Peter Schorsch
As coronavirus saturates Florida, the human toll continues growing.
I don’t just mean the 77 dead or the more than 6,000 who are ill. They are just one piece of the anxiety this pandemic has brought to our state.
The sanity of our seniors who are increasingly isolated from society; the education of our children, many of whom are not prepared to learn online; the checking accounts of our servers and hotel workers, which are dipping into the red with a shoddy unemployment system making relief take weeks to arrive rather than days.
The list of people and causes that need a helping hand to get through this is seemingly endless. But Forward Florida isn’t on it.
The political committee keeps blasting out emails asking for cash to register voters ahead of the 2020 election.
“I’ll get right to the point. Here at Forward Florida Action, we are working every day to register new voters. And now, as we are shifting more of our efforts online due to the public health emergency, we need your help,” Executive Director Rosy Gonzalez Speers wrote in a Monday fundraising call.
Without your cash, Forward Florida won’t be able to meet it’s $25,000 fundraising goal for the quarter.
Voter registration is important, no doubt, but now — not only during this pandemic, but just days after the committee’s former leader, Andrew Gillum, checked into rehab — is not the time to donate to a political committee.
Not even the $3 they asked for last week.
Anyone who would consider chipping in Forward Florida should google the “tip jar” website for their community. Here’s an example.
Take a look at the hundreds of people who were laid off and are relying on charity to pay the bills that, for many, are due tomorrow.
Many of them are the same people that Forward Florida is reaching out to through their voter registration effort (which, it should be noted, they haven’t been very successful at).
And, if you are in a position to help, every single one of them deserve it more than some rudderless political committee.
19 comments
Cogent Observer
March 31, 2020 at 2:25 pm
What a jerk. He must need it for his own attorney’s fees for the forthcoming divorce and possession charges, and for rehab. Or more cocaine.
Janet
April 2, 2020 at 1:03 am
You must live in a glass house?
Cogent Observer
April 2, 2020 at 7:23 am
No, Janet, I don’t. However, nor do I associate with people who make a habit of scamming people or endeavor to accumulate wealth on the backs of others. In a sense, maybe I do live in a glass house in that I am honest with myself and others–transparent, if you will. With Gillum, it is not about being gay (if he is)–there is nothing wrong with that. It is about being somewhat (largely) a con. And the sheep that and support him are just not thinking people.
Dan Martin
March 31, 2020 at 2:44 pm
Legal fees and rehab are very expensive. Not my problem man!
Janet
April 2, 2020 at 1:05 am
Ron DeSantis is asking for donations, too!
Domino
March 31, 2020 at 3:04 pm
As Chairman, Gillum stills controls $2M in Forward Florida cash as well as hidden cash in Forward Florida Action.
Rehab at this point is voluntary and there is nothing from keeping Gillum from walking out the front door and stopping by the bank on his way back to South Beach or France for that matter.
Em Owens
April 1, 2020 at 2:40 am
Don’t just single out Gillum for this! I get email requests everyday in my inbox & through the US mail for campaign donations, even donald trump’s campaign has the audacity to beg!
Mrs JLA
April 1, 2020 at 11:12 am
I believe some of these are automatically set. In Gillum’s case, he wouldn’t necessarily be directly over whatever campaign is asking for money seeing as he’s in rehab. EVERYONE is asking for money during these times, even bill companies. Everything is always about a dollar. Smh
Savannah
April 1, 2020 at 11:27 am
He’s not the only one. I’ve gotten 7 emails so far from different organizations this morning, Including The Trump campaign. Coronavirus is killing the people of our nation and destroying our economy. Life as we know it has changed, and your focus is this? Channel your energy on something positive, I’ve donated masks to my local hospital, trying to help. Use your voice and platform to help not hurt or cause more division. The potential for poverty on the working class has greatly increased since this pandemic. Poverty, sickness, disease, depression, and substance abuse etc. Is forthcoming in ways you will have never imagined. These things know no race, religion, nor political affiliation. This thing could ruin us all. Be well and safe everyone.
Jason Weston
April 1, 2020 at 12:18 pm
I know nothing about Forward Florida Action specifically. However it is important to keep registration and organization activities in place because it will be too late to restart them when the coronavirus crisis ends.
So I think that political contributions are still appropriate, whichever side you are on.
Ricky Bobby
April 1, 2020 at 2:30 pm
And John Morgan still hasn’t got one penny refund of the money that Gillum stole and use for male escort
Irony
April 1, 2020 at 4:49 pm
Forward Florida is sitting on ~$2M which equals Morgan’s contributions.
Kevin Scott
April 2, 2020 at 10:23 am
What a disgrace Gillum is. Found with a gay escort naked and lit up on meth. Why no comments from Barack Obama? It’s not like he is too busy endorsing Joe Biden. What about Oprah Winfrey? The silence is deafening. To think this fraud was almost going to run Florida. He was calling for reparations for blacks, what a joke. The joke is the Democrats.
Cogent Observer
April 1, 2020 at 5:49 pm
It would seem that John isn’t a very good judge of character–giving $2 Million to the likes of Gillum. It might give you pause to wonder whether, if you truly needed an attorney, you should entrust your problem to John.
Tyron Jordan
April 1, 2020 at 6:00 pm
Clearly racist article. His organization automatically sends emails requesting donations, and I believe the author is aware of this. I receive numerous requests from Biden, Sanders and various others. Why single Gillum out? Hmmm….
Cogent Observer
April 1, 2020 at 7:21 pm
Tyrone–There are degenerates of all races. The article just happens to be about one from Tallahassee who is Black and who was once an unaccomplished politician. He aspired to higher political office for his own aggrandizement and to avoid the need for a real job. He may not have the skills for a real job, so perhaps he cannot be blamed for trying to stay in politics. Andy claims that his most current behavior was because of a sudden depression that befell him after the electoral loss. Lots of people lose elections but don’t do moronic things. Lots of people don’t pretend to be someone they’re not, unlike Andy. Most people are honorable. It is not a question about not repaying John Morgan. John Morgan got what he paid for–stiffed. It’s not about racism, although you would like it to be because that’s an easy out. It’s about integrity.
RJ
April 1, 2020 at 8:52 pm
I agree.The PHOTOS tell it all.
Not Happy
April 2, 2020 at 1:19 pm
This is absolutely crazy… Yes Andrew has truly messed up… however, I have to say most politicians do this. I too have received messages from the Trump campaign. I cannot believe that he even dares to request funds when everything is such a mess at his direction. People are dying… because of what he called a HOAX… now Florida with its terrible Governor will experience what everyone else in this world is experiencing… loss of life… unemployment… an economy that was suppose to be so strong that fails… HOW DOES A PERFECT ECONOMY JUST FAIL OVERNIGHT?
Horrible president! Horrible Administration… but its funny that Peter and Cogent Observer have left this out of their article and/or email. I wonder why???
Cogent Observer
April 2, 2020 at 1:26 pm
A “Perfect Economy”, Not Happy? When was that? Just prior to the failure of ACA, I assume that you mean?
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