Our Endorsements: U.S. House 3rd District, 5th District, and 12th District

Orlando Slantinel ^ | July 21, 2010

[cc2k]

3rd District

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In the Republican primary, Dean Black demonstrates far more knowledge and thoughtfulness on the issues than Chris Nwasike and Mike Yost. As conservative as Ms. Brown is liberal, Mr. Black, a businessman, shows some willingness to work with Democrats.

Financial adviser Chris Nwasike is strong on concepts — like a balanced budget — but short of specifics, like how to do it. Auto-technician Mike Yost is so antigovernment he doesn't think national parks should exist. Thanks, but we think the Everglades is worth preserving.

We endorse Dean Black.

5th District

The story behind Richard Nugent, the Hernando County sheriff, becoming the GOP front-runner stinks to high heaven. Incumbent Republican Ginny Brown-Waite privately recruited him, then waited until the last day of the filing period to announce she wouldn't seek re-election. That left other potential Republicans flat-footed.

<snip>

We endorse Richard Nugent.

[cc2k]

No surprises here. This is one of the most liberal papers in Florida. I usually disagree with them.

The District 5 interviews were mildly humorous.

Nugent got interrupted by a phone call. He said it was his son calling from West Point (had to work that into the interview), and then he turned off his phone and said, "Where were we?" The editors were kind of shocked by this and answered, "Your number one priority." The question he was interrupted in the middle of was something along the lines of "If elected, what will be your number one priority?" That might not be an exact quote, but I'm paraphrasing here.

Also of note, Nugent has said he's campaigning only on nights and weekends, but his interview was in the middle of the day. When challenged, he says he's always available by phone, and he has earned "time off" which is when he campaigns. But in his interview, he turns his phone off.

Richard Nugent's interview with the Orlando Sentinel editorial board.

Sager had some humorous moments as well. At one point, they asked him about Glenn Beck. Sager founded the Hernando 9-12 project chapter. The editors at the Slantinel said something like, "Glenn Beck thinks President Obama is a Marxist, do you think the president is a Marxist?" And Sager simply answered, "Yes." I don't think they expected a direct answer, and they really didn't like the answer they got.

I thought I had Sager's interview bookmarked, but I can't find it now. Check back, I'll post it in a reply if I find it.

Note that in the 3rd District, they endorsed the Republican who would showed "willingness to work with Democrats, and ridiculed Yost as an anti-government extremist.

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I stand with Jason Sager in Florida's 5th Congressional District.

[piytar]

“shows some willingness to work with Democrats”

So he’s a RINO and therefor gets their endorsement, eh? /spit