Peter Schorsch
Forgive me, regular readers, for defending Rick Scott, but he’s being accused of snubbing the Florida GOP when, in fact, he has not.
Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times writes today about Scott’s upcoming Economic Growth Summit where several of the prospective 2016 Republican presidential candidates will be given “an opportunity to talk about the economy, jobs and their vision for economic growth for the country.”
Smith writes that what is being overlooked “is how the entire thing was put together through Scott’s political committee, Let’s Get to Work, rather than the state GOP.” Smith contends that this is “a reminder that the leading elected Republican in Florida still has a rocky — at best — relationship with the Republican Party of Florida, since party officials snubbed him by electing state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia the party chairman, rather than Scott’s preferred candidate.”
According to Smith, “The state party has used these events to raise money through sponsorships, speaking fees, and the like that ultimately helps pay for the Republican nominee’s general election campaign in Florida.”
Well, actually, there really haven’t been events like this before. As Smith writes, this kind of event is “unprecedented.”
What Smith is confusing this summit with is the presidency series of events previously held by RPOF. Those cattle calls were attended by party activists and involved a straw poll.
What any of that has to do with an economic summit is unclear. Just as its unclear how Scott is snubbing the RPOF by not involving it in a policy-oriented speaking engagement.
“In hosting the summit, Governor Scott is not only showcasing Florida’s economic turnaround story but giving some of the leading presidential contenders a chance to share their vision for economic growth and prosperity in our country going forward,” said Brecht Heuchan, a spokesman for Let’s Get To Work.
Explain to me why Ingoglia or a state committeewoman from some county or any other part of the Florida GOP should be involved in that?
