What the [FL] Media Had to Say About the Debate [McLawyer McMumbled and McStumbled]

various: Orlando Sentinel, Miami Herald, Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel, St.Pete Times, etc. ^ | Sept. 28, 2002 | various authors

[summer]

The major problem with McLawyer is he really has nothing innovative to offer FL voters - and more voters will realize that as the newness of his candidacy wears off.

Also, Gov. Bush is well-liked by the majority of FL voters, as they know he has made the hard decisions during some very tough times in this state, especially post 9-11.

[Dog Gone]

Great news! Is another debate scheduled?

[Lancey Howard]

Hi, summer

Could you please fill me in on this "hate crimes" thing?
What, specifically, does Jeb think about "hate crimes" legislation?
Thanks,
LH

[summer]

Yes. The 2nd debate in a few weeks will be on radio, while the 3rd and final debate will be on television and moderated by Tim Russert.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

McLawyer has everyone from the NEA to the whacko envirocommies on his side. The problem is that they fortunately do not reflect the majority of people in our state. The NEA affiliation will end up hurting him in the long run...

[summer]

Here is the "hate crimes" part of the Debate transcript:

Putney: THE NEXT QUESTION NOW IS FROM MARWA ZEINI, WHO LIVES IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, AND IT'S ABOUT HATE CRIMES.

Marwa Zeini: WHAT WILL THE GOVERNOR DO TO REDUCE HATE CRIMES IN FLORIDA?

Putney: MR. McBRIDE, LET ME ASK YOU TO RESPONDS TO THAT FIRST. IT WAS ABOUT HATE CRIMES? WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO TRY TO REDUCE HATE CRIMES IN FLORIDA?

Bill McBride: WELL, THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS TREATED FAIRLY, AND THAT PEOPLE ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE THEIR LIVES WITHOUT OTHER PEOPLE INTERFERING WITH THEM OR HARMING THEM. SO THE GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE NEEDS TO BE COMMITTED TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE IS MIT TREATED.

AND NO ONE, BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE, IS TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN ANYONE ELSE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IN FLORIDA, VIEW THESE THINGS SERIOUSLY. BECAUSE THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY IS TO BE MISTREATED BY SOMEBODY BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE.

AND I THINK AS THE GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU CARE ABOUT DEEPLY IN YOUR OWN HEART. SO RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE ARE, I THINK, BEING STOPPED WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE.

THERE IS PROFILING THAT GOES ON. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON THIS. AS GOVERNOR, YOU WOULD SET THE TONE, TALK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, TALK TO THE SHERIFF'S, THE POLICEMEN.

AND AS GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA, YOU NEED TO SET THE TONE AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT, THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD BE FREE FROM THIS KIND OF THING.

Putney: HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER HER QUESTION?

Gov. Jeb Bush: ABOUT A MONTH AGO, A DERANGED MAN THREATENED TO BLOW UP MOSQUES IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA. AND WHAT I DID WAS, I CALLED UPON THE FDLE, WHICH HAS -- AFTER 9/11, WE DEVELOPED STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH ISLAMIC CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE, TO PUT TOGETHER A CONFERENCE CALL AND TO TALK THROUGH THIS, AND TO ASSURE THEM, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE HATE CRIMES LAW THAT EXISTS IN OUR STATE OR FEDERAL PROSECUTION, THAT THIS MAN WOULD BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. AND I'M ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED, ONCE THIS INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE, THAT THAT WILL OCCUR.

ON A REGULAR BASIS, WE TALK TO THE ISLAMIC LEADERS WHO DO FEEL FRIGHTENED AFTER SEPTEMBER 11th. I'VE MET WITH ARAB AMERICANS AND MUSLIM LEADERS ACROSS THIS STATE, AND THERE IS CONCERN. AND I'VE USED MY OFFICE AND LEADERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OFFICE IS FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF OUR STATE, NOT A SELECT GROUP.

[Moderator continues with next question]

[summer]

I think Gov. Bush has a lot of varied support, for example, the FL nurses are supporting his candidacy. (Jeb Bush is the first GOP candidate they have ever supported.)

[summer]

Here's the a list of endorsements for Gov. Bush to date.

[summer]

Here's the list of endorsements for Gov. Bush to date.

[G.Mason]

Two months ago Democrats couldn't tell anyone asking who McBride was.
Now McBride is is being touted as the second coming of F.D.R..

When McBride loses in November it will, of course, be because of "voter fraud" and I fully expect the southern tip of Florida to slowly sink beneath the waves thereby assuming the exaulted position once held by Atlantis.

---

[summer]

And here's the press release re FL nurses endorsing Gov Bush.

[summer]

BTW, this transcript may not be complete, as others caught some errors in it elsewhere. (Also, you don't get the sense of McLawyer's actual response here-- how he paused, smiled, laughed nervously, etc.)

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

The local talk show apologist in Tampa (Daniel Ruth, Mr. Lib)

you could tell mr ruth wanted to give kudos to mcbumbler but he couldnt do it and it was killing him. he knew he was terrible

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

bump

[MeekOneGOP]

Bush......

[summer]

BTW, FL seems to have had its "hate crimes law" since prior to 1991 (Gov Bush was elected in 1998)-

From an article linked in below post to you:

One thing law enforcers say is in their favor, however, is Florida's hate-crimes law, used to elevate the seriousness and penalty associated with a crime. Only a few states have such laws.

Being charged with a hate crime in Florida can bump up a misdemeanor to a felony, and, if a defendant is convicted, it can mean the difference between probation and prison.

The law was first applied in 1991 when Fort Lauderdale attorney Herb Cohen was physically and verbally attacked after going to a man's house to retrieve earrings for a female friend.

[summer]

From the Miami Herald, August 1999

[summer]

Finally, this is what Gov Bush was referring to in his debate response.

[jalisco555]

Wow, amazing that a lawyer could be so inarticulate. I was starting to worry about Florida- if Jeb loses that will be the story of the election even if the GOP ends up with 70 seats in the Senate- but now I'm beginning to relax.

[summer]

And, for those too lazy to click on the link, here is the text:

Governor Bush Holds Conference Call with Islamic Community to Offer Reassurance

For Immediate Release Monday, August 26, 2002

Contact: Elizabeth Hirst (850) 488-5394

TALLAHASSEE -- Governor Jeb Bush today held a conference call with Islamic community leaders in Florida who have expressed concerns for the safety of their children and those who visit Islamic centers and mosques. The Governor was joined on the call by Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Tim Moore.

“People should not have a fear of expressing their faith. Those who send their children to religious schools or who pray at mosques, synagogues or churches have every right to practice their religion in a peaceful and safe environment,” said Governor Bush. “My message today is to assure all Floridians that persecution of people based on their faith or nationality will not be tolerated.”

In light of the recent arrest of Dr. Robert Goldstein of Tampa, Governor Bush has directed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to contact mosques and Islamic centers throughout the Tampa region and statewide. Through Regional Domestic Security Task Forces, FDLE agents, local law enforcement officers, and ATF agents will make personal contact with the leadership of the mosques and the leadership of each Islamic center to advise that there is no imminent threat on the Islamic community. The Task Forces will make physical security assessments of mosques upon request.

FDLE has also reached out to Altaf Ali, Executive Director for the Center on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), and Derick Daniel, Executive Director of the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR), to inform them of our efforts and to assure them that there is no credible information of any conspiracies against Islamic centers in the state.

FDLE is currently assisting the ATF and the FBI in the investigation of Goldstein. Goldstein was taken into custody Aug. 22 after officers from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office entered his home, upon his mother’s request, and found several firearms, explosives, and documentation regarding Islamic centers.