Crist-Loving Sarasotans on Scott's Inauguration Committee

An e-mail announcing the selection of Susanne and Henry Rodriguez to Gov.-elect Rick Scott's Inaugural Host Committee has stirred up a hornet's nest.

The e-mail from the Republican Party of Sarasota stated:

"The Republican Party of Sarasota is proud to announce that Susanne and Henry Rodriguez have been selected as Inaugural Host Committee members, honoring Florida and our Great Governor-elect Rick Scott and first lady of Florida Ann Scott. The Rodriguezes will be assisting with coordinating the Jan. 4, 2011 festivities in Tallahassee and also with raising the funds for that wonderful and special day for Florida."

Rick Swier, writing at RedCounty.com, riposted:

"Now I want to begin by saying I know Governor-elect Scott is a man of character and values. He is a social and fiscal conservative, is not part of the good-old-boy network and cannot be bought. I also know that the inaugural committee has nothing to do with Governor-elect Scott's administration and is an independent entity.

"However, I humbly ask who was it that put Henry Rodriguez on the inaugural ?host committee?

"If you know please e-mail me.

"So who is Henry Rodriguez? He is one of the good-old-boys who jumped ship and supported Charlie Crist for the U.S. Senate. Henry Rodriguez along with former RPOS Chair Eric Robinson, his wife and former RPOS Legal Council Christine, and former RPOS Chair Bob Waechter all resigned from the REC when it was discovered they were fully supporting and raising funds for Crist in violation of executive committee rules.

"This is a slap in the face to all those who supported Marco Rubio for the U.S.?Senate. I cringed every time I saw the Crist political ads calling Marco to right wing for Florida with money raised by the likes of Henry, Eric, Christine and Bob.

"All I can say is that someone on the host committee has made a big mistake?and it needs to be corrected.

"We do not need the likes of Henry Rodriguez anywhere near Governor-elect Scott. His money cannot bribe Rick, but he is trying. This appointment sends a very bad message to those who worked to elect Rick Scott and Marco Rubio.

"Elephants have long memories, especially elephants that supported Marco Rubio and Rick Scott."

Contacted by Sunshine State News, Sarasota County Republican Chairman Joe Gruters said he had not known that the Rodriguezes were under consideration and that he no role in their selection.

But once the choice was made by Scott's team, Gruters said he helped put out the announcement.

"Everyone who was with Crist will have a scar for awhile," Gruters said. "The fact that he gave up on core (Republican) principles should serve as a reminder that if you abandon those principles you're going to get beat."

Henry Rodriguez was one of seven Sarasota Republican Executive Committee members who dropped out of county leadership when they went with Crist.

Gruters, who succeeded one of Sarasota's turncoat chairmen, said the emphasis now must be on the 2012 elections.

"We need to do everything we can to build the party and to help Rick Scott. Hopefully, (Rodriguez and the others) learned their lesson, and understand that what they did was wrong."