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Fight On!

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Fight On!

I was kind of disappointed to see this endorsement. I really think Gayle Harrell is the best candidate for the district and to defeat Mahoney. But I think after Harrell wins the primary, we will all be able to rally around her.

We did look at Gayle Harrell. We found her to be less consistently conservative and more prone to support tax increases and government spending.

Likewise, she has raised less money than Tom Rooney. Mr. Rooney has raised $666,827.00 and Ms. Harrell has raised $517,455.84.

Mr. Rooney has loaned himself $25,000.00 and Ms. Harrell has loaned herself $30,000.00.

On the specifics, we question Ms. Harrell's commitment to the culture of life, we question her shift on immigration policy, we question her support of H.B. 1513 (2004), which would have harmed private property rights, and we had several other concerns.

Fight On!

I'm a supporter of Gayle Harrell here because she's NEVER, in her long career in the state house, supported a tax increase... EVER. To the contrary, she's supported every tax cut that's come her way.

If you can prove otherwise, PLEASE state your evidence. She's well respected in the community and she has a record that inspires confidence among conservatives.

She's been pro-life for over a decade (unlike Mitt Romney) and a supporter of border security and fighting illegal immigration since before 1992.

Please share your sources.

http://www.ktracy.com

Erick Erickson and RedState owe the readers of their website an explanation.

Erick states these platitudes while not presenting any facts.

Erick says that Gayle is "prone to government spending and tax increases" when in fact she has never supported a tax increase in eight years in the legislature.
She's voted to cut taxes by over 28 billion and was a leader in passing meaningful property tax reform.
She would cosponsor the fair tax, would support a flat tax, and supports making the Bush tax cuts permanents and reducing or ending earmarks.

Erick questions Gayle's commitment to the pro-life cause completely ignoring the fact that she has voted on the side of life in EVERY vote rated by the Christian Coalition.
This includes politically difficult votes, such as voting to save the life of Terri Schiavo, to oppose embryonic stem cell research, and to promote ultrasounds.
Gayle supports a human life amendment to the constitution, supports the Mexico City Policy, and opposes Roe V. Wade.

Erick questions Gayle's commitment to the anti-illegal immigration cause, falsely suggesting she had some type of conversion. The fact is, Gayle has been talking about illegal immigration since she first ran for office in 1992.
In 2001 she joined a group of legislators and walked off the floor to protest illegal immigration.
She also stopped welfare benefits for illegal aliens and promoted the Florida Safe Borders Act this session.
That could be why all the "secure the borders" folks in FL are supporting her.

Erick sends Tom Rooney a "questionnaire" without sending the same questionnaire to the other two candidates in the race.
He says he has other concerns, but did he make the effort to talk with the Harrell folks.

These are the reasons that Speaker Newt Gingrich has endorsed Gayle.

These are the reasons that two former Chairmen of our party have said she's the only one that can win.

The fact is, Gayle Harrell is leading Tom Rooney by nearly 100k when you look at money raised in CD 16.
Gayle Harrell was the only candidate with the grassroots strength to collect petitions to get on the ballot (Rooney tried and failed).
It would seem Erick owes his loyal readers answers to this information.
While it would be nice to have the support of Red State, Gayle Harrell is doing just fine with the folks that matter.

Take a look at how much Daddy Rooney paid to get a picture of his son with Senator McCain... and then read how he made it look like a McCain endorsement.

http://ktracy.com/?p=1296

(hint: it cost at least $25,000)

That unashamedly pro-Harrell blog is based in Indiana and is run by two veterans. It's explained clearly that the fundraiser was for the Florida Republican Party, and there is NO limit to what one can contribute to the state party.

The party is allowed to then earmark funds raised at these events for presidential politics in Florida.

In otherwords, the ad would work like this.

"Barack Obama is an unexperienced jerk-face, but McCain is a veteran who served his country bravely and was tortured by communists in Vietnam, vote for McCain in November. This ad was paid for by the Florida Republican Party."

The funds from this fundraiser were earmarked for McCain.

And regardless, the price tag on the event was $12,500. Since both Rooney and Daddy Rooney attended the event, it was at least $25,000.