Who Is Pam Bondi?
Broward REC, Democrat, Florida, Holly Benson, Jeff Kottkamp, Pam Bondi 9:09 AM
by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics.
Pam Bondi is touring Florida asking Republican voters for their vote of confidence, but does she know what she stands for? Recent developments call into question what kind of Attorney General Bondi would be.
As the August 24 primary rapidly approaches, the once front runner has seemingly lost some steam. Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp has closed the gap in fundraising and far surpassed her in endorsements. Straw poll totals are all over the place, but the trend is turning against her. All signs point to a real horse race between now and Election Day.
The St Pete Times ran an article yesterday citing Bondi’s shaky voting record and history as a registered Democrat. This coupled with an earlier article questioning Bondi’s grasp of issues like Florida’s famous Amendment 1 on property tax cuts might lead Republican voters to think twice before casting their ballots.
To be clear, we should not cast aspersions on people for leaving the Democratic Party and joining the Republicans. If someone honestly believes in Republican values, they should proudly leave behind their old ties. We could only hope that Republicans would welcome new brothers (and sisters for you P.C. people) in arms just like they did when I left the Democratic Party behind myself.
But Republican voters need a reason to cast their ballot for any particular candidate, and they could be forgiven for not being reassured that Bondi is the right person to carry the GOP torch in November. How can voters support Bondi when she herself doesn’t seem quite clear what she believes in?
Alarmingly, Bondi is the only candidate in the race not listed as taking the “No Climate Tax” pledge. Would she stand up for Florida's right to sue the federal government for economic damages done to the state if Cap & Trade is implemented?
Both as a Democrat and later a Republican, Bondi admits she missed most primary votes and rarely showed up to voice her opinion or champion conservative causes. Her voter profile shows a mostly blank slate that might prove disconcerting to GOP faithful. The candidate claims that she voted for several Republicans including Reagan and Bush 41, even as a Democrat. But will that satisfy primary voters?
Worse yet, yesterday’s story reveals that Bondi pledged allegiance to whichever party was politically expedient to her career. According to the Times, “Bondi said she remained a Democrat in the 1980s and 1990s because Democrats dominated the local political landscape.” In other words, it was easier for her to be a Democrat. After Charlie Crist and Arlen Specter, Republicans are rightfully leary of those that could so easily switch between parties for their own political gain.
Apparently Bondi’s deathbed conversion didn’t come until 2000, after her previous boss State Attorney Coe killed himself. But asked why she switched at that time, the candidate seems to have no good answer. At one point she claimed that she switched because she is firmly in line with Republican values. But she has also claimed that she simply cannot recall the reason. If she is going to be the nominee, she’d better have more reassuring answers for the GOP faithful.
All three candidates vying for the nomination will attend the Broward Republican Executive Committee meeting on July 26th.
For videos and archives visit Drawnlines Politics Online AND check us out on FACEBOOK
Pam Bondi is touring Florida asking Republican voters for their vote of confidence, but does she know what she stands for? Recent developments call into question what kind of Attorney General Bondi would be.
As the August 24 primary rapidly approaches, the once front runner has seemingly lost some steam. Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp has closed the gap in fundraising and far surpassed her in endorsements. Straw poll totals are all over the place, but the trend is turning against her. All signs point to a real horse race between now and Election Day.
The St Pete Times ran an article yesterday citing Bondi’s shaky voting record and history as a registered Democrat. This coupled with an earlier article questioning Bondi’s grasp of issues like Florida’s famous Amendment 1 on property tax cuts might lead Republican voters to think twice before casting their ballots.
To be clear, we should not cast aspersions on people for leaving the Democratic Party and joining the Republicans. If someone honestly believes in Republican values, they should proudly leave behind their old ties. We could only hope that Republicans would welcome new brothers (and sisters for you P.C. people) in arms just like they did when I left the Democratic Party behind myself.
But Republican voters need a reason to cast their ballot for any particular candidate, and they could be forgiven for not being reassured that Bondi is the right person to carry the GOP torch in November. How can voters support Bondi when she herself doesn’t seem quite clear what she believes in?
Alarmingly, Bondi is the only candidate in the race not listed as taking the “No Climate Tax” pledge. Would she stand up for Florida's right to sue the federal government for economic damages done to the state if Cap & Trade is implemented?
Both as a Democrat and later a Republican, Bondi admits she missed most primary votes and rarely showed up to voice her opinion or champion conservative causes. Her voter profile shows a mostly blank slate that might prove disconcerting to GOP faithful. The candidate claims that she voted for several Republicans including Reagan and Bush 41, even as a Democrat. But will that satisfy primary voters?
Worse yet, yesterday’s story reveals that Bondi pledged allegiance to whichever party was politically expedient to her career. According to the Times, “Bondi said she remained a Democrat in the 1980s and 1990s because Democrats dominated the local political landscape.” In other words, it was easier for her to be a Democrat. After Charlie Crist and Arlen Specter, Republicans are rightfully leary of those that could so easily switch between parties for their own political gain.
Apparently Bondi’s deathbed conversion didn’t come until 2000, after her previous boss State Attorney Coe killed himself. But asked why she switched at that time, the candidate seems to have no good answer. At one point she claimed that she switched because she is firmly in line with Republican values. But she has also claimed that she simply cannot recall the reason. If she is going to be the nominee, she’d better have more reassuring answers for the GOP faithful.
All three candidates vying for the nomination will attend the Broward Republican Executive Committee meeting on July 26th.
For videos and archives visit Drawnlines Politics Online AND check us out on FACEBOOK
Posted by Nick Stone
on 9:09 AM.
Filed under
Broward REC,
Democrat,
Florida,
Holly Benson,
Jeff Kottkamp,
Pam Bondi
.
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