‘Signs’ of Trouble? Newt’s Campaign Refuses to Pay for Yard Signs
Not only is Newt Gingrich’s campaign failing to win continued support among deep pocket Republicans, it looks like it’s trying to save money the old fashioned way: by not paying bills.
To be fair, the campaign says it never authorized St. Augustine, Florida screen printer Rob DePiazza to make yard signs and bumper stickers ahead of the Florida primary.
DePiazza does not dispute that, but says he was commissioned by a local political operative for whom he has worked in the past without issues. Now DePiazza is caught in the middle, and out $3,200.
The closer it got to the vote, he said, the slimmer Newt’s chances looked.
“I started worrying, because the need for the signs was diminishing rapidly,” said DePiazza.
DePiazza says he was contacted by Robert Smith, a St. Augustine resident who had put him in touch with campaigns in the past.
“We had to reproduce the official artwork, and the artwork has the disclaimer on it. Newt.Org, Paid For By Newt 2012,” he said.
But when it came time for payment, DePiazza says he got a check from Smith, not the Gingrich campaign.
That check bounced, and Gingrich lost Florida badly.
The small businessman was left with more than a rubber check. He also had a bad taste in his mouth from the Gingrich folks.
“All they care about is money and if people get hurt along the way, they really don’t care,” he said.
