Jacob Ogles
A Senate candidate will engage in a hunger strike in protest of attacks on him financed by his own party.
Bowen Kou, who this weekend filed a lawsuit against the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee (FRSCC), said he will go 24 hours without food and water outside the Lake County Courthouse. Supporters, including teen volunteers, joined Kou. But the candidate said he does not expect everyone to deprive themselves during the protest.
The Windermere Republican embarked on the demonstration after the FRSCC sent out negative fliers. The campaign mailers itemized the number of Chinese American donors Kou reported for his Senate District 13 campaign. Donations came from personal and business associates from around the country.
The ads tie him and donors to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“These desperate political ads are meant to spread lies and hate and have no place in our party today,” Kou said. “I’m here today to tell you that I denounce these ads. I denounce the CCP. And I’m asking the immediate cease and desist of further malice attacks.”
That may not happen soon. As Kou held a press conference announcing his hunger strike, the FRSCC announced a new video ad that launched the same day, this time accusing Kou of taking $6 million in government bailouts and running a business that relied on foreign workers.
Kou’s campaign said that “bailout” could only refer to $6 million in Small Business Administration loans.
Kou, who has largely self-financed his campaign, owns a national chain of international groceries.
The press event in Tavares featured Tavares Mayor Bob Grenier and Randy Mohundro, a senior adult and Christian education leader at First Baptist Clermont, where Kou and wife Hong attend church.
Kou came to the U.S. from China to study business in college. He said he left Christian persecution in China. His campaign said Kou was even jailed alongside his grandmother for practicing their faith in the communist country.
But he said he never felt fear for his safety during that ordeal, and that the most fearful moment of his life was seeing the recent mailers attacking him and supporters for having Chinese names.
“This type of deceitful politics has turned so many away from the process,” he said. “We need leaders who will fight for us, not the system. We need leaders who will fight to fix the homeowners insurance crisis, bring high-paying jobs to Florida, stop illegal immigration and allow all citizens to live the American dream.”
5 comments
PeterH
July 2, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Republicans have no shame Mr.Kou!
The GOP must be destroyed before it can be rebuilt from the ground up.
Don’t stress your body with a fruitless starvation. Republicans don’t care!
Carolyn Cummings
July 2, 2024 at 5:33 pm
I’m tired of the “establishment” trying to decide who I get to vote for. The establishment decides who they want and precedes to procure the endorsements to push their choice on voters. I’m tired of the lies and half truths they push out last minute because they can’t stand on their own integrity and platform. This needs to stop! If you’re so afraid of where Bowen’s money is coming from you should be terrified of where his opponents money comes from! Take a minute to check that out! How much was he worth before going into politics?
Tabatha Miller
July 2, 2024 at 5:44 pm
I was proud to see Mr Bowen stand for the rights of all Americans and the idea of dreams that hold us true to values. Literally was stunned to hear him go on strike but that’s what great leaders do ! Sometimes fasting to bring attention to a situation is exactly what our community needs! I’m very proud of our candidate MR BOWEN and am honored to have the opportunity to vote for him !
Amanda Goudy
July 2, 2024 at 5:48 pm
Keep doing what your doing! They are scared of you cause your not going along with their plans. Career politicians have ruined this country. They don’t care about Americans. They just care about lining their pockets. I look forward to the change you are going to be bringing to Florida. You are for the people! And that’s just what we need!
Thank you!
Anna
July 2, 2024 at 6:15 pm
My parents fled Communist Cuba to come to the United States, just like Mr Kou fled Communist China.. And like Donald Trump, he wants to clean up the swamp in Florida. He’s not a career politician, unlike his
opponent, who is behind legislation to line his own pockets; he’s a businessman. I’m sick of “establishment” Republicans fighting dirty to try to keep their positions of power. Mr. Truenow, we know what’s behind your “live local”. You are bringing in developers who will build up Lake County. I wonder who’s going to sell them all that sod? I have an idea who it is—YOU! In contrast, Mr. Kou has vowed to give up his government salary to the Sherlffs Association. I haven’t heard about YOU giving up your salary, Mr. Truenow! Follow the money…