I have always wondered by candidates running for Congress seem to attack their primary opponents by trying to paint them as “Carpetbaggers” because they have decided to run for office without actually living in the district from which they intend to represent.
The argument can be made that if a candidate is supposed to represent a specific congressional district, that candidate needs to know the district, so he or she can better address constituent needs and concerns in Congress.But then there is the arguement that being a member of Congress, the elected official represents “all” Americans, and not just those who actually voted him or her into office.
After all, there are 435 voting members of the House of Representatives, who’s every vote impacts every single American.
In Florida’s Republican special election race, Lizbeth Benacquisto’s Press Secretary, Erin Isaac, sent out an email titled, “CD 19 Brain Teaser #41.)
Do you think the 2nd Amendment will be destroyed by the Biden Administration?(2)
The body of the email consists of outlining Benacquisto’s GOP opponent, Curt Clawson short stint as a Florida resident.
Here is the email:
QUESTION:Is the attack above board? Yes.
If a two-time bankrupt CEO leaves Northville, Michigan on December 31, 2013, stops in Washington D.C. to pick up an Obamacare bailout and lend a hand to his liberal buddy Debbie Stabenow, how long will it take him to get to Bonita Springs, Florida, unpack his basketball trophies and decide to run for Congress?ANSWER:
If you’re Curt Clawson, it only takes 41 days.
On December 31, 2013, Curt Clawson lived at 143 Cadycentre, #237, Northville, Michigan according to an FEC receipt for a campaign donation Clawson made to Tea Party Critic Mitch McConnell. Forty-one days later, Clawson filed to run for Congress and listed his address as 8951 Bonita Beach Road,Suite 525 – V 2014, Bonita Springs, FL 34135 according to the Florida Division of Elections – http://election.dos.state.fl.us/candidate/CanDetail.asp?account=61420.
He was a Floridian for 41 days.Curt Clawson IS an outsider… to Southwest Florida.
Actually, the Obamacare bailout Benacquisto’s campaign contends Clawson’s old company received, has been debunked as being false. The two bankruptcies and the fact that Clawson donated to both Democrat Senator Debbie Stabenow and Senator Mitch McConnell is accurate.
But can Benaquisto’s record on tax increases be compared to Clawson’s recent move to Florida?
Benacquisto backed a series of tax increase when she sat on the Village Council in Palm Beach, Florida, not to mention she fully embraced and “fought hard” for Stimulus dollars. Not Benacquisto opposed all tax increase as a Florida State Senator.
**Update- There seems to be have been a mix up at Team McConnell, who entered Clawson’s old home address on the donation form, and not the Florida address Clawson wrote on the form when he donated to McConnell’s Victory Kentucky Fund.
