By Javier Manjarres

Congressman Connie Mack used to sell Hooter’s Wings- well, not exactly. Before he was elected to the U.S. Congress, Cornelius Mcgillicuddy IV aka Connie Mack used to work as an executive with the LTP Management company based in Fort Myers, Florida. LTP manages the popular Florida-based ‘Hooters’ restaurant chain that was founded in Florida and expanded to hundreds of locations within the United States and around the world.

As a personal aside, I have had the experience of dining at a Hooters in Singapore, and I distinctly remember that the wing sauce tasted a bit different than what I was used to. Maybe it was the water?

Senator Bill Nelson has tried to make hay of Mack’s past employment history by ridiculing his association with Hooters. While working at LTP Management, Mack was responsible for promoting the restaurant chain. While there isn’t any proof that Mack was actually frying up the wings at Hooters, in the eyes of Nelson, Mack’s involvement with Hooters is a cause for shame.

Is it really such a badge of dishonor to be associated with Hooter’s? I’d wager that most voters think not, especially the hardworking folks who either work at at the chain or who hold a job in the restaurant business who are more interested in the candidates’ position on the issues rather than petty, amateurish attacks.- (Source-Shark Tank)

But apparently Senator Nelson doesn’t really have a problem with Hooters after all- at least not when it comes to campaign contributions. You see, between 2006 and 2010, Senator Nelson received $12,000 in campaign contributions from executives from Hooters and LTP Management.

One of LTP Management’s partners, David Lageschulte ‘forked’ up a total of $6400 to Nelson’s campaign. Paul Lynch, an executive with Hooters gave $5600 to his campaign as well.

Rank hypocrisy from Nelson? You be the judge.

Hooters restaurants serves Bacardi Rum as well as other Bacardi products, in their bars- does Nelson object to Bacardi Rum being served in Hooters restaurants?

While Nelson’s mockery of Hooter’s is obviously phony, the real issue here is why does Senator Nelson continue to mock a blue collar, private sector job from a Florida company simply to slime his opponent?  We all know why- when you can’t run on your record, it becomes politically necessary to go “3 Mile Island” on your opponent.

Pass the Footy’s sauce, please.

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