Posted on 06/29/2004 9:02:21 AM PDT by kjfpolitical
As the August primary for Florida’s U.S. Senate race draws near, the election is turning out to be a two-way race between former U.S. congressman Bill McCollum and Mel Martinez, President Bush’s former secretary of housing.
Though Martinez entered the race late, he has gained considerably despite McCollum's name recognition and large campaign war chest. McCollum ran for the Senate in 2000 but lost to Democrat Bill Nelson in an increasingly Republican state.
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Now Martinez's growing support appears to becoming from those in McCollum's conservative base who think he has the best shot in replacing retiring Democrat Sen. Bob Graham. Washington Republicans believe that with a close election likely in November, the Cuban-born Martinez will draw Latino voters to the GOP and help President Bush.
Conservatives have been upset that McCollum recently joined with liberal legislators such as Sen. Teddy Kennedy to call for stem cell research on human embryos. The pro-life Martinez says he will vote to ban such practices, which, as the Associated Press has pointed out, are not a priority among scientists.
Conservatives were similarly angry during the 2000 election when McCollum came out strongly for the liberal version of the "hate crimes" bill, also pushed by Kennedy, that included "sexual orientation."
The gay lobby strongly supported the inclusion, but conservatives note that crimes such as assault and murder are of course already illegal and that such laws can be used to persecute and prosecute what the left deems to be thought crimes.
The Washington Blade reported on Sept. 1, 2000, "Democratic Party supporters of the hate crimes measure, including openly Gay Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), said they welcome McCollum's effort, saying that, until now, House GOP leaders have been the main obstacle to final approval of the hate crimes legislation …."
Some conservatives believe that McCollum's loss in 2000 in the same state President Bush narrowly won was due to his wobbly stand on issues that turned off social conservatives.
Martinez opposes the Senate's recently passed "hate crimes" bill. The Senate passed the bill only after it was tacked onto a defense authorization bill because Senate Democrats did not have the votes for passage in a straight up and down vote.
Very badly. I'm at Debate Camp at CUA right now. All of the teachers (they don't teach at the college) are horrible liberals convinced that KH stole the election. Lectures about Democracy turn into referedums on "legitimate elections."
So exhausting and irritating.
I'm looking at CUA right now and trying to get into West Point. Need a Congressional Nomination from my state, though, and a lot of work.
I'll try to post more often.
Abbey
If you want to go to West Point......I hope you can get the help you need to get the appointment.
And don't let thode liberal teachers wear you down!
I really wish someone would defend Mel's trial lawyer past, and his refusal to support GOP tort reform efforts. Why are any FReepers supporting this guy when Byrd is a much, much better option?
Because Byrd is a shady character who is ethically challenged. That's why many of his GOP House colleagues abandoned him at the end of the session.
I've heard that before, but no one can seem to provide any specifics. I'm not a very attached to Byrd, so if someone can present some facts about his lack of ethics, then I can be swayed to support another candidate.
Bush did indeed back a RINO, Martinez, against a strong conservative, McCollum. Amazing what a few years can do to the big picture.
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