Charlie Crist: Former Republican Party chair tried to extort me

The message to former Gov. Charlie Crist from good friend and confidante Jim Greer was ominous-sounding:

“Listen I just wanted to call and tell you something as a man, not like these other people that have put knives in your back and never had the courtesy of calling you directly or talking to you.”

Just about a year after Greer was indicted on felony charges of organized fraud, theft and money laundering, Crist found the voice mail and a text message on his cell phone from the former chair of the Republican Party of Florida.

To Crist, it sounded like Greer was attempting to extort money from him and he called the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to report the messages.

“Hey guy, it’s Jim,’’ the June 2011 voice message from Greer began. “I’m sure you know our friendship has ended. Is over. And I’m just very saddened by that, but I wanted you to know personally from me, in the future there’ll probably be things coming out that are going to be very hurtful to both you and Carole (Crist’s wife), but I’ll be honest with you, I don’t care any more because I did everything I could for you: I paid every bill you and Carole ever gave me, I defended every decision you ever made, I almost got in a fist fight the times some people said some personal terrible things about you.’’

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/16/2802568/former-gov-charlie-crist-says.html#storylink=cpy

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Mitt Romney makes it official: I endorse Connie Mack

Not a big shocker, considering Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney de facto endorsed Senate candidate Connie Mack during the January primary. Still, here's the official statement:

 “Connie Mack is a friend, a strong conservative and the type of principled leader we need in Washington to restore fiscal responsibility. By electing Connie Mack, the people of Florida will be sending a clear message to Senator Nelson and President Obama that their failed policies have not worked to change the borrow and spend ways of Washington.”

Karl Rove's Crossroads $25m ad buy to match President Obama's spots

 

Considering some of its previous ads have had factual problems, there's a chance the ad above might have inaccuracies. We'll be checking. Meantime, here's the press release:

WASHINGTON – Today, Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (Crossroads GPS) announced a new $25 million issue advocacy initiative over the next four weeks in ten states, including Florida, to frame the national debate on jobs, the economy, ObamaCare and government debt.

The first phase of the initiative launches Thursday with a new Crossroads GPS TV ad, “Broken Promises” which will air in Florida for a total buy of $1.5 million.  The spot details the Obama Administration’s poor results on fixing the troubled economy, cutting the debt, keeping taxes low, and other key issues.

In addition to Florida, the initial television buy includes network affiliates in Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The new ad will start airing Thursday, May 17 and run through May 31. The spot can be viewed here, and is available for high resolution download upon request. 

“President Obama made commitments on core issues to the American people, and this ad holds him to account,” said Steven Law, president of Crossroads GPS. “Our country faces serious economic and fiscal problems which require practical solutions and not just promises.  If we don’t hold Washington politicians accountable, we won’t fix these problems that are holding our country back.”

The ad urges citizens to support the “New Majority Agenda.”  For more information about the six major policy initiatives detailed in the plan, visit www.newmajorityagenda.org

Crossroads GPS is a policy and grassroots advocacy organization that is committed to educating, equipping and mobilizing millions of American citizens to take action on the critical economic and legislative issues that will shape our nation’s future in the years ahead.

Florida poll shows many see Barack Obama as a do-little in mortgage crisis

An automated Florida poll by Public Policy Polling for the Campaign for a Fair Settlement, a network of labor and other Democratic leaning groups wanting more accountability for banks, found that only 36 percent of Florida voters approve of President Obama's handing of the housing and mortgage crisis. Nearly six in 10 agreed Obama "has not done enough to hold the banks accountable for their role in the housing collapse. "

A huge majority - including 66 percent of independents, 57 percemt of Republicans, and 69 percent of Democrats - felt that Wall Street criminal acts led to the crisis.

“The President should heed the message independent voters are sending and show stronger leadership on housing,” said Nish Suvarnakar, campaign manager for Campaign for a Fair Settlement. “Obama can help homeowners, his campaign and the overall economy by more aggressively pursuing banks’ criminal acts and supporting meaningful solutions for underwater homeowners.”

“Years after banks committed widespread fraud that led to both the housing crisis and a recession, homeowners have been left to clean up the mess while not a single bank executive has faced criminal charges,” added Suvarnakar. “Majorities of independent voters in swing states think it’s time for Obama to stand up for homeowners and hold banks accountable.”

floridaresults.poll_.pdf

The poll results are attached. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percent.

Posted by Adam C. Smith

Up to $2.2 million in lobbyist spending tied to gambling debate

As debate on a proposal to build three South Florida “destination resorts” heated up, both sides accused the other of spending big bucks on lobbyists and other consultants to shape public opinion. The latest compensation report proves that roughly two dozen lobbying firms cashed in.

Casinos, pari-mutuel facilities and business groups paid lobbyists between $1.4 million and $2.2 million to argue their case to legislators and members of Gov. Rick Scott’s administration, according to a Times/Herald analysis of the reports covering January through March. (Because, state law allows firms to report compensation within a $10,000 range, exact amounts cannot be determined.)

Malaysia-based Genting Resorts, which purchased land in downtown Miami in hopes of building the world’s largest casino, paid eight firms and as much as $679,985 through its East Coast subsidiary and Bayfront 2011 Development affiliate.

Other casinos on the list:

Welcome to FL, Mitt. Now why did Bain Capital lay off so many people in Miami?

As Mitt Romney returns to Florida on Wednesday for two days of campaigning and money-raising, Democrats are trying to ensure Floridians keep two words in mind: Dade Behring.

It’s the name of a former medical equipment manufacturer in Miami that Romney’s venture capital firm bought and then closed in the late 1990s, walking away with $242 million in profits.

“Obviously you need to make a profit to be successful,” Cindy Hewitt, Dade Behring’s former human resources officer, said Tuesday, at a Miami news conference organized by President Barack Obama’s campaign. “My concern is when businesses are used to generate wealth for a small number of people and businesses are run to the ground and the lifeblood is sucked out of it and all of their employees lose their jobs.”

The case of Dade Behring in Miami, where some 850 jobs were lost while Romney led Bain has been well-documented. But there’s a new wrinkle: The company under Bain’s leadership sought and received millions of dollars in tax breaks for creating jobs in Puerto Rico — shortly before closing its facilities, costing nearly 300 jobs.

At the heart of Romney’s presidential campaign is an argument that his successful business record makes him best equipped to turn around the economy. Democrats are aiming to turn his strength into a vulnerability — a strategy that has worked before.

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Here's the pro-Obama Priorities USA spot that's to run in Florida, even though it doesn't feature Bain Capital.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/16/2801276/as-mitt-romney-hits-florida-democrats.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy