother.

The sibling of former President George W. Bush, before launching into an education-focused address, said he had to get something “off my chest.” Though the 43rd president was not in attendance this week in Tampa, Jeb Bush represented the family and offered a brief-but-pointed rebuttal to what has been recurring criticism by Democrats of his brother’s term.

“Mr. President – It is time to stop blaming your predecessor for your failed economic policies,” he said. “You were dealt a tough hand, but your policies have not worked.”

Bush said that four years in, “a real leader would accept responsibility for his actions, and you have not done it.”

Bush also claimed his brother “kept us safe” in challenging times.

The comments about George W. Bush were not in his prepared remarks.

Bush spoke a couple hours before Mitt Romney was set to take the stage in Tampa and deliver his nomination acceptance address.