My Problem With Surrogates

There really is no purpose in quoting the surrogates of political candidates. They add nothing to the discourse and reek of hypocrisy. Case in point is Allan Bense attacking Charlie Crist for endorsing John McCain. Bense told The Miami Herald that Crist's endorsement will hurt McCain in the conservative Panhandle.

''I think we're conservative in this part of the world,'' Bense said in a conference call. ``Since the endorsement last night, I got 47 phone calls to my cellphone and home cell, either wanting to get [Romney] campaign signs or how to get to the rally that Gov. Romney will attend.''

Bense's candidate Mitt Romney courted Charlie Crist for his endorsement. The media or politically astute people know that Bense will not say a Crist endorsement hurts Romney in the Panhandle. Everyone knows the Bense attack is bogus and Bense would be praising Crist if he endorsed Romney. How does quoting Bense better educate voters about the candidates.

A third tier Florida politician gabs to the press. The media get their instant controversy. The general public ignores the Bense story because it's boring. Political surrogates feed the worst aspects of elections and political coverage. My fantasy is to make every surrogate testify under oath about the truthiness of their statements. These clowns would sweat.

The media should pound the surrogates and force them to stand by their statements. The Washington Post and New York Times should ask Andrew Cuomo if he still feels as passionately that Barack Obama was attempting to "chuck and jive." The surrogates would be less inclined to tar and feather a candidate if they faced consequences.

Broad & Cassel Is Not Nonpartisan

Tommy Duncan wondered why Steve Holub was given $24,142 for severence pay - on the condition he keep his mouth shut. Holub worked for and was fired by Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson. It might have something to do with Johnson hiring the pro-Republican law firm Broad and Cassel to do nonpartisan law work to the tune of $69,322.

The elections office work went not to a solitary attorney but to as many as 10 Broad and Cassel lawyers and paralegals who racked up hundreds of hours of work.n Broad and Cassel provided tens of thousands of dollars of free legal work to Johnson’s office.

In May, for instance, the firm did $69,322 worth of work for the elections office, yet billed Johnson for $13,442.

Now when law firms underbill their legal fees that is a good reason to be suspicious. Republicans on the commission were against the county mayor proposal. Johnson hiring a law firm, that donated $262,750 to Republican candidates, to look over the county mayor petition, because they're nonpartisan doesn't pass the laugh test.

C. David Brown II raised $100,000 for George W. Bush. Brown was also a member of Jeb Bush's campaign team. Former House Speaker Johnnie Byrd had Broad & Cassel do some nonpartisan legal work. The bill came to $4.5-million. Allan Bense announced he would launch an investigation. Broad & Cassel also represented Hayes E-Government Resources. Johnnie Byrd had the company do needless work to House computers. Broad & Cassel made Bense pay an extra $3.75-million to what they were already owed to Hayes E-Government Resources. No conflict of interest there.