Posted on 10/16/2002 11:10:11 AM PDT by summer
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, October 16, 2002
Bush Co-Chair Blasts McBride for Refusing to Condemn Remarks From Supporter Who Compared the Bush Family to Bin Laden and Called the Bushes “Godless” and “Neo-Nazis”
TALLAHASSEE -- Bill McBride often says that Floridians should judge him by his friends. Recently, one of his “friends” made a series of vicious, personal attacks against Gov. Jeb Bush and his entire family, comparing the Bush family to the bin Laden family and calling the Bush’s “neo-Nazis.” When given the chance to condemn the attacks, and show that he is willing, and has the courage, to stand up to those who support him, McBride said nothing, demonstrating once again that he is unwilling to contradict the special interests running and funding his campaign.
According to today’s Washington Post, McBride recently appeared on the radio program of former Miami-Dade NAACP chair Rev. Victor Curry. On the air, just before McBride’s interview began, Curry verbally assaulted the Governor and his family, at one point saying that the Bush family and the bin Laden family were business “‘partners’ seeking to profit from war.”
“Curry could be heard on monitors around the small building saying that he would support ‘a dog’ rather than Jeb Bush. As for President Bush, he ‘should be impeached -- for treason,’” the Post reported. Curry went on to say of the Bush family, “These people are on a neo-Nazi, right-wing mission against the American people.” He concluded calling the Bush administration a “Godless, wicked regime.”
And what was Bill McBride’s response to all of this? Instead of condemning the remarks, McBride instead praised Curry. According to the Post, “Minutes later, McBride's gentle drawl came over the radio, assuring Curry that, as governor, ‘One of the people I'm going to listen to is you.’ Later, the candidate insisted that he had heard none of Curry's remarks.”
Even when pressed by the Post about the remarks, McBride refused to condemn or even repudiate them and make clear that he is willing to stand up to the special interests which support him. In fact, McBride dismissed Curry’s comments, simply saying, “‘He didn't say any of that while I was talking to him.’”
“As a Jew, I am offended that Bill McBride would not speak out against such terrible remarks, particularly the references comparing the Bush Administration to neo-Nazis,” stated prominent businessman and Jewish community leader Norman Braman. “McBride has an obligation to set the record straight. He has told us all to judge him by his friends. The eyes and ears of all Floridians are now on Bill McBride to see if he has the courage to condemn these despicable comments from one of his supporters. Until then, his silence is as deafening as it is telling.”
“As a black woman, as an American and a Floridian, and as a Democrat, I am outraged that Bill McBride would sit idly by while one of his supporters so viciously and personally attacks Gov. Bush and his entire family,” stated Bush-Brogan Co-Chair Julia Johnson. “To compare the Bush family to bin Laden, and to call the Bush Administration ‘Godless’ and refer to them as neo-Nazis, is itself despicable and shameful. But for Bill McBride to refuse to repudiate those remarks out of fear of offending one of his special interest supporters is no less than contemptible.
“Bill McBride should immediately and forcefully condemn and repudiate Victor Curry’s attacks,” Johnson continued. “Leadership means that sometimes you have to have the courage to stand up to your friends and supporters and tell them publicly that they are wrong. It’s not always easy to do, but it’s necessary to do as a leader, and certainly as a Governor. McBride should show Floridians that he is not afraid to stand up to the special interests who support him and immediately, publicly and forcefully condemn these comments and apologize to all Floridians for standing silently by and not speaking up on his own.”
Bill McBride can sidestep this, but we (the Florida voters) should hold him accountable.
E-mailing O'Reilly, etc., is a good idea. The Fla. press made such a big deal out of Jeb's "dubious" comment. Let's see how they handle this far more egregious behavior by McBride and a member of the NAACP.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.