Talk Show Host Drops Senate Candidate On-Air For Dodging Questions About Ryan Plan

Weekly Standard ^

[cotton1706]

Junior: There's no reason to avoid this question. How could you possibly be running for U.S. Senate and not know what's in the Ryan bill?

Haridopolos: I know what's in the Ryan bill, but again, what you're asking me is a fair question. What I'm telling you is...

Junior: Ok, I'd like a fair answer...

Haridopolos:...A lot of people are talking about hypotheticals -- if they run, if they win. Let's talk about what I actually accomplished

Junior: Laughter... no, no, no. You're not doing that, Mike. Every single thing a person talks about when they're on the campaign trail is a hypothetical. A hundred percent of it. There's nothing that's not hypothetical. The only way we know whether it's going to be true or not is when they get into office is if they follow through on the things they said they would do. That's why I'm asking you: Would you vote yes or no on Ryan?

Haridopolos: Exactly what I'm bringing up. My point as well. I made a promise to balance the budget, not raise taxes, not raise fees..

Junior: Ok, does the Ryan plan do that? Does the Ryan plan do that?

Haridopolos: Look, the Ryan plan is what's in Washington Junior: Ok, get him off my phone. I don't want anything to do with this guy. Get rid of him.

UPDATE II -- Adam Hasner, formerly Florida's House GOP majority leader and challenging Haridopolos for the GOP Senate nomination, responds on twitter: For the record, again, I would have voted for the Ryan Plan.

[cotton1706]

"Ok, get him off my phone. I don't want anything to do with this guy. Get rid of him."

Ha!! I love hearing about worthless politicians being treated like this. Hope Hasner gets the nomination.

[ilgipper]

Saw this Hairidopolis hack at the 4/15 tea party event. Not impressed. He should save his time and not run for Senate. I am for Hansner too. My second choice would be LeMeiux, who actually did a decent job while he completed Martinez’s term. I know he was appointed by Prissy Crist, but he surprised me with some good votes.

[Jim Scott]

I'm not a Florida resident and don't know anything about Mike Haridopolos but reading the transcript and his follow-up press release I get the impression that he has been spooked by the DNC/leftmedia attempts to falsely portray the Ryan Medicare proposal as 'throwing grandma off a cliff'. He says he wants to have 'better protection for seniors' which is ridiculous because the Ryan plan doesn't affect anyone over 55. This is just a squishy Republican politician trying to be all things to all people and with few ideological values he's willing to stick with. Guys like this (Haridopolos) that won't back a perfectly reasonable Medicare reform plan because the left has demonized it and run 'Mediscare' TV ads full of lies are part of the problem in the Republican party. What he should be telling voters is that if we buy into the Democrats scare tactics, in another decade or so there won't be any Medicare coverage for anyone.