Posted on 10/25/2002 10:28:14 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 25, 2002
Desperate McBride Forgets He Once Called Bush a Bold Leader who "Cares for People" and "Knows How to do the Right Thing"
--Does Bill McBride Believe His Own Ads Attacking Bush? You be the Judge--
TALLAHASSEE – Despite his latest round of attack ads, corporate lawyer Bill McBride once compared being around Gov. Jeb Bush to being "in the company of a rock star," and called Bush a bold leader who "cares for people" and "knows how to do the right thing." McBride elaborated saying, "Bush’s style is friendly, and he is high-tech; but there is gravity and substance to this governor." He went on to say that the Governor has used his time in office to "boldly tackle problems in Florida as he sees them."
In fact, so enthusiastic was McBride about Bush, that he chose to accompany the Governor on an official state trip to Israel in 1999, during which these remarks were made.
"‘This is a special trip for all of us,’ McBride said as he praised Bush’s wife, Columba, and their son, George Prescott, who has been working as an intern in Holland & Knight offices in Mexico and Argentina." (St. Petersburg Times, 11/15/99)
In a new ad released today, McBride who is behind in the polls and growing increasingly desperate, attempted to change the subject away from his plans for massive tax increases and crippling public safety budget cuts by using the Governor’s own kind words against him.
"To be honest, I find this all rather humorous," stated former Democratic Speaker of the House T.K. Wetherell. "Bill McBride is criticizing Governor Bush for saying nice things about him. Am I missing something here? My best guess is that McBride’s intent is to deflect attention from the real issues of this campaign, which is his plan to raise taxes. It’s not going to work.
"Florida voters are realizing that McBride’s promises of billions and billions in new spending will have real consequences on their pocketbook. It was obvious in Tuesday’s debate that Bill has no clue how to pay for his wild promises. That means one thing - increased taxes. No matter how hard Bill tries to change the subject, this is the corner he has promised himself into."
"Has Jeb Bush said nice things about Bill McBride which are now being used against him? Yes," stated Bush spokesman Todd Harris. "Has Bill McBride said nice things about Jeb Bush? Absolutely. Does any of that matter? Not a bit. This campaign is about taxes and spending and education and Bill McBride’s plan to levy massive tax increases on every Floridian to pay for his wild spending promises.
"The truth is that McBride has praised Governor Bush as a bold leader who knows how to do the right thing for Floridians. Does he believe his own attack ads himself? McBride is trying to change the subject but the voters know better and this cheap and desperate 11th hour Hail Mary will come back to bite him on Election Day."
On November 15th, 1999, the St. Petersburg Times wrote:
Bill McBride, a Tampa resident who is managing partner of all Holland & Knight offices, praised Bush as "a person who cares for people" and said the governor has used his first year in office to "boldly tackle problems in Florida as he sees them."
McBride described traveling with Bush as similar to being in the company of a rock star.
"In Jerusalem, one person leaned over to another and said, "That's Bush," McBride recalled. "Which one?" the other man asked.
The cute one from Florida, was the reply.
"Bush's style is friendly, and he is high-tech; but there is gravity and substance to this governor. He knows how to do the right thing.
"This is a special trip for all of us," McBride said as he praised Bush's wife, Columba, and their son, George Prescott, who has been working as an intern in Holland & Knight offices in Mexico and Argentina.
The Bushes' son is about to go to California to help with his uncle George W. Bush's run for the presidency. McBride predicted that George P. may follow in the political footsteps of other Bushes after establishing a base in California.
"The Bush family strategy is pretty obvious: a former president, two sons as governor, one as president and moving the Clintons to New York," McBride said jokingly.
The article begins with McBride's kind words anout Bush. Then says:
McBride who is behind in the polls and growing increasingly desperate, attempted to change the subject away from his plans for massive tax increases and crippling public safety budget cuts by using the Governor’s own kind words against him.
I guess I missed the kind words from the governor.
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