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Politics

Backroom Briefing: Basking in an 'F'

July 19, 2018 - 10:45am
Philip Levine, Gwen Graham, Adam Putnam and Ron DeSantis
Philip Levine, Gwen Graham, Adam Putnam and Ron DeSantis

Pre-election grades from the National Rifle Association drew praise from candidates on both sides of the political spectrum.

Republicans bragged about “A” marks. Democrats crowed about their “Fs.”

Former Congresswoman Gwen Graham, a Democrat running for governor, called her failing mark a “badge of honor.”

“I've always prided myself on good grades, and this is the proudest I've ever been,” Graham said in a prepared statement Tuesday. “I received an ‘F’ from the NRA because I am committed to common-sense gun safety and ending the stronghold that the gun lobby has in Tallahassee.”

Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, another Democrat running for governor, offered similar praise of a mark that people normally wouldn’t post on the fridge.

“A while back, I filled out a questionnaire that was sent by the National Rifle Association as a part of their candidate interviews,” Levine said in a statement. “Turns out they didn't like my answers. Today, I received my official ‘grade’ from the NRA, and they gave me an ‘F.’ I've never been prouder of getting an ‘F’ in my entire life.”

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum also got an “F,” while no grades were posted for the two other Democratic gubernatorial candidates, Orlando-area businessman Chris King and Palm Beach businessman Jeff Greene.

The NRA slaps an “F” on candidates it deems a “true enemy of gun owners' rights.”

Among Republicans running for governor, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who famously described himself as an “NRA sellout,” got an “A plus.” Congressman Ron DeSantis, who is vying with Putnam in the Aug. 28 GOP primary, scored an “A.”

State Rep. Frank White, a Pensacola Republican running for attorney general, put his “A plus” grade into a campaign ad as he tried to contrast his conservative credentials with those of his primary opponent, former Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Ashley Moody.

“On August 28th, Republican voters will choose between a liberal judge with a liberal record of personally suing President Donald Trump (who is beloved among Republican primary voters and polls just behind Governor Scott in job approval), and a businessman whose conservative credentials have earned him endorsements from the Florida Right to Life PAC and the highest grade from the NRA,” White’s campaign said.

Moody got an “A” rating from the NRA, a grade the Second Amendment group describes as “solidly pro-gun.”

An “A plus” grade goes to candidates who have “an excellent voting record on all critical NRA issues” and who have offered a “vigorous” defense of the Second Amendment.

State Rep. Matt Caldwell, a North Fort Myers Republican running for agriculture commissioner, was able to announce his “A plus” grade on June 26. He quickly had “Endorsed by the NRA” bumper stickers to hand out at the Republican Party of Florida’s Sunshine Summit, which started two days later.

Among other candidates for agriculture commissioner, state Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, got a “B plus,” while former Rep. Baxter Troutman, R-Winter Haven, received a “C minus.”

Candidates got a “B” because they “may have opposed some piece of pro-gun reform or supported some restrictive legislative in the past,” but are otherwise generally pro-gun. Grimsley’s mark has been attributed to her vote in 2014 on an amendment to a bill allowing people without concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns during declared emergencies.

A “C” grade indicates a mixed record on NRA issues.

All three of the Democrats running for agriculture commissioner and the two Democratic candidates for attorney general got a “question mark” for a grade. That signified they refused to answer the NRA’s questionnaire, which is viewed by the organization as potential indifference to, “if not outright hostility” to, gun owners’ rights.

WILL THE SLOGAN BE ON BUSES?

Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, who toyed with the idea of a gubernatorial run this year and bankrolled the 2016 constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana, reveled Wednesday in U.S. House Democrats’ new mid-term slogan for the 2018 elections: “For the People.”

The House slogan, replacing the failed motto, “A Better Deal,” also is the catchphrase for the Morgan & Morgan law firm.

Morgan took the attention in his typical understated stride: “Also I agreed to allow @NancyPelosi, or Aunt Nancy as my children call her, to pay me only a nickel every time #ForThePeople is used by the DCCC. @SenSchumer will be paying a quarter for the DSCC,” was among Morgan’s tweeted reactions, referring to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and the party campaign organizations.

AFP TARGETS NELSON ON KAVANAUGH

Americans for Prosperity, the Koch brothers-backed conservative advocacy group, has launched a direct-mail and digital-ad campaign in support of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s Senate confirmation, with the campaign in part targeting U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

The direct-mail portion of the effort, which is also targeting voters in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and North Dakota, urges people on the mailing list to push Nelson to support Kavanaugh’s appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Nelson has also been getting pressure from progressive groups to vote against the conservative Kavanaugh.

Last week, abortion-rights and gay-rights groups gathered outside the Florida Supreme Court to urge Nelson and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to reject Kavanaugh’s confirmation.

Meanwhile, Organizing for Action --- a non-profit that advocates for former President Barack Obama’s policies --- has been leaving messages about the potential fate of “reproductive rights, health care, climate change, workers’ rights” if Kavanaugh is confirmed.

NOW IN WHITE’S CORNER

As White seeks the Republican nomination for attorney general, he has added a big weapon from Gov. Rick Scott’s arsenal.

Melissa Stone, a former Scott chief of staff who helped guide his 2014 re-election effort, has signed on to White’s campaign, taking a role that is focused on “strategic coalition building.”

Stone and her company, Cavalry Strategies, have worked this year with state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis in his election bid for the Cabinet seat. She also worked with state Rep. Jay Fant, a Jacksonville Republican who was part of the attorney-general field but dropped out of the race.

Stone came to Scott’s office after serving as communications director for former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

TWEET OF THE WEEK: “Oh boy, @realDonaldTrump. Holding ‘both countries’ responsible is the wrong, equivocal, indefensible blame both sides defense. Let’s call this what it is: taking the word of a tyrant over that of our own DNI chief. Like many things, I prefer our intel American-made.” --- Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) on President Donald Trump’s comments Monday after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Comments

Somebody got shot and killed today over a handicapped parking spot in St Pete. See if we all carried guns everywhere, maybe two folks would be dead instead. Maybe some innocent bystanders could have been clipped. Please Marion Hammer, make the government buy and give us all guns and plenty of ammo....isn't that the logical result of your life's work?

one instance where being a cash sellout and getting an "A" grade is not advisable. If you got the grade without all of the sellout cash, might be a little more tolerable, problem is 71% of voters agree with common sense gun legislation. Not taking guns, never happen, but no way a nut or a no fly should ever be able to buy a gun. same for 18 yo kids and AR-15's, not a good mix. Permits should only go to responsible citizens, not rubber stamped just to get more cash and a higher grade. It is just common sense.

Unfortunately, the elected representatives and the candidates choose to support extremes to satisfy the vocal factions of their parties. They promote divisiveness and discord. All in order to gain a seat of power somewhere and spin wheels. I haven't seen many politicians over my 62 years that actually promote harmony amongst citizens. They also fail to promote an image of what America truthfully represents. Politicians lie and they do it for their benefit while telling us it is for the betterment of our country and lives...

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