Scott Wades into Big Sugar Fight and Finds a Tea Party Swamp

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott will join Tea Party activists this morning (Thursday) in West Palm Beach to protest the so-called "Big Sugar Bailout" by the South Florida Water Management District.

SFWMD's board is considering a 28,000-acre, $197 million purchase of U.S. Sugar lands as part of Everglades restoration. Opponents contend that the purchase is politically driven and environmentally questionable.

But Scott is entering a political swamp himself as various tea groups bicker over their respective agendas and authenticity.

South Florida Tea Party Director Everett Wilkinson said, "Tea Party activists have been protesting the U.S. Sugar land deal for several months. However, they question the recent appearance of non-Tea Party groups such as the Republican Majority PAC, 'The Tea Party In Action' and now Rick Scott."

Wilkinson, who supports GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum and who also calls himself chairman of the "Florida Tea Party," is currently suing yet another tea party, the Florida TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party, over use of the tea name.

McCollum, by the way, has benefited from six-figure contributions by U.S. Sugar to campaign committees, which are airing TV ads on his behalf.