[Jeb] Bush disavows group tactics (not FR)

Caption: Jeb Bush says group attacks are "not my campaign". TALLAHASSEE - A new group called Americans for Jeb Bush, headed by a Republican state legislator, proclaims itself dedicated to re-electing Florida's governor. But the governor calls it a scam and took extraordinary steps Thursday to put the group out of business.

In what may be a first in Florida politics, Bush will even seek to register three campaign sloans as trademarks, like Xerox, to stop unauthorized use of his name. The governor sent an e-mail to 20,000 supporters urging them to avoid the group.

"We're going to do whatever we can to stop them," Bush said during a news conference. "This may sound ridiculous, but I'm going to trademark my name, so I can sue them.... It's just one of those scams that misrepresents my views and attacks my opponent, and it's not my campaign I've disavowed it completely."

Bush took dead aim at a group whose fund-raising pitches speculate on Janet Reno's drinking habits and sexual-orientation, and accuse her of going easy on drug dealers while she was state attorney in Miami-Dade in the 1970s and 80s. The letters were signed by the group's honorary chairman Gus Barreiro of Miami Beach.

Bush sent a strongly worded letter to Barreiro calling on him to repudiate the group. Barreiro refused but said he hopes to meet with Bush today.

"This organization was formed to deliver the strongest grass roots organization ever seen in Dade County, and through our state," Barreiro said. "His name is not trademarked. Using his name in campaigns? I don't think you can stop that."

The group's existence and Bush's aggressive efforts to crush it underscore the high stakes in a governor's race that has drawn national attention because its central figures are the president's brother and the nation's first female attorney general.

Although he consistently leads every poll, including one taken two weeks ago for the St. Petersburg Times, Bush appears worried about a possible backlash against such tactics by moderate voters, who can be decisive in a competitive race.

Ben Ginsberg, a Washington lawyer and outside counsel to the campaign, said he would file trademark applications to protect three campaign slogans: "Bush-Brogan 2002, Jeb Bush for Governor and Jeb!"

Ginsberg is no stranger to Florida politics. He helped shape George W. Bush's Florida legal strategy in the weeks after the 2000 presidential elections, and advises Florida Republicans on redistricting.

Thursday's filing was done to stop the unauthorized use of Bush's name under Federal trademark laws, known as the Lanham Act, Ginsberg said. The use of a trademarked name for commercial purposes is "outside of First Amendment protection," he said. A proper name cannot be registered, but a name's commercial use can be restricted,"Ginsberg said.

"These are gutter tactics of misuse of a name, as well as personal innuendo against people who are running for office, essentially by people who are just trying to make money off of the governor's name," Ginsberg said.

Barreiro said he is not being paid. "This is not about money," he said. But he said the first fund raising letter brought in about $75K, in less than three weeks.

The results are so promising, Barreiro said, he hopes to use the fund-raising base to help fellow Miami-Dade lawmaker, Republican Gaston Cantens, in his campaign to be house speaker.

Americans for Jeb Bush, based in Miami, is backed partly by Mark Goodrich, a conservative political activist and fund-raiser who worked on Rick Lazio's unsuccessful 2000 U.S. Senate campaign against Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The group's web site resembles a campaign operation, with a portrait of the smiling Bush family, and a link to the official Bush-Brogan site.

The group's fund-raising letter was up front about its main message: "Stop Janet Reno and re-elect Jeb." Attached was a reprint of an article from Insight Magazine, which is affiliated with the Washington Times and owned by the Reverand Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church. Also included is a photo of former President Bill Clinton and his dog with Reno's face superimposed on the dog's head.

Nothing in Florida law prevents such third-party groups from making expenditures on a candidate's behalf, as long as they register as political action committees and disclose contributions and expenses.

"Janet Reno will not engage in personal attacks and she will not support organizations that engage in personal, spiteful attacks," said Nicole Harburger, a Reno campaign spokeswoman. "Will there be a healthy debate on the issues? Yes."

Friends and Jeb supporters, it's clear to me the kind of campaign Jeb plans on running and I am going to stick with the issues, Jeb's record, the opponents' records or lack thereof. This does not take humor off the table imho but as a Floridian and a Free Republic member, I do not want to be on Jeb's BLANK list.

As far as Janet's promise not to engage in personal attacks and that she will not support organizations that engage in personal, spiteful attacks, we shall see. This article conflicts with yesterday's St. Pete Times article wherein GOP leader predicts a major "anti-Jeb" campaign. Chairman of the Florida Democratic Party Bob Poe stated "This will be a national battleground. You'll see Republicans and democrats from the national scene because this is important."

He got that right. THIS IS IMPORTANT!

Let's help Jeb by following his lead because our only goal at this time is to get him re-elected. Comments welcome but don't FLAME me or I'll get myself trademarked. LOL

I think Jeb is trying to distance himself from the vicious, mean spirited stuff. Janet's record is horrid and all true. Everyone knows it so obviously, Jeb doesn't feel the need to go there. In the long run, he's probably making a wise move.

Jeb doesn't want other well meaning pubbies to hijack his campaign which may scare off swing voters from the very significant St. Pete/Tampa/Orlando corridor.

I've been hammering away at McBride because I temped at his office and never saw him even one time. There's a way to discuss personality and ideology without sticking JR's head on Buddy's body, may he rest in peace. Although it probably meant that she was bubba's lap dog, most people would miss that point.

I was getting excellent reporting re: Janet from the St. Pete Times but curiously, that political editor was "let go" or found other employment. I have two posts going here about Janet that are not complementary to her and who can forget the gun pointed at Elian? Nobody can and that is more effective than her head on Buddy's body.

Thanks for your support. The official Bush/Brogan campaign is at www.jeb.org. It's one stop campaign shopping. Another url that is useful is bushcountry.org. The ultimate web site for ALL THINGS FLORIDA departmentwise is myflorida.com. Even the Florida Statutes are there so we can look up legal stuff ourselves.

I agree, jr's[lower case on purpose] head does not need to be put on buddy's body for any number of reasons.

From reading some of his accomplishments, Mc Bride is just another who has sold his soul to the democrats.

Jeb is going to run a POSITIVE campaign.. I think he is right to PUBLICLY critize those supporters who use his NAME in negative ads which could send a message that Jeb is actually PAYING for those ads... however I strongly support ANY organzation that wants to "get the word out" just make it clear that your efforts are not part of the "official" campaign.....

I support ALL Jeb supporters, but Jeb continues to uphold the dignity of his office by treating Janet and other opponents courteously.

I think if Jeb and his supporters try to stay above the mud slinging, any smear campaign the opponents engage in will make them look mean spirited. Swing voters hate that.

As long as we don't get vicious, we can still maintain a spirit of fun here at FR. Stating the obvious is not mean spirited and if this alternate campaign is being run by Rick Lazio's campaign staffer, we can thank him for Senator Hillary. Glad to hear from you.

Janet's record is horrid and all true. Everyone knows it so obviously

Absolutely wrong on this. Most Americans do NOT know these and other things about Reno!

My mother did not know Rosie was a lesbian. She did not believe me. She watches Rosie all the time and my mom thought I was just being a kook.

Now Rosie outs herself and last weekend during my Easter visit, my mother says how did I know that and she did not.

Point is, most people know only what the lamestream media tells them.

Fortunatly, my parents now watch Fox. They no longer watch Rather, CNN, Brian Williams...etc.

It only took me 7 years of convincing on my part!

Seven years. CNN withdrawal is a big challenge but you were successful in the end. Well, Janet's record should be part of the campaign process without his becoming a Lazio v. Clinton rematch. (lol)

Notice that Jeb admonished the Miami group solely for bringing up something from her days as state's attorney in S. Florida. He really didn't mention her record as U.S. Attorney General. (saving that for the debates?) He also had a problem with their fund raising.

If someone I meet is clearly wrong on their opinion of Janet, I will give them my version based on facts but without references to her sexual orientation, her shakes, etc. That would be too easy.

And, don't go to the grocery store either re: Rosie. She's on the cover of a tabloid with her girlfriend who is "having her baby." That may cause health problems for Rosie regulars.

You are right... and we shall see. Then Bill McBride can be on CNN instead of the local news and Jeb can't correct falsehoods because CNN won't give Jeb the time of day. That's what is already happening. I'm on McBride's email list and they want their folks to watch CNN and to read the Washington Post. Isn't it curious that McBride gets very little local coverage but CNN and Wash Post are helping the guy out? Goes to show I was right all along about his ties to BIG GOVT, MEDIA OUT OF ORLANDO where his commercials will be made, but for the time being, McBride's bypassing the state media. Sounds like he already made a deal with CNN, doesn't it?

I don't recall what organization ran the Palestinian blood-money ads that tried to link Hillary directly to Palestinian violence, but in my mind, those late-running campaign spots are what cost Lazio a legitimate shot at beating her in the election.

As a resident of Connecticut, with many friends and family in upstate NY, I heard first-hand how many normally-reliable Republican voters were turned off by the ads. Most of these people voted for G. W. Bush for President, but for Hillary for Senator. My own father did this, to my shock and dismay! Before the ads ran, Lazio was within 2-4 points in almost every poll... then the bottom fell out.

I fully agree with Jeb Bush's tactics, in attempting to publically disavow himself from support groups that might cross any line he wishes to draw.

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