Thursday, October 11, 2012

Keith Fitzgerald says Vern Buchanan's negative ads show his 'lack of character' (UPDATED x 2)

See below for update.

U.S. Vern Buchanan's campaign has hammered away at Democratic challenger Keith Fitzgerald about his former communications director for longer than the few days between when Ana Maria Rosato was hired and fired, relentlessly raising questions about what the hiring of a woman who had written viciously about Republicans and other groups on a private blog says about Fitzgerald's judgement and character.

On Wednesday, Fitzgerald fired back with his own assault on Buchanan's character with a video of him speaking directly to voters in the 16th Congressional District.

"He’s too scared to discuss the issues," Fitzgerald says of Buchanan on the video. "But this election isn’t about staffer’s personal blog, it’s about backbone. And Vern has shown he lacks backbone completely."

WatchFitzgerald's video here:



UPDATED, 1:30 p.m. -- In a new salvo against Buchanan, Fitzgerald is accusing the congressman of possibly breaking federal law:
Sarasota, FL - Vern Buchanan is desperate to distribute his dishonest, misleading ads — even if it means invading voters’ privacy and possibly breaking the law. 
Voters across Sarasota and Manatee counties have spotted men tampering with their mailboxes and are reporting finding DVDs of a disingenuous attack ad produced by the Buchanan Campaign without postage. 
Not only is this a serious invasion of privacy for the constituents of the 16th district, but it is also a violation of federal law. “There’s no telling how low my opponent will go to protect his job.” Fitzgerald said. “Vern Buchanan can’t go a week without validating he is just too corrupt for Congress.” 
Several of the voters who have received the DVD have contacted the United States Postal Service Inspector General to file complaints. The complaints could lead to investigations by the Postal Service or United States Attorney’s Office. Corrupt Congressman Buchanan is no stranger to federal investigations — he’s already been in hot water with the U.S. Justice Department, F.B.I., I.R.S. and is currently under investigation by the House Committee on Ethics.
UPDATED, 2:30 p.m. -- In response, Buchanan's campaign has launched a new website, ShameOnFitzgerald.com, which features the video.

"Professor Fitzgerald's ludicrous and hysterical reaction convinced us to launch a new website featuring the video and broaden it for television," said spokesman Max Goodman, in an e-mail. "It's the video Fitzgerald doesn't want you to see, but the voters deserve to know that Fitzgerald refused to condemn these hateful, bigoted remarks that insult half the people in our district."  

17 comments:

  1. may want to check out his new spokesperson's twitter page -- not deleted as previously hoped

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  2. Wow, looks mean in that video

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  3. JUST GIVE UP KEITH YOU AND YOUR MENTOR OBAMA ARE GOING BACK TO TEACHING AND STAPLING COMMUNIST POSTERS ON A TELEPHONE POLE

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  4. Heard the radio ad he's referencing on the way to work this morning...not sure how it was "lying," wish Mr. Fitzgerald would have addressed.

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  5. Seems to me the Republican House leadership has a great deal of confidence in Vern Buchanan. He is on the Ways and Means Committee and has brought the Speaker of the House to Sarasota to meet with the local people. OTOH, the Democrat leadership in Washington would appear to have no confidence at all in Fitzgerald having taken away his campaign funding and leaving him to campaign with a washed up former Republican who is unpopular in both political camps.

    If Fitzgerald somehow went to Washington would anyone even know him?

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  6. Keith Fitzgerald says Vern Buchanan doesn't want to talk about the issues. And what does Fitzgerald do? Talks about anything but the issues. Sarasota and Manatee voters reject Obama and his henchmen like Fitzgerald! Fitzgerald still refuses to repudiate his spokespersons angry, socialist rants.

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  7. Go Keith! Very well said. Mistakes will happen, it's part of life. He's taken quick action to get the campaign back on track. About time we have someone to represent all Floridians, not just the wealthy ones.

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  8. Buchannan, like the bitter, nasty, comments by his lackeys here, played a vital role in my decision. Attention: This is a democracy, so the R's who are used to a one-sided playing field, whine and attact a man's character, and his livelihood, because he has the "NERVE"....the unmitigated gall, to run for office? YOU OFFEND all citizens with your sleazy tactics. Vern, grow up, quit hiding behind truckloads of $$$$$$$$ that can send out DAILY MAILINGS that are so disgusting, I BURNED the one I got today. Buchannan, TALK ISSUES, we, the people, deserve more than the caustic character assissination you've so ruthlessly launched on a good man, who just wants to run for public office. Tsk, tsk, ye shall know them by their deeds.

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  9. Keith -- I'm not very savvy in politics...but whatever happened to letting an issue die?...why magnify an issue that is crushing you?

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  10. That's rich. Fitz's ONLY ad to date was a negative attack ad that was decried by everyone for being misleading and untrue. And he's going to get all outraged when Buchanan hits back? Hypocrite.

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  11. We're happy to move on, once you repudiate the vile, hateful tirades of your former employee. Just say it - say, "I don't agree with her!"

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  12. LOL - Keith looks like one of those crazy guys making conspiracy theory videos in his basement. "DID YOU KNOW CONGRESSMAN BUCHANAN IS A 7th ORDER MASON AND KNIGHT TEMPLAR???" lol

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  13. Also, WTH? "He’s too scared to discuss the issues," Fitzgerald says of Buchanan on the video. Seriously the last post on this blog was a Buchanan ad talking about his plan for Medicare! This guy's a nut (and not just because he sort of looks like Mr. Peanut, either).

    http://manateepolitics.blogspot.com/2012/10/vern-buchanan-releases-new-ad-on.html

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  14. It's tacky and mean-spirited to comment on Mr. Fitzgerald's appearance. We can simultaneously disagree on policy issues and agree that crude insults don't belong in this discussion.

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    1. Alright, so if I apologize for the Mr. Peanut crack (I'm sorry - which is more than he's said about his spokeswoman's comments), do you care to address the rest of my point? To wit: Vern has talked about the issues in more ads than Fitzgerald has, yet Fitzgerald falsely says that he refuses to talk about the issues.

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    2. To be fair, Fitzgerald has only released one television ad. I'm not concerned with who releases the most ads in which the candidate "talks about the issues." If a candidate has more financial resources, he or she can easily win at this game. It's not an important contest.

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  15. Wow he's talking about "character" after being endorsed by Charlie crist.... Crist is the posterboy for lack of character

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