Copyright © John Jones,8/22/2010
Just when you thought politics just couldn’t get any meaner, nastier, and faker enter the Florida Gubernatorial primary race. Just a short time ago no one really had heard of Rick Scott. On the same token Bill Mccollum has certainly made a name for himself in Washington DC and in our great state of Florida. Both men had put up quite a variety of “interesting and creative” diatribes about why we should elect them and not elect their foe. However, it is up to US the voter to find the truth in politics for ourselves, so we must independently discover the real facts behind the candidates. That what this article will attempt to accomplish, but it in no way relieves you from finding this information out for yourself!
Fact 1: Mccollum is a veteran politician who is desperate to become governor. Scott is a self made private citizen who’s trying to beat a well established and entrenched politician.
Fact 2: All Politicians, Political Candidates and many media outlets follow some basic precepts when it comes to politicos and campaigns for political offices and they are: First, any person who runs for office will say or do anything to win that office. Second, once elected they will say or do anything to keep themselves and their party in power for as long as possible. Third, many if not all media outlets make millions selling dirt throwing, mud slinging or outright misleading ads for a profit regardless of their accuracy.
Fact 3: It is up to you to find out what each candidate stands for and NOT to rely on the misleading, misinformed and biased television ads from the candidates themselves or from Political action committees like “Florida first initiative” which is Mccollum’s PAC or “letsgettowork” Scott’s PAC.
Fact 4: NO Elected official nor any candidate for office wants you the people to actually take the time to do the research to find out exactly what is going on in the government or in the upcoming races.
Fact 5: Taking the time to find out about officials and candidates would enable we the people to select the most qualified office holders, rather that the one who could out spend or out lie the other.
Fact 6: If you fail to do this then you have no right to complain when that person you help to elect turns out to be a Socialist, Facist, or Communist in sheep’s clothing like the current Democrat administration.
Fact 7: To that End I have presented information about Mccollum’s voting record and Independent information about Scott, so that we all can make the best and informed decision to elect the best person for the job.
Bill Mccollum’s voting record
Teen Drunk Driving, Abortion, Social Issues, and Immigration, lawsuits:
McCollum voted NO: ON AN Amendment that requires States to enact and enforce a national standard to prohibit the operation of motor vehicles by intoxicated minors.(1)
Translation: IT’S OK FOR KIDS TO DRIVE DRUNK!
McCollum FAILED to vote : to adopt a conference report that establishes fines and penalties for individuals using force, intimidation, or physical obstruction to prevent access by a person who works at or is seeking to use pregnancy or abortion-related services or a place of worship.(1)
Translation: ABORTION IS OKAY. 50 MILLION AND COUNTING WITH NO WAITING!
McCollum FAILED to vote : On an amendment to prohibit any funds to be used by the FDA for the testing, development, or approval (including approval of production, manufacturing, or distribution) of any drug for the chemical inducement of abortion.(1)
Translation: ABORTION IS OKAY. I DON’T EVEN CARE ENOUGH TO VOTE ON THIS!
McCollum voted NO: to adopt a substitute amendment that requires federally funded family planning providers to certify that family participation is encouraged when minors seek family planning services, and that counseling is provided on how to resist coercive sexual activities. McCollum failed to vote on the final version of this bill. (1)
Translation: PARENTS DON’T MATTER WHEN KIDS ARE ABORTING KIDS!
McCollum voted NO: to adopt an amendment that withholds population planning activities funding to foreign organizations that promote abortion as a method of family planning.
Translation: ITS OK TO GIVE FOREIGN ORGANIZATIONS MONEY FOR ABORTIONS!
McCollum voted YES to pass a bill that prohibits any individual from knowingly performing a procedure, in which a fetus is partially delivered before it is aborted. However, prosecutes everyone but the mother if it is done. (1)
Translation: IT’S EVERYONES FAULT EXCEPT THE MOTHER WHO IS TOOOOTALLY BLAMELESS!
McCollum voted NO: to adopt an amendment to HR 6 that prohibits federal funding from being used to distribute "obscene" material on school grounds and to state that this amendment should not be interpreted as a federal control on school curricula. (1)
Translation: IT’S EDUCATIONAL TO PROMOTE IMMORAL LIFESTYLES IN OUR SCHOOLS!
McCollum voted yes: to adopt an amendment that prohibits individuals who are open about their homosexuality from serving in the U.S. military, BUT McCollum voted NO to the FINAL BILL.(1)
Translation: I ONLY FLIP AND FLOP MY PANCAKES IN THE MORNING NOT MY ETHICS!(1)
McCollum failed to vote: to adopt an amendment to HR 3838 that states no undocumented immigrant may receive benefits and aid under FEMA's emergency food and shelter programs, unless the President declares an emergency.(1)
Translation: ILLEGAL? WHATS THAT? IT LOOKS JUST LIKE FOR MEANINGLESS LETTERS TO ME!
McCollum voted YES: to adopt a conference report that limits the ability of consumers to sue and for juries to award punitive damages in cases of product liability. (1)
Translation: WOULDN’T WANT A LAWSUIT TO INTERUPT MY CORPORATE DONATIONS DOLLARS!
Foreign Relations, Labor, Government Publicity, Guns, Environment:
McCollum voted NO THREE SEPARATE TIMES THIS CAME UP FOR A VOTE: JOINT RESOLUTION: Disapproving the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation treatment) to the products of the People's Republic of China. (1)
McCollum voted NO: on a JOINT RESOLUTION withdrawing the approval of the United States from the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization. (1) Here is a brief note about the WTO: Opponents of “economic globalization”, have charged that it undermines “national sovereignty” by promoting the interests of large multinational corporations.” (2) Visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Organization to see the truth about the WTO!
Translation: AMERICAN SOVERNTY AND AMERICAN INTEREST? I AM SORRY I WASN’T LISTENING JUST THEN, WHAT?!
McCollum FAILED to vote: to pass a bill that would require the Secretary of Defense to keep track of companies operating within the United States that are associated with the People's Liberation Army of China.(1)
Translation: CHINA IS MY FRIEND! YES!
McCollum voted NO: to an amendment that prohibits use of funds to restrict travel to Cuba by United States citizens. AND McCollum voted NO: amendment that prohibits use of funds after March 1, 1996 to continue the economic embargo of Cuba. (1)
Translation: MAYBE IF I IGNORE CUBA LONG ENUGH THEY WILL GO AWAY!
McCollum voted NO: to adopt an amendment AND THE FINAL BILL that increases the minimum wage by 90 cents from $4.25 to $5.15 by July 1, 1997. McCollum FAILED to vote: to adopt an amendment that would increase the minimum wage over a two-year period (2002-2004). (1)
Translation: I’M IN THE MOE-NAY! I’M IN THE MOE-NAY! WAH-HOO!
McCollum voted NO: to adopt an amendment that prohibits Federal agencies from using appropriated funds to promote public support or opposition for a legislative proposal.(1)
Translation: TRUST ME! I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS WHATS GOOD FOR YOU!
McCollum voted NO: to pass a bill that requires a five-day waiting period before the purchase of a handgun or until a criminal background check on the purchaser is completed, whichever is earlier.(1)
Translation: PUBLIC SAFETY DOESNT TRUMP TREASURY DEPARTMENT, YA KNOW!
McCollum voted NO: on an amendment that would redirect $450 million from land acquisition programs to funding for urban parks and recreation, farmland protection and endangered species recovery programs. The $450 million would come from the $2.8 billion a year in revenue generated by oil and gas drilling on federal lands. The original bill provides $270 million a year for fish and wildlife conservation and roughly $100 million for the Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program.(1)
Translation: ENVIRONMENT WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING ENVIRONMENT!
McCollum voted NO: on an amendment to transfer approximately $12 million of the funds appropriated in the bill for non-rewable basic energy research programs to renewable energy research programs.(1)
Translation: RENEWABLE ENERGY, DOESN’T PUT GAS IN MY JET PLANE!
Law Enforcement, Campaign Finance, Business, Animal Control
McCollum voted NO: to pass a bill that provides $28.69 billion in grants from 1995-2000 to reduce violence and crimes, enhance law enforcement, provide education and activity programs for youth, and for other purposes.(1)
Translation: YOU ARE GETTING VERY VERRY VERRRY VERRRRY SLEEPY!
McCollum voted NO: to adopt a substitute amendment that establishes a federal criminal offense for an individual whose assault on a pregnant woman interrupts or terminates the pregnancy.(1)
Translation: I AM CONFUSED! WHAT DO I BELIEVE IN AGAIN? CAN YOU HELP ME?
McCollum voted NO: to pass a bill that creates a voluntary spending limit program for candidates seeking office in the House of Representatives.(1)
Translation: IT’S GOOD TO HAVE FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES!
McCollum voted NO: to pass a bill that imposes campaign finance reforms on the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) in order to change certain Federal election regulations. ONE YEAR LATER. McCollum voted NO: to pass a bill that implements reforms in the ways that politicians can raise money and regulates how unions, state political parties, and national political parties can distribute money to individual politicians.(1)
Translation: WHY FIX SOMETHINGS THAT’S NOT BROKEN, EHH!
McCollum FAILED to vote: to pass a bill that imposes a more rigorous standard of evidence to find small businesses liable for civil infractions. Caps punitive damages awards at $250,000, unless a court finds that the business being sued intentionally caused harm.(1)
Translation: DID I TAKE MY MULLIGAN ALREADY. COULD I GET ANOTHER ONE?
McCollum FAILED to vote: to pass a bill that cuts taxes for small businesses by $46 billion over five years.(1)
Translation: OHH I AM DEFINITELY FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN FLORIDA, GIGGLE!
Since Scott is a private citizen he has no voting record to examine or very many public policy decisions we can read. However, he does have a lengthy record of company ownership dating back to when he was in law school. Of course Scott would have you visit his own website that has his glowing story in all its glory for you to read. Like Mccollum attempts throughout his website Scott, too, makes himself seem all roses and no thorns. After visiting numerous websites the following web address will provide you with the best and most non-biased version that you might find about Scott. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Scott .
Disclaimer: I am not endorsing any candidate just providing you with some information you should consider before making up your mind.
Although Scott hit the ground running this summer when he announced his candidacy for Governor many items about his companies have come to light. Mccollum would have you believe like his PAC states on a TV commercial that: “Every company Rick Scott invested has defrauded tax payers.” Investing in a company is significantly different from owning or owning a majority share of a company. Typical investors do not control the day to day operations of a company and Mccollum knows that. A CEO of a company that owns 400 hospitals can not be in every place at once. A CEO has a management team to manage the day to day operations of his company. So if a company does something to violate the law during these day to day operations then true it is the CEO’s ultimate responsibility to accept. But if an employee violates the law and the CEO is 10 people up the command chain then what? Are you going to haul the CEO off to jail? No you fire the employee and get better managers.
So here is how it breaks down. Scott is a very successful business man with his money and time in a variety of private held companies. He is an investor in some he is the boss in others. In general all the companies he’s invested in have done very well. However, Scott is guilty of hiring poor management staff to oversee the companies were he is/was the CEO. He has not been charged with anything criminal wrongdoing. Some of the companies true have been sued for one reason or another. There are thousands of businesses being sure for one reason or another all the time. So that fact is that he has a great business mind, but only thing he did wrong was in choosing the people to rely on to conduct his business above reproach.
Knowing Mccollum’s voting record, and the information about Scott you can see that BOTH candidates have trouble making key decisions that not only effect their future but the future of others. Mccollums record demonstrates to me that he is a typical politician who hopes you never really look beneath his public persona. Scott is a newcomer who’s had some trouble hiring the right people to run his businesses. So you must determine which one will be the best qualified to represent you for the next four years. Will it be one with a poor voting record like Mccollum’s or with human resource problems like Scott’s.
Please feel free to comment on anything you read here!
1) http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=26800
2) http://www.answers.com/topic/world-trade-organization
3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Scott