Republican congressional hopeful Brian Mast is going national even as another candidate entered the crowded primary field to replace U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., who is running for the Senate in 2016. Mast, a combat veteran who was wounded during his service in Afghanistan, took to Glenn Beck’s radio show this week to weigh in on President Barack Obama’s deal with Iran over its nuclear program and the need to reform veterans’ health care.
“If you were in Congress now, what would you be saying about this deal with Iran?” Beck asked.
“The Iran deal is an absolutely horrible deal," Mast replied. “If this deal goes through, then absolutely President Obama is going to have blood on his hands for funding the largest state's sponsor of terrorism. I was a bomb technician, as I told you.
“I've disarmed improvised explosives, and this is exactly what Iran and their proxies, Assad, Hezbollah, whatever proxy you want to name, have been training and fighting against our soldiers on the battlefield," Mast added. “It's an absolute disgrace that this is something our government is undertaking.
“I think most of us we say, you are somewhat made up of the company that you keep, and it says something about us, if we are starting to keep the company of Iran,” Mast insisted.
Beck also turned toward the VA medical system which has drawn attention recently after, last year, reports emerged that at least 30 veterans died awaiting treatment around Phoenix while VA employees altered waiting lists of patients. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki lost his job in the aftermath.
“You have seen the VA health care system firsthand," Beck said. “How much better has it gotten now that the president knows there's a problem?”
“It hasn't gotten any better,” Mast replied. “The VA is basically a perfect model for what government-run health care looks like. You can ask any veteran of however generations past, 'tell me experience about being serviced by the VA," and that's exactly what Obamacare is going to look like to every other American out there that falls under the need of this ... The VA does a lot of things, like home loans and education benefits and things like that , but as an institution of health care, they are a failure, and they will never be the best choice for veterans.”
Mast is running in a crowded Republican primary. Other current candidates include former state Rep. Carl Domino, attorney Rick Kozell, St. Lucie County Commissioner Tod Mowery, Martin County School Board member Rebecca Negron, conservative pundit Noelle Nikpour, businessman Paul Spain who challenged U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., in 2014, and nurse and veteran Carla Spalding. Possible Republican hopefuls include former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino who ran for federal office in Maryland, state Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, education leader Belinda Keiser, former congressional aide Stephen Leighton and Martin County Commissioner Doug Smith.
Another candidate joined the crowded primary field this week: farmer Rick Roth who has been active with the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association and the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida.
Roth told the Palm Beach Post in an article published on Wednesday that he would file to enter the race in September even as he looks to move from political activism to running for office.
The new candidate said he would focus on education and economic issues.
“There are so many problems and so many uncertainties hampering business opportunities,” Roth told the Palm Beach Post.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
