Republicans seem to be betting that the folks on the receiving end of this mailer are crack-stupid.
Kathy Castor-Dentel, an elementary school teacher and a Democrat, is running for the Florida State House of Representatives, District 30. She is the daughter of Betty Castor, who was herself smeared as a terror sympathizer in her bid for the U.S. Senate in 2004 by Republican Mel Martinez, who subsequently lost interest in the office and quit early to spend more time with his family. She is also the sister of U.S. Rep. Karen Castor (D – Fla.), a rising star in U.S. House Minority.
Jerry Sandusky, who is depicted in the mailer, is a former Pennsylvania State assistant football coach recently convicted of serial child molestation and sex abuse. He has no relationship to Castor-Dentel, Florida teacher’s unions, or indeed, to the Florida District 30 race. But hey, why let that stop anyone from smearing Castor-Dentel by linking the two anyway?
Castor-Dentel is running against incumbent Scott Plakon (R.), who claims to have no involvement in the mailer, which began hitting homes on the Friday before the election. The piece is financed by a committee of continuous existence (CCE) called the “Committee to Protect Florida,” which, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court, is under no obligation to disclose its members. The CPF is linked to still another CCE known as the “Committee for a Conservative House.”
…records show the group is being financed in large part by Republican leaders in the Florida House – chiefly by incoming [State] House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
Two fundraising groups organized by Weatherford have given $208,000 to the Committee to Protect Florida since Oct. 24. That accounts for the vast majority of the money the committee has raised over that period.
Weatherford has raised his money from an array of business interests. One of his largest contributors is health-insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Republicans seem completely unhinged from the need to tell the truth. From the party’s presidential and vice presidential picks on down, there is no demonstrated duty to adhere to the factual if there is an advantage to be had from bold-faced lying.
Where is this trend leading? Will the next campaign feature Nancy Kerrigan style knee-capping? Soviet style poisoning? Seriously, Republicans need to do some soul-searching and try to reclaim their party from the liars and lunatics now running it. If this mailer isn’t a wake-up call, I don’t what it will take to get their attention.
H/T to Florida State Rep. Scott Randolph
