Note: Photo collage by Orlando Sentinel on the RPOF website.
Posted on 10/11/2002 6:27:13 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
Letter from RPOF Chairman Al Cardenas -- Focus Email on Bush/Mcbride campaign
The few people who are jumping into the political waters offered by Democrat Bill McBride are finding themselves standing in a very shallow pool. There is no vision; there are no new ideas. There are only the vague ramblings of a man who thinks tooting the one-note horn handed him by the teacher's union bosses ought to be enough.
It's not nearly enough, of course. Anyone seeking to be elected governor of the fourth largest state ought to respect the people enough to offer up detailed ideas. So far, the only new ideas are coming from the campaign of Gov. Jeb Bush.
Just as he did four years ago, Gov. Bush is presenting the voters with a clear agenda. Just this week, for instance, Gov. Bush unveiled a package of anti-crime measures called a "Blueprint for Safety." The package is designed to protect Floridians from some of the most dangerous elements of our society.
The Blueprint for Safety consists of three major initiatives. First, it will put in place a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 25 years for repeat sex offenders or even first-time sex offenders if a jury deems them to be especially dangerous. Second, the proposal will increase the security and safety of sex crime victims by making it easier for them to get restraining orders against their attackers once the attacker is released from prison. Third, it will let victims of a single sexual assault obtain a restraining order. Current law requires proof of repeated attacks before a restraining order can be issued.
Crime victims and their support groups are already applauding Gov. Bush for this initiative. Florida's crime rate is the lowest it has been in about 30 years, thanks to Jeb's leadership in this area and the Blueprint for Safety will compliment his earlier efforts.
And what is McBride's anti-crime package, you ask? Good question. It's a question he was asked in the first debate and was unable to answer. His mindset is reflected in the words of his spokesman, Alan Stonecipher, who said in the Tampa Tribune that crime "is not a burning issue around the state."
Tell that to a woman who was the victim of a sexual assault and can't get a restraining order until it happens a few more times. Tell it to the woman who lives in fear of a former attacker getting out of prison. Crime isn't an important issue to Bill McBride because his little one-note horn can't play that tune. But it's certainly important to crime victims and their loved ones, and to people who understand the only way to have less crime is to get tough on it, not ignore it.
Yes, the McBride campaign is standing in a shallow pool. And on November 5th, the waters will swirl down the drain.
Al Cardenas
---------------------------------------- FEA craves only power
Excerpts of statement by RPOF Chairman Al Cardenas on 10-10-02:
"'The latest ranting from teachers union boss Maureen Dinnen exposes her true colors,' said RPOF Chairman Al Cardenas. 'Her thirst for power has blinded her to the needs and concerns of real teachers and parents. She spends her every waking moment accusing the Governor of not doing enough, then springs to the attack every time he proposes a new initiative designed to help teachers or improve our schools.
"'The reality is now clear. The union bosses are ignoring what should be their core mission and are dedicating themselves - and the dues teachers pay - almost exclusively to pushing their liberal political agenda. At the expense - literally - of teachers throughout Florida, they are promoting the beliefs of a few of the union's most liberal, partisan members.
"'Dinnen and her cohorts care more about protecting their own power than actually helping teachers and improving education. They are adamantly against anything that weakens their stranglehold on salaries and benefits for teachers - regardless of how much it helps the men and women dedicated to helping our children learn.'"
Governor Bush increases public safety
Gov. Bush this week unveiled "Blueprint for Safety," tough-on-criminals initiatives that will protect Floridians from sex offenders.
"Over the last four years, we have worked hard with our law enforcement community to strengthen Florida's sentencing laws, making it easier to put dangerous criminals behind bars and keep them there. As a result of these laws, and our partnership with law enforcement, our communities and families are safer, and Florida's crime rate is the lowest it's been in 29 years." Gov. Jeb Bush, Office of the Governor, 10-9-02
ride insults the poor
Excerpts from a press release by Bush-Brogan'02 on 10-10-02:
"Corporate lawyer Bill McBride, who regularly seems to alter his messages and views to increase his appeal to whatever audience he is speaking to, once told a White House conference on poverty law and pro-bono work that he lives in a 'poor area' of Florida, and that his 'neighbors' live in mobile homes. In fact, McBride is a millionaire who lives in a $550,000 lakefront home built on his $370,000 grove, and his wife reported income of over $6 million during the last two years alone. McBride's closest 'neighbors' live in palatial compounds of their own.
During a July 20th, 1999 White House conference, McBride introduced former President Bill Clinton. In his introduction, McBride spoke at length about the importance of pro-bono work, and the need for lawyers to represent the poor. Then, in a Gore-like attempt to exaggerate his personal story and add credibility to his remarks, McBride stated, 'I live in a poor area of my state. The only time many of my neighbors see a lawyer is when the lawyer is representing the mobile home park owner evicting them or taking their car because of a defaulted title loan charging 80% interest. Often just access to a lawyer can save them from unfair misery.'
"McBride has a long history of trying to be all things to all audiences. Just yesterday, the Bush campaign revealed that in St. Petersburg, McBride claimed he supported increased gun control, but in more conservative Jacksonville, he said that he did not support more gun laws. This repeated habit has caused the Miami Herald to write that McBride has 'a propensity to shift his message depending on the audience.'" (9/9/02)
McBride's crude remarks still linger
Excerpts from an article by Wes Allison and Lucy Morgan in the St. Pete Times on 10-11-02:
"Bill McBride, the Democratic nominee for governor, made off-color remarks about a decade ago at a gathering of Holland & Knight lawyers and apologized after some listeners were offended. "Three lawyers who heard McBride's attempt at humor as he introduced a longtime friend said Thursday that his words fell flat and made many listeners uncomfortable. They said he made a crude reference to a woman's breasts and indirectly referred to a man's genitals.
"'Everyone had a jaw hanging down,' Terry McCullough, a former Holland & Knight lawyer who was there, recalled Thursday. "Lawyers who recounted McBride's comments this week said several lawyers at the meeting found the remarks inappropriate.
"The incident occurred about the time McBride became managing partner of Holland & Knight, the nation's seventh-largest law firm, in 1992.
"Several said McBride's remarks were insensitive to women. 'The next morning some of the women were saying, was that dumb? Yeah,' said Linda C. Kane, a Holland & Knight partner."
McBride campaign lacks stances
From a commentary by Howard Troxler in the St. Pete Times on 10-11-02:
"While taking a pleasant stroll through a warehouse district the other day, I heard a great ruckus and the sound of hammering and sawing coming from behind a half-open garage door.
"I peeked inside and saw a number of Democrats. They were huddled in a circle around a work table, obviously laboring hard and as fast as they could. Now and then one of them would bang a thumb with a hammer and yelp in pain.
"'What are you guys doing?' I asked.
"'We're building Bill McBride's environmental platform,' their leader offered. 'We have to have one by Saturday.'
"An older, bearded member of the group stepped forward.
"'I'll tell you his environmental platform,' he snorted, nostrils flying. 'He's not Jeb $%^$ Bush. That's his environmental platform.'
"But the others tried to hush him up, and assured me there really, really was one.
"I asked if I could see the environmental platform, and they stepped aside. Of course, it was still a work in progress, not even nailed down all the way around, and they hadn't put any finish on it yet. Also, there were a few stray wires sticking out.
"I pointed to at a couple of planks on the back side, halfway hidden from view. 'Excuse me,' I said, 'but aren't these left over from Bill's law firm?'
"Somebody flipped a switch and the McBride Environmental Platform jerked to life. It shuddered a few times before settling into a putt-putt rhythm. A light on the side of the box flickered on and off several times. A little bell rang and a piece of paper spit out.
"'Bill McBride's education policy will improve all aspects of life for Floridians,' the paper said.
"'I think you made a mistake,' I pointed out. 'It's talking about education policy, not environmental policy.'
"'But that is the McBride environmental platform,' Bearded Guy replied. 'Same as his economic platform, his criminal justice platform and his everything-else platform. Better schools will make them all better.'
"'Let me see his education platform then,' I said. Eagerly, they ran over to a closet and pulled out another little box that was almost identical, except that it appeared well-worn. After the same warm-up and rigamarole, it produced another slip of paper, which they handed to me proudly.
"'On the topic of better schools,' it said, 'Bill McBride is in favor of them.'"
Gov. Bush and First Lady Columba attend Leadership event
Governor Jeb Bush and First Lady Columba Bush this week joined African American leaders from throughout the state at the Victory 2002 African American Leadership event in Orlando.
"Columba and I are so pleased to be here today with our friends and supporters at this great event. Your leadership and commitment to our state is immeasurable. Your support means so much to me, to Columba and Frank, and your dedication and hard work will take us to victory in November." Gov. Jeb Bush, Office of the Governor, 10-7-02
Note: Photo collage by Orlando Sentinel on the RPOF website.
GO JEB!!
Does that answer the question?
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