Mack pounds Nelson in appearance before GOP group
by George Bennett | February 20th, 2012PALM BEACH GARDENS — Finishing last in Sunday’s Florida Federation of Republican Women straw poll did not knock U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Cape Coral, off his strategy of focusing on Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and barely alluding to his GOP Senate primary.
At a meeting of the Republican Club of the Northern Palm Beaches tonight, Mack didn’t mention his Republican rivals but heaped criticism on Nelson, calling him a “partner in crime” with President Obama and a “lockstep liberal” who votes the Democratic line in Washington but tries to project a more moderate image in Florida.
Mack, who entered the race late last year, has a big lead in most polls of Republican voters. But he finished behind former appointed Sen. George LeMieux and businessman Mike McCalister after the three made separate appearances before the Republican women’s group Sunday in Tallahassee and 117 activists voted in a straw poll.
“Good for George and it’s a long way til August,” Mack said when asked by a reporter about the straw poll. “For me, I’m focused on what we all should be focused on, which is Sen. Nelson.”
Mack spoke to a crowd of about 80 at Store Self Storage and Wine Storage.
He touted his “penny plan” of reducing the federal budget by 1 percent each year, which he said would eliminate the deficit in 8 years.
“When we want to cut spending, that means cut spending. We don’t cut the rate of growth,” Mack said.
He was asked by an audience member about his past support of earmarks, an issue that LeMieux has pounded him on.
“This isn’t an excuse. This is just how it was. We would fight for taxpayer dollars to come back to the state of Florida and to our districts,” Mack said, mentioning a project in his district to widen Interstate 75.
“I participated in that because I thought it was important to bring money for widening of I-75 and projects like that. I also supported the ban on earmarks…I wasn’t willing to say I’m not going to fight for my constituents if others were going to continue to try to take our money for us not being able to use it at home. I think it’s much better that all of us are not participating in the earmarks.”
In response to another audience question, Mack said he does not support congressional term limits.
With term limits in the Florida legislature, Mack said, “the people who are now in control in the legislature are the staff, who are not accountable to the members and not accountable to the voters. So I think what we need to do is hold people accountable who run for office…..We term them out. That is how the constitution was written.”
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February 20th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Mini-mack just doesn’t get that his bravado and machismo isn’t going to play in the general, IF he gets that far. Should he be the R’s nominee, it will mean full employment for letter carriers as the D’s drop piece after piece after piece pounding mini-mack for his divorce, his fights and his finances, any of which would lead a reasonable person to believe he’s an immature hypocrite…
February 20th, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Mack is a total fraud.
He sent flyers to my home in his district when he 1st ran for Congress touting his “Family Values” with a photo of his wife & kids.
He gets elected, goes to DC and has affairs all over town. My friends there say he was seen intoxicated and with women other than his wife almost every night at local bars & restaurants.
He then conducts an open affair with Sonny Bono’s widow while his own family sits home and has to hear press reports about it on TV.
His wife then gets sick of it and divorces him – does he try to save his marriage & family? No.
He forces his wife to move out of the home his daddy bought him (his previous job before running for office was working for Hooters)and refuses to pay her support for the kids, goes back to DC and instead of returning to Fla he spends his off time in Palm Springs with his girlfriend, rarely even coming back to Florida – until now.
He has no record of doing anything for his district or the state – he can not point to one (1) bill he introduced to help his district that passed.
Mack is unfit for any public office, is just another Republican “Family Values” liar & fraud and should not be re-elected ever again.
The fact that his daddy & grandpa did something useful does not mean we owe this spoiled punk a US Senate job.
February 21st, 2012 at 6:44 am
I was at the event. I will now refer to Connie Mack as Baby Mack. He walked in as though he was a movie star. Did nothing whatsoever to work the crowd. People were standing near the entrance, on the side and he just walked right by. A true person for the people would of stopped and spoke, but not Baby Mack. He said nothing of substance. My mind is made up, no vote for Baby Mack..I am with Mike McCalister.
February 21st, 2012 at 6:57 am
If Romney does not win the nomination, what will you do then mini-mack? Just sayin’ Three strikes your out & so is your congressional seat. There are real conservatives with no baggage running for senate. Why in th world would anyone vote for you?
February 21st, 2012 at 7:53 am
Also was there last evening, also was uninspired and underwhelmed. Considering this was such a rare appearance in Palm Beach County, I assumed he would have been on fire and looking to “wow” the crowd. Never happened. Polite words,, no solutions, it was an amateur campaign speech to a large group of engaged movers and shakers in the PBC GOP. I’m glad I attended because it affirmed I wasn’t missing anything in him. Moving on…
February 21st, 2012 at 8:56 am
From the comments of those in attendance it seems as though Mack was a flop at his appearance.
Keep your expectations low of this Hooters Party Boy, and he will still underwhelm you.
February 21st, 2012 at 9:08 am
Having a famous family name only gets you so far…
February 21st, 2012 at 11:14 am
Bill Nelson is still the only candidate who cares about average Floridians.
Vote Dem at the State and Federal level.
The RPOF has failed us over and over again. ENOUGH! They have screwed Florida over for the LAST TIME. It is the Democrats’ time to turn this state around.