Posted on 02/04/2012 7:09:06 AM PST by Jacvin
George LeMieux has two big problems to overcome in his campaign to become the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate. One is Connie Mack, and the other is Charlie Crist.
LeMieux has taken a lot of heat in this race because he was Crist's strategist and helped guide him into the governor's office. That is a legitimate concern for conservatives, but I don't put a lot of stock in that criticism because, as a former political consultant, I know it's incredibly rare for a consultant to agree with his client about everything. The relationship, no matter how close, is fraught with tension, especially for the consultant. The consultant has to live with, and publicly support, whatever his client says or does. That's the job.
Since the consultant-client relationship is private, we'll never know who was really responsible for what policy Crist promoted as governor. But once freed from a client obligation, a consultant-turned-politician has a legitimate right to define who he is and what he stands for, and not have to carry his former clients baggage forever.
In this case, though, it's more complicated. LeMieux is not a former senator because he won an election. He's a former senator because Crist appointed him to the seat left open by the resignation of Mel Martinez, a move that shocked the political world at the time. Appointing your own political consultant to a job you want, as Crist did, was one of the most blatant examples of self-dealing the state of Florida has ever seen.
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It is about time someone called him on this. He still has time to prove his loyalty to the Conservatives from whom he seeks support. He seems like a sound choice for Senator, but he has to address this firmly and quickly. Excellent article!
Well Connie Mack was interviewed in Jacksonville last week and he’s a ROMNEYBOT...so i wont be voting for him...So I need to hear more about LeMiex or we need a solid conservative in race...after hearing what the GOP did in re-districting in Alan West’s district the Florida GOP seems to be a war with conservatives...
Freegard
Lex
There’s always Mike McCalister
When Lemieux was first appointed by Crist, my kneejerk reaction was to hate the guy from the start. But I kept a close eye on him and I have to admit he did a decent job for us. As for renouncing Crist, if asked, he should make it clear that he lost all respect for Crist the moment he broke his word and left the GOP when he saw his Senatorial campaign swirl down the toilet.
Crist bolted the GOP and turned Independent when it became clear that Rubio was going to win the nomination. LeMieux immediately endorsed Rubio.
LeMieux also had a conservative record while serving his appointed term as FL Senator.
You’re right, he did.
So you wont vote for Connie Mack strictly because he is for Romney in this race?
He spoke at our Republican Club dinner and he was great. I spoke to him for a few minutes afterwards and he seemed pretty good.<P.Charlie Crist, on the otherhand is CREEPY!!
We can’t even call Crist a RINO anymore. His best friend is Robert Wexler. Crist has become a libtard. LeMieux needs to distance himself form Crist if he wants a chinaman’s chance in this race.
Do you have any other reasons for not voting Mack? I am reserving judgement until I hear him speak or see an good interview. He never comes over to this coast. He is like ghost?
Mack worked for Hooters before he was elected to congress. He won on his name and his Dad’s reputation. I’m not sure he’s done anything to deserve a promotion. Lemieux is a good guy, voted right when he was in the senate. In my opinion, his only flaw is his connection to Crist. He did have the guts to back Rubio when Crist bailed on the R’s.
Why do we need another RINO senator? He voted RINO in the Senate before when he was a place holder for Crist. If you like the RINO Romney Rubio wing of the GOP, you will love LeMieux. I’m a conservative. I’ll never vote for him or his kind.
As I recall LeMieux was squishy on immigration.
Crist did not become a libtard. He always was a libtard. He only pretended to be conservative to move up the ranks in party politics. He had a lot of people fooled, just like Romney is doing now. But he always had that stank smell of lib even when he ran for governor. I’ve never voted for Crist and I never will. Nor will I support the any of the Romney lovers running for office. If they don’t know Romney is a socialist POS, they don’t know enough to be a senator.
George LeMieux Opposes Arizona immigration law:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH6Tt9lB8_U
Yes, Martinez was for amnesty. But it seems many closeted RINOs, like LeMieux, had trouble with Arizona’s immigration law. That makes him squishy. You can never tell how these RINOs are going to run.
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