NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

For Immediate Release: Feb. 9, 2010
Contact: Eric Jotkoff, (850) 222-3411

BAD DAY FOR BILL

Running Away From His Responsibility, Running Away From His Own Petty Attacks, Running Away From Transparency, Inaction In GOP Ethics Scandal

At Least Bill McCollum's Getting His Exercise From All That Running

It's barely afternoon but Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Bill McCollum has already gotten his exercise in for the day, running away from taking aggressive action against financial institutions as Attorney General, running away from his own petty political attacks against CFO Alex Sink and running away from transparency and his own inaction in the sweeping ethical scandal currently plaguing the GOP.

First, in this morning's cabinet meeting, McCollum ran from taking the lead on holding financial institutions accountable, saying his office was on "stand-by."

Then Bill McCollum ran from the false attacks his campaign made against CFO Alex Sink: 

"Interestingly, McCollum was reluctant to stand behind his own campaign's attack on Sink. Asked this morning about the allegations made against Sink by his campaign, the AG said, 'I'm not commenting on the reasoning or motives for this discussion.' McCollum said he's looked at the New York AG's suit himself, and even called the inquiry about BofA's impact on Florida, and possible action by the state in response, 'a legitimate question.' So, is McCollum denying his campaign's claims about Sink's motivation? 'I don't have any comment on that,' McCollum said. 'No comment at all.'"  (Tampa Tribune, 2/9/10)

But inaction and his own flimsy political attacks weren't the only things Bill McCollum was running from today. 

As the latest half-million-dollar ethical scandal befalls the Republican Party of Florida, Bill McCollum is not only failing to provide leadership in the time of his party's crisis, he's running away from shining daylight on the series of backroom deals in his party.

Gov. Charlie Crist and McCollum's Gubernatorial Primary opponent, Sen. Paula Dockery, have all called on other members of Florida's GOP leadership to open the party's books and demanded investigations into the alleged financial misdeeds. 

And what about Bill McCollum?

"Attorney General Bill McCollum, the Republican gubernatorial frontrunner, has been deeply involved in the controversy, while trying to keep it quiet. He received a copy of the secret contract between Greer and Johnson in January, and then briefed House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon and Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos."  (Emphasis added; St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald, 2/8/10)

"But the leading Republican running to replace Crist in the governor's office, Attorney General Bill McCollum, said releasing AmEx statements for past card holders was a decision that should left to the next party chairman and he personally doesn't think party business should be a public matter." (Emphasis added; Orlando Sentinel, Central Florida Political Pulse, 2/9/10)

But why does McCollum fear any light being thrown on the murky situation of misallocation of funds that made a few party insiders rich at the expense of donors?

"McCollum was given a copy of the two-page contract at the GOP's annual meeting in Orlando on Jan. 9."  (Orlando Sentinel, 2/8/10)

McCollum defended the sweetheart deal as legal and failed to make it public to all those donors who were being fleeced when he first learned of it.  "McCollum: Delmar contract not illegal"  (Orland Sentinel, Central Florida Political Pulse, 2/9/10) 

-###-