"We're The Republican Party, And We Approved This Candidate"
Republicans to Connie Mack IV: Kiss off?
According to the Washington Post, Republicans lay blame for Connie Mack's failing Senate campaign on....Connie Mack.
They say he's too cocky, has a sense of entitlement, and that he harbors a certain "kiss the ring" mentality. (No! Get outta' here!)
To those Republicans, I would like to pose a question:
Excuse me, but did you just meet Connie Mack?
After all, His Highness has been in Congress since 2005 and much like his peers, elected office is the family business model. But even if we accept the "can't see the forest for the trees" explanation, just look at him:
"Cocky? Who, Moi?"
This is not the official portrait of someone who lacks self confidence. Nor did the GOP when they were busy sharing high-fives as he jumped in the race. He was their dream candidate, but then he went about running a campaign set on coronation mode, waiting for someone to roll out a red carpet to his new Senate office just like he's become accustomed to in Hollywood. Now he's barely competitive with the George LeMieux snooze-fest. The Party of "Morning In America" is just waking up to their latest nightmare.
Fundraising: Despite his connections and widespread support, Mack isn’t raising the sort of money most people expected he would. And, some Republicans say he hasn’t even really tried.
Tea party: Mack, some say, has ignored the grassroots. When he does pay attention to them, it’s not much better. At an Orlando tea party forum Mack called the budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R) a “joke.”
Media: Mack’s campaign has picked unnecessary fights with the press, including one blast against the Tampa Bay Times over a snarky headline on a blog post.
Pot meet the kettle of criticism.
For starters, no one really "works" at fundraising in the GOP these days. Corporate American pretty much bankrolls the candidate most likely to sign the legislation they write with help from organizations like ALEC. They thought Mack would expect something different?
He "ignores the Tea Party?" Say it ain't so! Who among the Republican Party hasn't ignored the Tea Party once the gullible Tea Party followers put them into office? Looking at you, Marco Rubio....perhaps the name Rick Scott rings a bell?
On the "Paul Ryan budget is a joke" front, well, he's got 'em there. It is a joke, and not the funny kind.
Blame the media? Whoa, now there's an excuse we've never heard before! OK sure, he got lucky when The Tampa Bay Times rolled over because the man from Hooters cried foul, but not everyone is a pushover. Besides, if the Republicans don't like snark they should quit acting like idiots. The American public isn't as stupid as they think. They should get used to getting called out on it. Pardon the campaign ad "snark" here Rep. Mack, but dare I say "monkey see, monkey do?"
To Republicans who are critical of IV, I have to say, Connie Mack seems like just what the party ordered to me. He's running on three of your own favorite empty buzzwords issues, freedom, security, and prosperity, topped off with the favored radical dream budget plan of doom, Cut, Cap, and Balance. That's the plan that, to quote Ezra Klein, "is an effort to take the lessons of the past 10 years and then pass a constitutional amendment preventing us from learning them."
Seriously. What else do you have to offer?
(Photo: Connie Mack, U.S. House)
