Jacob Ogles
Sen. Marco Rubio spent much of the week responding to news U.S. Rep. Val Demings would challenge his reelection. But was he in such a hurry he forgot to leave politics outside his official office?
In at least one interview Rubio conducted June 9, the Republican Senator clearly is seated at his desk in the Russell Senate Office Building. A comparison of photos of his Senate office with the background of the interview shows the same positioning of his chair, with framed photos and other wall decorations hanging in the same pattern.
The discussion with Spectrum News ended up being presented under the headline “Rubio signals strategy in race against Demings for U.S. Senate.” Conducted hours after Demings announced her Senate candidacy, the entire substance of the interview as broadcast directly related to campaigning.
Of note, journalists frequently contact official offices seeking the opportunity to discuss politics and official business, but this particular conversation framed every matter in terms of political strategy.
Samantha Jo-Roth of Spectrum News said several matters were discussed.
“It is completely incorrect to say the entire substance of the interview appeared to directly relate to campaigning,” she tweeted. “We spoke on a myriad of other topics, which I have been releasing over the last week.”
In the interview already broadcast, Rubio attacked his Democratic opponent for having a voting record in line with the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez-led “squad” and with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He labeled the Congresswoman a “do nothing Democrat,” incidentally as he sponsored legislation about a Pulse memorial that was a companion to a Demings-sponsored bill already passed in the House.
But it’s the venue for the remarks that has some picking apart the scenery in the camera background. The language was similar in respects to a statement issued by Rubio’s Senate campaign the same day.
Federal officials and staff typically avoid mixing political and government work. In fact, the Senate Ethics Committee Manual explicitly states ”Senate space may not be used for any political campaign” in a section dedicated to “Use of Senate Space.”
The Ethics Committee on multiple occasions has offered direction that any “general campaign or campaign fund activities should be conducted outside of the official office space provided Members of Congress.”
In contrast, Demings took steps to make clear her House work will not overlap with her Senate campaign. Demings keeps separate Twitter accounts for official business and campaign work. Her official Twitter, as of Wednesday, had a pinned message making clear it will only handle work “for the People of Florida’s 10th District” and refers all campaign communication to her political handle.
6 comments
Tom
June 11, 2021 at 4:47 pm
Absolutely disgusting. People can argue politics however they want, but when it comes to the institutions that will outlast all of us, you better treat them with dignity, and with respect.
Using the office of the FL Senate this way is the equivalent of using it as a stepstool for one’s political ambitions. Treating it as a tool to get to what you want. And worse still, if left unpunished, it’s sets precedent that this kind of calculated behavior will be acceptable in the future.
Absolutely disgusting.
Tom
June 11, 2021 at 4:48 pm
Meant the US Senate.
Kim
June 25, 2021 at 12:13 pm
So the fact that Demings USED her official House Twitter account to promote her Senate campaign website (which is a CLEAR campaign finance violation and for which she is now being investigated) is somehow ok? Give me a break! Try being an investigative reporter instead of a politic hack! Stop caring the water for Democrats… even when their corrupt, And try to report the facts. I hope Demings get a huge fine for a campaign finance violation, and cheaters never prosper! But you Democrats keep doing everything you can to help out the liars in the cheats in your party! You should be ashamed!
Kim
June 25, 2021 at 12:15 pm
Yes, Demings use of her official house Twitter account to promote her political campaign is not only disgusting but a clear campaign finance violation! Demings will be crushed in the next election!
Ron Jakubisyn
June 11, 2021 at 5:49 pm
A republican violated ethics? Say it ain’t so.
kennethmccarver
June 12, 2021 at 10:10 am
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