Simon Regrets Fundraising Alligation

(AP) ^

[Dallas]

LOS ANGELES --

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon expressed "sincere regret" Thursday over his now-disproven allegation that Democratic incumbent Gray Davis illegally accepted a campaign check in the state Capitol.

Simon did not apologize to Davis or directly accept responsibility for making the false claim.

"I find it necessary to express to everyone my sincere regret for the way this matter was handled," Simon said in a Los Angeles speech. "You may have seen my last commercial where I say I am not perfect, and that's indeed true. And now we know of course my campaign is not perfect."

Simon continued to defend himself for making the allegation after a debate with Davis on Monday. The claim was based on photographs released by California Organization of Police and Sheriffs.

The photos showed Davis, then lieutenant governor, taking a campaign contribution. COPS and Simon contended the transfer took place in Davis' Capitol office in Sacramento. It is illegal to give or receive a campaign contribution in a state building.

It became clear almost immediately, however, that the pictures were not taken in the Capitol, and the law enforcement group later retracted its allegation.

Davis had called on Simon to drop out of the race. Simon's aides said he'll continue to run.

The governor's aides said Simon's regret wasn't enough.

"Bill Simon, as has been the case throughout this campaign, is trying to weasel his way out of accepting responsibility for his actions," said Davis campaign press secretary Roger Salazar. "He owes Gray Davis a direct apology for accusing him of committing a crime. We expect nothing less."

The Davis camp disclosed Wednesday that the photos were taken at a fund-raising breakfast in the Santa Monica home of Davis backer Bruce Karatz, chairman and CEO of KB Home. Karatz no longer owns the house but a spokesman for KB Home confirmed it was the setting of the photo.

Al Angele, the former executive director of COPS who was shown giving Davis a check in the photograph, demanded an apology Thursday from Simon and the group.

His attorney said he was considering legal action against Simon and COPS.

COPS did apologize to Angele and Simon late Wednesday. The group had yet to provide the written, personal apology Angele demanded.

Ed Rollins, Simon's senior strategist, apologized to both Davis and Simon on Thursday and took the blame for the episode.

He said the campaign didn't get a good look at the photos until after COPS released them Tuesday, and Simon was not supposed to tell reporters he had evidence.

"Some people on our campaign thought this was a silver bullet. I think it was a bullet, I think we put it in a gun wrong and shot ourselves in the head," Rollins said.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Is Simon crying crocodile tears over his "alligation"?

[Dallas]

AP's spellchecker must be on the blink....

[John Jorsett]

AP Regrets Hiring of Reporter Who Can't Spell

[ProudGOP]

Simon handled this badly.

He should have said:

"Hey, when COPs made the allegation, I believed them. After watching Davis trade campaign contributions for favorable government treatment for the last 4 years, the charge of taking contributions on government property seemed quite believable. I mean, it seems like thats all Davis does is take contributions so it stands to reason a few of those might take place in a state building, doesn't it?"

[harpo11]

Well Pay Davis does have a reek of impropriety about him. But, he is a democrat and they always do. If this were a republican govenor, the press would go haywire over the slightest hint of crooked campaign financing.

[Lunatic Fringe]

I think the Simon campaign is officially toast. It's a shame the dunderheads in the GOP can't run a competent candidate in california- Davis was in the perfect position to get his ass booted out of office, but now I weep for the people of California. Four more years of Davis.

[swampfox98]

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon expressed "sincere regret" Thursday over his now-disproven allegation that Democratic incumbent Gray Davis illegally accepted a campaign check in the state Capitol.

He has just handed the election to Davis. How sad and how "Republican".

[ffrancone]

WANT TO TAKE BACK THE SENATE??

WANT TO SHOCK HILLARY?

THEN DO YOUR PART TODAY! GO TO:

TakeBackCongress.org

A resource for conservatives who want a Republican majority in the Senate

[NormsRevenge]

GO SIMON

***

Tom McClintock for CA State Controller



***

Dick Ackerman for CA Attorney General



***

[daviddennis]

Why?

This whole mess will be forgotten in a week.

It's just routine mudslinging. Simon isn't as good at it as Davis, because he's a fundamentally decent guy.

I really don't think this is going to change anybody's mind, although it will surely result in some chortling over in the Davis camp.

D

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Russell Scott]

Don't weep. Now all the problems we have can't be blamed on Bill Simon. Hopefully it will get so bad that the people will demand a recall election. Also, Hollywood won't be able to turn out nearly as many horrible movies, with money being tighter than the skin on a Hollywood facelift. It will also make the illegals look elsewhere for handouts when the State is bankrupt.

[rockbobster]

That e-gray.com site was brilliant. All the stuff on it was well documented, been in the news over an ongoing period. Any competent campaign crew could build on that and really damage governor "Q-tip" Davis. It was a slam dunk, and these people fubarred it bad. I had heard Ed Rollins was really a capable guy, but I wonder if he told Simon this was a suicide move to present that picture without doing homework about it, and Simon didn't listen.

The GOP is really doing a disservice to hand California over to gov Q-tip like that. We have been raped enough.

[newzjunkey]

How could Ed Rollins ALLOW THIS to happen!? Come on! Is Simon too stupid (is that possible?) to run for high office if he can't keep his mouth closed when he's supposed to? Grrr.

Only the CA Right-Wingnut Pubbies can snatch defeat from the jaws of an easy victory. Just watch them shift blame. And lose again in '04.

[bonesmccoy]

Nice to see your liberal psyop tactic is still working tonight.

[beckett]

There is no excuse for not checking the facts thoroughly before making such an inflammatory public accusation. Sadly for the Republican Party --- my party --- Simon is toast.

[Digger]

Why don't all Republicans find a new party - one that will stand up to ILLEGAL immigration - and just maybe we will unseat the socialists. However, staying in this "Two-Party Cartel" will get us NOWHERE.

[John Lenin]

This is bad news but than again the shape California is in I doubt Simon could save it, maybe its better to let Greyout take the fall for all his blunders and Simon should just save his money and not waste it on this campaign.

[afuturegovernor]

I swear can't we get thing together?