Crowley Political Report

Allen West spends a lot, Patrick Murphy and Lois Frankel spend less

Gonna be a good year for campaign consultants. A Crowley Political Report look at the Federal Election Commission reports filed by Allen West, Lois Frankel and Patrick Murphy show that the three congressional candidates have already spent nearly $2.9 million.

Yup. $2.9 million by the end of September.

The biggest spender is Republican incumbent Allen West at $2.26 million.  Democrat political newbie Patrick Murphy spent $381,000.  Meanwhile Democrat Lois Frankel spent $223,000.

Check out the details yourself from the FEC reports shown below.

Allen West piles up the cash, should Democrats just surrender now?

Good lord? Really? Crowley Political Report does not shock easily but Florida Republican Congressman Allen West raised a stunning amount of campaign cash during the three months ending Sept. 30.

$1.9 million.  Yup. $1.9 million.

Consider this - Democratic U.S.  Sen. Bill Nelson raised nearly $2 million. Let's call it a tie.

There are two Democrats hoping to win West's District 22 seat - former West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel and Broward County businessman Patrick Murphy.

Frankel says she raised $415,000. Murphy raised $313,000. That would be a combined $728,000 for the two Democrats compared to West's $1.9 million.

Should Frankel and Murphy just go home?

Frankel has raised a total of $1.1 million since starting her campaign. Murphy has raised $1.2 million.

West has raised  $3.9 million.

Fun with math - Two Democrats total - $2.3 million. West - $3.9 million.

Fun fact - Much of the money Frankel and Murphy raised will have to be spent in the Democratic primary. West does not have, and is not like to have, a serious primary opponent.

Nope, West is just going to keep raking in the dough. A few more million for West and the DCCC may take West off their target list.

No matter how much Democrats would like to get that seat back, Frankel and Murphy are going to need a whole lot more cash to pull it off.

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Art by Chicago artist and graphic designer Brian J. Crowley

Howard Dean takes on Allen West and David Rivera

Dubbed "Don't kill the dream" a new television ad is being brought to you by the Dean Brothers - Howard and Jim, this Sunday in a congressional district near you.

Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont,  and his brother Jim, are behind the group, Democracy for America that is running the 60-second ad.

From Democracy for America:

A new 60-second television ad released today by Democracy for America targets Republicans for killing the American Dream and failing to create jobs. The ad, “Don’t Kill the Dream,” which will air both nationally and in targeted congressional districts, features Americans who want Republicans in Congress to stop dismantling the middle class and killing the American Dream. The ad calls out Republicans for slashing vital programs the middle class depends on while simultaneously insisting on tax breaks and loopholes for corporations and millionaires.

The ad will run nationally on Sunday shows and in the districts of Allen West (FL - 22) and David Rivera’s (FL -25). This is part of Democracy for America’s national campaign to hold Republicans accountable that will run from now until the election in 2012.

AD TRANSCRIPT:

We were city workers in New York State, luckily we had good benefits. We would like to grow old comfortably and get back what we contributed. We would like to see those that we love have the same.
-Samuel and Stephanie Levine, Retired

I came to the United States when I was 10 years old, because this is the land of opportunity. But opportunities are disappearing on us because Washington has decided to protect millionaires and billionaires and squeeze the middle class. That is not the American dream.
-Millie Herrera, Small Business Owner

The American dream is having security and knowing that your kids can have security too.
-Chris Ossman, Engineer

To be able to live a decent life, free of fear about the next medical bill.
-Samuel Levine, Retired

Being able to get a great education, the greatest in the world.
-Austin Brookley, Student

The American dream is not just to make a profit in our business, but to be able to sleep at night and know that we are going to be okay.
- Annette Taddeo, Small Business Owner

But the basic needs of this country are being threatened by what’s going on in Washington.
-Chris Ossman, Engineer

We can let Republicans in Washington kill the American Dream.
-Millie Herrera, Small Business Owner

 

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Allen West for Senate - the idea is catching on.

Returning yesterday from a trip that took Crowley Political Report to Charleston, Washington, Boston and Chicago, we find that there is surging interest in the idea that Congressman Allen West should run for the U.S. Senate.

This is not a new idea to CPR. On July 12, we wrote:

Seriously, isn't Allen West the best GOP candidate to run against Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson? ... Politics is about money and timing. West has said he is not interested in running for the senate but money and timing suggest there may be no better time than now for the former Army Lt. Colonel.  ... Should West decide to run for the U.S. Senate, much of the GOP field will collapse shortly after his announcement.

More of our July 12 report is here.

On Sunday, West told WPTV-Newschannel-5 program To the Point - "I am running for congressional reelection that is the most important thing right now."

...

Interviewer Michael Williams asked: "Can you be talked into a senate run  in 2012?"

West replied: "Right now, no."

Williams: "Right now no, but you'll leave the door open?"

Lois Frankel takes a cheap shot at Allen West

Democrat Lois Frankel is calling Republican Allen West a "woman hater."

This is nonsense but coming from Frankel, not surprising.

After the dust-up between West and Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz, where the freshman Republican went  too far in his reaction to comments made by Wasserman Schultz on the House floor, Frankel decided to turn it to her advantage by creating a website dubbed WestHatesWomen.

It is a cheap shot.

Frankel hopes to defeat West in the 2012 election. First, she must get past Patrick Murphy who also is a candidate for the Democratic nomination.

Frankel has a long history of running nasty campaigns. Read more about that here.

The WestHatesWomen site features a petition demanding that West apologize for berating Wasserman Schultz.

"This man has a problem with women. Demand an apology. And, demand he donate $1,000 to the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence to show he's serious!"

Frankel, who can make a Marine blush, has done her share of berating people.

There is not a single issue that Frankel and West will agree upon. There are plenty of issues that they can fiercely debate.

And while West's behavior was disturbing because it was out-of-proportion to the act that caused it, there is no evidence that West hates women.

Allen West takes on Bill Nelson

Allen West always one a bit puzzled.

The Republican Congressman worked himself into self-righteous outrage when Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz took the House floor to talk about the GOP "cut, cap and balance" plan.

During her remarks she said: ". . .President Obama has vowed to veto this bill which ends the Medicare guarantee and incredulously the gentleman from Florida, who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase the cost for Medicare beneficiaries. Unbelievable from a member from South Florida."

When West heard about her remarks, he fired off an email to Wasserman Schultz and House leaders calling her "vile" "despicable" "unprofessional" and other choice descriptions.

West also said, "If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up."

This brings us to Florida Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. After the Senate voted not to take up the House bill today, West sent out this Tweet:

Voting to table Cut, Cap & Balance for fear of passing the Senate is a disgrace. Fl Sen Nelson and the Dems play tricks at Americans expense.

What happened to "say it to my face"?

Oh well.

Perhaps more interesting is that fact that West is taking on Nelson. Is this a hint that he is thinking about running against Nelson.

West has the money and the love 0f the Tea Party. Crowley Political Report suggested in a previous article that West might easily win the GOP primary.

Maybe West will let know if he is interested on Twitter.

 

Democrats try to make a few bucks off Allen West's tirade

Well that didn't take long. 

Crowley Political Report just received the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's new fundraising appeal using Republican Congressman Allen West's email outburst against DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz yesterday as a reason why folks should quickly send cash.

They are calling it the "emergency rapid response fund."

Emergency? Really?

Here's the DCCC message:

“You are the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the US House of Representatives... you are not a Lady.”
- Republican Congressman Allen West in an e-mail to
Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Last night, Republican Rep. Allen West sent a disgraceful e-mail outburst to one of our most accomplished colleagues in the House, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, telling her to “shut the heck up” for daring to challenge the GOP plan to gut Medicare and Social Security to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.

I wish I could say I was surprised.

Unfortunately, this is exactly the sort of partisan tantrum we're used to from House Republicans as they push our economy to the brink of disaster while pandering to their Tea Party base.

We can't let this shameful display go unanswered.

Contribute $3 or more right now to help us defeat disgraceful Republicans like Allen West in 2012. My Democratic colleagues are so appalled that they’ve agreed to match all gifts today dollar-for-dollar up to our $100,000 goal.

This kind of appalling behavior is all too familiar from Congressman West, who has riled up his extremist right-wing base by attacking progressive women for “neutering American men,” calling supporters of President Obama, “a threat to the gene pool” and writing for a misogynist magazine that denigrated women with words I'd be ashamed to even repeat.

And now that he’s in Congress, West thinks he can attack a respected legislator like Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz with this kind of hate-filled screed.

Allen West has shown us his true colors, now let’s show him ours.

Contribute right now to help throw Allen West and his Tea Party colleagues out in 2012.

Let’s make sure Republicans don’t forget this moment.

Rep. Steve Israel
DCCC Chairman

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Allen West has a temper tantrum

 
One tries to give Florida Congressman Allen West the benefit of the doubt. Surely, you think, the Republican freshman says some outrageous things simply to appease some of his more fervent supporters.

For example, in a message West sent Monday to his supporters, he closed with, "I must confess, when I see anyone with an Obama 2012 bumper sticker, I recognize them as a threat to the gene pool."

Seems a bit harsh but that's politics. And for West, that was fairly mild.

So weren't we surprised when West turned into a threatening bully after Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz made a passing remark about him during the floor debate about the GOP plan called  "cut, cap and balance."

Wasserman Schultz spoke for 2 minutes, 28 seconds. At about 36 seconds she said:

". . .President Obama has vowed to veto this bill which ends the Medicare guarantee and incredulously the gentleman from Florida, who represents thousands of Medicare  beneficiaries as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase the cost for Medicare beneficiaries. Unbelievable from a member from South Florida."

Those 20 seconds sent West over the edge.

Political newcomer is making race for Allen West's seat interesting

Who in the world is Patrick Murphy?

Surely that has to be a question that Democrat Lois Frankel is asking this week. Murphy is a 28-year old newcomer to Florida politics who is challenging Frankel, a political veteran, for the Democratic nomination in the 22nd congressional district now held by Republican Allen West.

Murphy's campaign tells Crowley Political Report, that the candidate raised $450,000 in the last quarter. Murphy raised $350,ooo during March bringing his total to $800,000. We should note that $30,000 of that total Murphy gave to himself. Still $770,000 from contributers is impressive.

This is not good news for Frankel who has not yet revealed what she raised during the three-month period ending June 30. In March, Frankel raised $254,000 and there is no reason to believe that she did not have a good quarter.

If Frankel had hoped to walk away with the nomination, the former state representative and West Palm Beach mayor may find the road a bit rockier than expected.

Murphy, who was a Republican not long ago, was born in the Keys and lives in Broward County. He is vice president of Coastal Environmental Services. His campaign team includes South Florida Democratic operatives Jeff Garcia and Eric Johnson.

One of the most interesting aspects of this and all congressional seats is that no one knows what the district will look like in 2012. The Florida Legislature will begin seriously redrawing the districts in January with the final lines not completed until late February. And there will be legal challenges that will leave the lines in doubt until mid-summer.

Democrats in Washington must be looking at the West seat with some concern. Enormously popular with GOP conservatives and Tea Party activists, West will have no trouble raising money. Democrats will need to invest heavily to defeat West and a bloody primary is not going to be helpful.

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AUC launches Facebook campaign against Allen West, Dan Webster

Americans United for Change, a liberal activist group, has begun a Facebook ad campaign accusing Florida Republican Congressmen Allen West and Daniel Webster of favoring corporate jets over health care for seniors.

Here is the logic behind their argument - both Republicans voted for the Ryan Budget Plan. That plan does not remove tax breaks for corporate jets and a host of other things. AUC and other groups have focused on the jets and other items largely benefiting the rich to argue that the wealthy are getting tax breaks while everyone else is footing the bill.

The Facebook ad links to AUC pages - one for West and one for Webster - with similar content.

AUC writes that both men, "supported a plan that makes Floridas seniors shoulder more health and prescription drug costs, so CEOs flying corporate jets can have another tax break.

West/Webster, would also kick Florida seniors back into infamous Medicare Part D Rx drug donut hole. A new report out shows the Affordable Care Act has already saved nearly half a million seniors on Medicare $260 million in prescriptions this year. But West/Webster voted to take away that discount and once again leave seniors who fall in the donut hole to choose between food and medicine.

Meanwhile, Their  plan gives more tax cuts for billionaires. It protects billions of dollars in big oil subsidies. He even wants to continue tax breaks for corporations that ship American jobs overseas. But he opposes efforts to save money and strengthen Medicare? Congressman West/Webster needs to get his priorities straight.

Who does he think he represents? Because he isn't acting like he's representing you!

What this really is all about is that this is another sign that Democrats think they have a shot at winning back those two congressional seats.

Ted Deutch uses Rick Scott as a foil to raise money

 
Ted Deutch wants his fellow Democrats to worry that he might be screwed by Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

In an email to potential donors, the South Florida congressman says:

Governor Rick Scott and his allies control the entire process for drawing new congressional districts, and Democrats without strong support will quickly find themselves targets. We cannot let this happen.

This is a decisive moment for my re-election campaign. You have an opportunity to send a loud and clear message to Florida Governor Rick Scott that I have strong, loyal, and generous supporters who will stand with me in my re-election and in the battles we’ll wage together. Now is when I need you.

Well this is certainly an interesting fundraising ploy.  While Scott has no legal role in the reshaping of state legislative districts he does have veto power over congressional redistricting. But does anyone really believe that GOP lawmakers are going to give Deutch a break because he raises a lot of money?

Hardly.

The best thing going for Deutch is that the GOP will probably be happy to give him as many Democrats as they can squeeze into his  Palm Beach/Broward district to help protect Republican districts.

But now that Deutch has targeted Scott and the Republicans - maybe the GOP will try to make Deutch's life miserable.

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Art by West Palm Beach artist Patrick Crowley

Allen West gets help from Heritage Action of America

 
Dropping in mailboxes in the congressional district of Florida Republican Allen West is an 8 1/2 inch by 11 inch post card from Heritage Action of America - the political action arm of the Heritage Foundation.

The front of the card shows a man, his head in hand, looking glumly at a pile of papers on the kitchen table. A small baby sits on his lap. "We going broke! Can we stop it?"

On the flip side in large headline type it reads, "Allen West is fixing this mess." Below the headline it reads, "Allen West voted for a bold plan that prevents an economic catastrophe by: saving Medicare, paying down the debt, rejecting tax increases."

Next is this: "Liberals are attacking the plan, claiming it ends Medicare. This is a lie. The plan saves Medicare and gives Americans the same health care options as Members of Congress."

Folks are asked to call West and "thank him for fighting for our families."

Clearly the Heritage Foundation is doing what it can to help West win a second term. Does that mean the GOP is worried about whether West can win. Since he has won one and lost one in that district, Republicans should be worried.

But West is also proving to be formidable. He remains popular with Tea Party conservatives and it is like that Florida's Republican legislature we do its best to create a new district for him that sheds some of those pesky Democrats.

Former West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel and Fort Lauderdale businessman Patrick Murphy have announced campaigns to win the Democratic nomination. 

It should be a helluva race.

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Adam Hasner talks about Sharia, oil, and the royal wedding

Batteries for the flashlight? Check. Doors and windows bolted? Check. Food supplies for a year? Check.

Crowley Political Report is now ready for the worst. Clearly America is becoming unhinged and hoardes are at the gates.

That's the feeling one gets after listening to a speech Adam Hasner gave to Orlando's Young Republicans.  Hasner is apparently hoping to win the Florida  GOP nomination for U.S. Senate by scaring the bejesus out of us.

He's not alone of course. A lot of candidates these days give speeches as if a giant meteorite is just days from smashing Earth to smithereens.

Hasner is pretty good at it. The former Florida House majority leader, uses dire tones when he warns that America is in danger as much from the outside as from within.

"We cannot fight an enemy unless we are willing to acknowledge who that enemy is. That enemy has a name and it's Sharia compliant Islam.

"And we cannot allow political correctness or multiculturalism or appeasement to cripple our defenses at home or abroad because this is no longer just a threat on foriegn soil this is now also  a threat from those who seek to destroy us from within."

Hasner also makes it clear that he rejects the politics of his parents, "liberals from Brooklyn."