Posted on 10/18/2002 7:42:19 PM PDT by summer
Oct 18, 2002
New Bush ad paints picture of 'Big Spending Bill'
By Paige St. John
Gannett News Service
TALLAHASSEE - The latest campaign TV advertisement from Gov. Jeb Bush takes aim at Big Spending Bill McBride, threatening that the Democrat might raise sales taxes, bring on higher property taxes and enact a state income tax.
The 30-second commercial, to air on Sunday, marks the first attack ad by the Bush-Brogan campaign since the primary, when the campaign ignored Democratic contender Janet Reno and aimed at McBride. Bushs campaign office had no immediate comment on the early release, obtained Friday by Gannett News Service.
Using McBrides support for class size caps, the Big Spending Bill spot alleges the cost for McBrides campaign promises so far is $29 billion.
From there: McBride says hell raise your taxes. Will it be higher sales taxes, higher property taxes, a new state income tax? Tell the truth Bill, how can you pay for it?
One thing is for sure, $29 billion in new McBride spending means billions in new McBride taxes.
McBrides campaign called the commercial ridiculous and a lie.
Hes talked about raising one tax and one tax only, which is the 50-cent (per pack increase) on cigarettes, said McBride spokesman Alan Stonecipher. If there is a grain of truth hidden anywhere, I have yet to hear it.
Stonecipher said McBride has promised to increase education spending only by $1 billion, half funded by raising the state tax on cigarettes. The rest would come from closing half a dozen exemptions in the sales tax - amounting to a new tax for the businesses currently enjoying those exemptions - and cuts in other state agencies.
Stonecipher also said McBride is not contemplating rolling back recent cuts in the state tax on investments, even though in the past the candidate has said he believed those cuts unduly hurt Floridas budget. All that money has run out the door already, Stonecipher said.
McBride has endorsed the class size initiative, but not detailed how he would propose the state Legislature fund the voter-mandate if both he and the constitutional amendment are approved Nov. 5.
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[JEB'S 1ST ATTACK AD in POST-PRIMARY SEASON:]
TV Announcer:
"Big spending Bill McBride. Every day he promises more spending. The total so far? 29 billion dollars. How can McBride pay for all this spending?
"McBride says he'll raise your taxes. Will it be higher sales taxes, higher property taxes, a new state income tax?
Tell the truth Bill, how can you pay for it?
"One thing is for sure, 29 billion in new McBride spending means billions in new McBride taxes."
Hah! McLiar!
Jeb is not going to roll over for any crooked politicians.
McBride's response reminds me of Lautenburg's(sp?) response to Forrester reading a long list of past Lautenburg votes in the Senate. Lautenburg demanded an apology from Forrester! Lol!
There, that's better!
A leaker in the Bush camp? Or maybe one of the TV stations that will show it? In any case, it puts McBride on the defensive.
McMumble lived up to his name on that one -- he didn't have an answer. It was quite obvious.Consequently, I think Gov Bush is really smart to play up the idea that McMumble may somehow institute a state income tax. Some FL voters -- especially those on a fixed income who moved to FL to avoid paying any state income tax -- will vote against McMumble on that one issue alone.
What I don't think McBride's handlers realized was just how sensitive Florida citizens are to the issue of higher taxes.
This got an immediate response from McBride and from McBride's handlers. This tells Jeb that McBride is scared of this commercial. Expect to see this single ad pounding away at McBride's base in Tampa, the I-4 Corridor, all over north and west Florida, the Daytona/Vero area, and all in Duval County as well.
It might play a lot in the Dade County market as well, just to get a rise out of the Cubans. They were going to come out and just butcher Reno, but now that she's gone, we might have a turnout problem down there.
I think McBride has peaked. We've got a ton of cash left, and now are going to hammer away at McMumble.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
This new TV commercial debuts this Sunday.
Oh, and another bloody thing.
You'll notice that there were no negative Jeb ads out. He waited for McBride to make the first move.
McBride has sort of laid himself out, but his problem is simple: people know Jeb. They do not know McBride. McBride will be relatively easy to define, as he is not known.
If I'm correct, outside of Broward and Palm Beach, McBride's support could be a mile wide and an inch deep.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
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Obviously McBride's strategy is to keep the subject on that, and with the Teacher's Union money, happily chip away at Jeb's lead.
I am relieved to see that Jeb is going on the offensive with McBride because so far that's the issue he has been coasting on. I'd like to see what happens when he has to answer some questions on his qualifications. He's a third rate candidate handpicked by the party bosses but he does have the money to duke it out with Jeb.
This is just a little too close for comfort to suit my tastes.
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