News
RPOF ICYMI: Politico - August 06, 2010
Politico
August 5, 2010
Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson's decision to mail thousands of DVDs which essentially serve as a legislative highlight reel of his first term to his Orlando-area constituents sparked a backlash late last week when those constituents realized that $73,000 of their tax dollars paid for it.
Now, on top of facing voter anger in November, Grayson faces a lawsuit.
Todd Long, one of seven Republicans vying for the GOP nomination to challenge Grayson in November, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court seeking an injunction to prevent Grayson from using any more taxpayer money on DVDs.
...
We also asked the judge to rule the spending unconstitutional, and make Grayson reimburse the Treasury with $73,000," said Long, a lawyer of 20 years who says he's fighting back against Graysons abuse of the Constitution.
The freshman Democrat mailed the DVDs to some 100,000 homes in Florida's 8th District which he paid for with his congressional franking privilege, which allows members of Congress to use taxpayers funds to pay for outgoing mail.
Grayson argued that he was providing a valuable form of constituent service. The people of Central Florida have a right to see what we are doing in Washington, D.C., whether or not the media chooses to air it, he said in a statement. That's what this mailing accomplishes.
Long admitted that while his lawsuit is legitimate, there are a lot of other advantages to filing it.
Obviously everybody wants to get involved with this, and weve gotten some good media exposure, he said, adding that every TV station in the Orlando area reported on his lawsuit Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, other Republicans seeking the GOP nomination on Aug. 24 have also criticized Graysons actions and called on him to return the money.
That flyer should be paid for with campaign money, and he should pay the money back to the people of this country, Dan Webster, a former state House Speaker and state Senate Majority Leader, said in a statement.
Another GOP challenger, state Rep. Kurt Kelly, issued a statement calling the DVD little more than an MSNBC audition tape sent out to senior citizens throughout Central Florida.
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RPOF ICYMI: Politico - August 06, 2010
In all of the affected races, the outcome is expected to be close enough that a third-party candidate who wins just a few percentage points could end up swinging the outcome to the Democratic congressman or candidate.
Dems Accused of Tea Party Tampering
Politico
August 5, 2010
Nationally, Democrats say they intend to campaign against the tea party movement. But locally, Democratic officials and activists in at least four states now stand accused of collaborating with tea party candidates in an attempt to sabotage Republican challengers in some of the closest House races in the nation.
The charges of dirty tricks are being leveled in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey and Florida and they involve more than a half-dozen contests that could tip the balance of power in the House.
The accusations range from helping tea party activists circulate candidate petition sheets to underwriting the creation of official tea parties, which then put forth slates of candidates that local conservatives accuse of being rife with Democratic plants.
In all of the affected races, the outcome is expected to be close enough that a third-party candidate who wins just a few percentage points could end up swinging the outcome to the Democratic congressman or candidate.
The Democrats have come to the realization that they cant win on issues, and with their flawed candidates, so they are forced to skirt the rules by running candidates who they hope can split the vote with Republicans, said Paul Lindsey, a National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman.
A similar scenario is unfolding in Florida, where there is also evidence though not conclusive of Democratic tampering. There, accusations of trickery have sparked a bitter battle among tea party activists.
The skirmishing began when grass-roots conservatives learned that a local attorney, Fred ONeal, and a Republican political consultant in Orlando, Doug Guetzloe, had registered the Florida Tea Party with state election officials. Within months, the two sides were engaged in a legal battle over who had the right to the tea party name.
As local activists began digging into the backgrounds of ONeal and Guetzloe, they discovered several connections between the consultant and Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson, an outspoken freshman who is at the top of GOP target lists.
Grayson advertised on Guetzloes conservative talk show. He also appointed Guetzloe to a small-business advisory group and Guetzloes son interned in the Democrats congressional office.
Armed with those links, tea party activists across the state accused the two men of forming a front group designed to help Democrats in tight elections.
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RPOF Press Release - August 06, 2010
RPOF Chairman John Thrasher, RNC Secretary and Florida National Committeewoman Sharon Day, Florida National Committeeman Paul Senft, and RPOF Vice Chairman and Hillsborough County Republican Executive Committee Chairman Debbie Cox-Roush on hand for historic vote.
Kansas CityRepublican Party of Florida officials today marked the official designation of Tampa Bay as the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention during the Republican National Committees (RNC) Summer Meeting.
I was honored to join National Committeewoman Day and National Committeeman Senft to cast my vote in favor of bringing the 2012 Republican National Convention to Tampa Bay, said RPOF Chairman John Thrasher. Its a great day for Florida, and I couldnt be more proud of the hard work our Vice Chairman Debbie-Cox Roush, Al Austin and his team, the Republican grassroots community of Tampa Bay and so many others put into making this day possible.
The RNC Site Selection Committee presented its recommendation to hold the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay in May during the RNCs State Chairmans Meeting in Prince Georges County, Maryland. Today, the full RNC voted to confirm that recommendation. Floridas National Committeewoman Sharon Day, who serves as the Secretary of the RNC, represents Florida on the Site Selection Committee.
Earlier this year, the Site Selection Committee visited each of the three final cities prior to making a recommendation. The Hillsborough County Republican Party (HCRP) organized thousands of Republican volunteers to welcome the Site Selection Committee to Tampa Bay for a two-day site visit packed with a detailed tour of the city, multiple options for event space, and a grassroots event at Channelside Bay Plaza.
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RPOF ICYMI: Associated Press - August 03, 2010
"Critics, including some local media, say the signings are cloaked campaign events paid for by the public."
Crist Made Frequent Use of Bill Signing Ceremonies
Associated Press
August 2, 2010
Then, for the second of three times that day, Crist symbolically signed a bill that could help condo owners financially, hoping it would please this large and important constituency. In truth, he had already approved the legislation two weeks earlier in Tallahassee.
It's not unusual for Florida governors to hold such ceremonial bill signings on important or popular measures. But Crist has made frequent use of the legally unnecessary events, which usually happen weeks or even months after the official signing.
An Associated Press analysis found Crist has held about 90 ceremonial signings during his nearly four years in office, while his predecessor, Republican Jeb Bush, held about 65 during eight years.
Each event can cost taxpayers thousands of dollars in operating expenses for the state airplane and, sometimes, the governor's extensive security detail.
Many of Crist's events have been dizzying runs across the state for multiple ceremonial signings of the same piece of legislation usually in major media markets. He even once left the state, visiting the New York Stock Exchange to ceremonially sign a bill authorizing the state's $1.95 billion investment in technology and growth industries.
Critics, including some local media, say the signings are cloaked campaign events paid for by the public. They allow the governor to cherry-pick issues and create events likely to make the evening news, bolstering his image.
"He's doing these ceremonial bill signings in multiple venues not only to garner free media but also to be able to do it on the taxpayer's dime," said Daniel Smith, a University of Florida political science professor. "It becomes a question of where does this become excessive?"
Crist spent about $7,200 flying to Ocala, St. Augustine and Naples to sign a small business bill last May, about a week after announcing his Senate run.
It's difficult to determine exactly how much the ceremonies cost taxpayers. Flights to bill signings cost roughly $30,000 in 2009, according to figures from the state Department of Management Services. That doesn't include other transportation or security costs.
A small event with a controlled crowd may take three or four Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents, officials say, while larger events could call for more than a dozen agents and local law enforcement officers.
Before Crist ever touches down, security personnel typically drive the route he'll take and inspect event sites. The security costs aren't substantial if agents and officers are working their normal shift, but it pulls them away from other assignments and sometimes they are on overtime.
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RPOF ICYMI: The US Report - August 02, 2010
The US Report
July 30, 2010
Republican women in the fourth largest state in the U.S. are definitely fired up as the 2010 election season approaches. That was evident when the Florida Federation of Republican Women meeting in January drew a record-breaking number of participants. These women have come up with a slew of creative ideas; the latest is Send the Dems Packing.
The graphic for 'Send the Dems Packing and Charlie Too' was created for events organized by Florida's GOP women. It is a very catchy graphic. The idea is to show up with boxes at various Democrat incumbents offices in Tallahassee and bid them farewell. In a news release on Friday, Jenny Whitaker, president of one of the largest groups in Florida, announced a Send the Dems Packing meetup at Rep. Allen Boyd, Jr.s office in Tallahassee. That event is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 5, from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Whitakers Big Bend Republican Women club spans all of District 2, comprising 16 counties, 11,000 square miles and a 4.5 hour drive from one end to the other. Whitaker said, We knew that Boyds seat was very vulnerable this year, especially after his vote for ObamaCare which went directly against what the people in this district wanted. But as we continue to promote this rally, we are getting even more excited and optimistic about a Republican victory in November. People are ready to get rid of Allen Boyd and put the right person in his seat.
Other Democrat seats being targeted are held by Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Alan Grayson and Ron Klein. FFRW has a Farewell to Congressman Klein notice posted for a rally at Kleins office in Boca Raton on Thursday, August 5, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Those who are targeted are pretty much Democrat Party hardliners. Boyd claims he is a Blue Dog conservative, but the nonpartisan site Open Congress said he has voted with his party 96 percent of the time. That includes casting a vote for ObamaCare, the most liberal piece of legislation passed in our lifetime with an unknown price tag because the Congressional Budget Office could not cost out items like discretionary spending.
Alan Grayson votes along party lines 98 percent of the time. Ron Klein also has a 98 percent party line vote rating. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz votes 99 percent with Democrats. Wasserman-Schultz came under fire at a townhall about health insurance when she attempted to spin the mandate to buy health insurance. Like other Democrats, she took the its not a mandate, youre just in a different tax bracket approach once the Obama administration figured out the mandate was, as many Republicans said, unconstitutional.
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RPOF Press Release - July 30, 2010
Tallahassee, Fla. RPOF Chairman John Thrasher today applauded incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos' (R-Merritt Island) Health Care Solutions Tour and encouraged fellow Republicans to join in the informational roundtables and site tours.
"Medicaid reform needs to be a top priority of the Republican-led Legislature, and it is imperative that we listen to all sides of the issue and fully understand how the state can implement a cost-saving, patient-centered reform plan," said Chairman Thrasher.
"Senator Haridopolos knows first-hand how important health care is to Floridians, with his wife, Stephanie, being a respected, family practice doctor," Thrasher continued. "And with the recent decision to remove Amendment 9 from the ballot, it is up to Florida's current and future leaders to do their due diligence on this important issue facing our state."
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RPOF ICYMI - July 30, 2010
This Week While Taping "The View" Obama Criticized Others For "Campaigning All The Time."
OBAMA: "The one thing that does frustrate me sometimes is the sense that we shouldn't be campaigning all the time. There is a time to campaign. And then there is a time to govern." (ABC's "The View," 7/29/10)
After Criticism, Obama Went Right Back To "Unprecedented" Campaign Push
Obama Attended Back-To-Back Fundraisers In New York City Right After His Criticism Of Constant Campaigning. "President Obama is coming to New York on July 28 for Democratic National Committee fundraising, but apparently he has two events planned on the day - including one at the home of Vogue editrix Anna Wintour." (Maggie Haberman, "Obama And Anna Wintour, For One Night Only," Politico, 7/14/10)
"President Barack Obama's Endless Summer Of Fundraising Is Heating Up -- With The Addition Of A Big-Money August House Party To Help Out House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Imperiled Democrats, Politico Has Learned." (John Bresnahan & Glenn Thrush, "The Barack Obama-Nancy Pelosi event," Politico, 7/29/10)
Obama Has Four Fundraising Events Next Week After Four Events In Three Days This Week. "Obama is headlining four Democratic fundraisers in three days and hosting another four events next week. For now he's playing it safe, holding the eight events in noncompetitive states or in a competitive place where he's sure to be embraced: his home state of Illinois." (Julie Pace, "Ahead Of Elections, Obama Ramps Up His Fundraising," The Associated Press, 7/28/10)
"The President And The DNC Under His Leadership Have Made A Full, And In Many Ways Unprecedented, Effort To Helping Democrats Win This Fall." "President Obama is ramping up his fund-raising efforts for Democrats in the coming days, headlining events that will raise millions of dollars for the 2010 election contests, including a series of $30,400-a-person dinners and cheaper, less exclusive receptions. ... 'Whether it's through a first-of-its-kind, 50-state grassroots field effort in Organizing for America or the $50-million Vote2010 commitment, the president and the DNC under his leadership have made a full, and in many ways unprecedented, effort to helping Democrats win this fall." (Lynn Sweet, "Obama Fund-Raising Sprint: NY, Chicago, Atlanta, San Antonio, Dallas, D.C.," Politics Daily, 7/27/10)
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RPOF Press Release - July 30, 2010
Will Sink Stand By Her Endorsement of Meek If Obama Pulls Back Support?
TallahasseeThe Republican Party of Florida today asked whether or not Democrat gubernatorial candidate Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink will attend a Florida Democrat Party fundraiser featuring President Obama next month if the White House snubs Democrat United States Senate candidate Kendrick Meek, whom Sink has publically endorsed.
For weeks, Kendrick Meek has been forced to defend his support from President Barack Obama amid calls from his Democrat colleagues for the White House to step up support for Meek as the Democrat primary draws near, said RPOF Director Ronnie Whitaker.
The White House today publicized plans for the President to travel to Miami on August 18 for a Florida Democrat Party Fundraiser including Democrat gubernatorial candidate Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink. Despite his endorsement of Kendrick Meeks United States Senate Campaign earlier this year and various subsequent trips to the Sunshine State, Obama has yet to hold a fundraiser or campaign rally for his Democrat colleague.
Will the President also appear with Meek during his visit to Florida? continued Whitaker. If the White House snubs Meek will Alex Sink stand by her endorsement and call on the President to show support for Meek? Will she still attend the FDP fundraiser if Meek is left out?
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RPOF ICYMI: Orlando Sentinel - July 29, 2010
"..it's not Grayson's campaign but taxpayers who footed the nearly $73,000 bill to produce and mail the DVD to 100,000 homes in Grayson's district of Lake, Marion, Orange and Osceola counties."
Grayson bills taxpayers for DVD of term's highlights
Orlando Sentinel
Mark K. Matthews and Mark Schlueb
July 29, 2010
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-grayson-sends-dvd-20100728,0,939568,print.story
WASHINGTON If U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson were a rock star, his latest PR blitz a DVD sent to tens of thousands of Central Florida residents would be called Grayson's Greatest Hits.
The 90-minute disc features video highlights from his first term in office, including one of him grilling Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and another in which the Orlando Democrat preaches on the need to teach schoolchildren about the U.S. Constitution.
The DVD comes wrapped inside a mailer covered with promotional slogans: "Congressman Alan Grayson, Hard at Work for You," "He works hard. He pays attention. He gets things done," and "Video DVD Inside: Watch Congressman Grayson in Action!"
In many ways, it's the perfect campaign video with one key difference.
Thanks to perks given to all members of Congress, it's not Grayson's campaign but taxpayers who footed the nearly $73,000 bill to produce and mail the DVD to 100,000 homes in Grayson's district of Lake, Marion, Orange and Osceola counties.
It's a stunt that drew howls from Republicans, who complained that Grayson was abusing the congressional privilege of franking that allows lawmakers to send taxpayer-paid newsletters and other mail to residents.
"This is an outrageous abuse of taxpayer dollars, and it goes to show that Alan Grayson is completely out of touch with Central Florida," said state Rep. Kurt Kelly of Ocala, one of seven Republicans looking to unseat Grayson this fall.
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RPOF Press Release - July 29, 2010
TallahasseeRepublican Party of Florida Chairman John Thrasher today released the following statement regarding the tragic and untimely death of Rear Admiral Leroy Collins, Jr. USNR (Ret.), Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Admiral Collins awful and unexpected passing is extremely upsetting to so many Floridians who share in this tragic loss. Like his mother and father before him, Admiral Collins truly embodied a life of service to others. From his decorated service in the United States Navy and Naval Reserve and respected career as a businessman, to his advocacy for and representation of our states veteran population, their families and survivors, Admiral Collins lived an exceptional story that will always have a place in both the history of our great state and in the hearts of all who knew him.
Jean and I send our heartfelt condolences to Admiral Collins wife Jane and their children and grandchildren. We pray that they will be comforted by cherished and lasting memories as they grieve this tremendous and sudden loss.
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