Opinion Weblog: The Republic

« RNC Heats Up | Home | What you won’t hear from Bush tonight »

Mel Martinez - Millionaire Trial Lawyer

Written by Rob Deters

Mmmmm, I love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning!

This campaign we’ve heard plenty about how you can’t be pro-trial lawyer and pro-patient at the same time.

Bill Frist made the (incorrect) statement that a hospital in Florida might close down it’s trauma services because of rising malpractice costs (and laid the blame on the doorstep of tort pursuing attorneys). The hospital he named, Ft. Lauderdale’s Broward General, if it would close, would shut down emergency room service for the region.

This is true if that region were only 10 miles in radius. Hollywood Memorial Regional Hospital is only 10 miles away and Broward General, when asked for comment, said there was no talk of shutting down it’s emergency room.

And what about Mr. Martinez? He’s been endorsed by Bill Frist (patently anti-trial lawyer) who seems to forget or ignore the fact that Martinez is a millionaire trial lawyer himself. Not just a trial lawyer, but former head of the Florida trial lawyer bar.

It seems you can flip-flop and be a Republican too…or at least abandon all principle.

Oops! Forgot to add, Martinez ran anti-gay ads that were so virulent it caused Gov. Jeb Bush to denounce them and the St. Petersburg Times to withdraw their endorsement of him. They didn’t want to be associated with his “bigotry” and did not want to part of his “hateful and dishonest attacks.”

Follow this link to archived editorials for their denunciation of Martinez.

http://www.sptimes.com/

Comments on “Mel Martinez - Millionaire Trial Lawyer”

Adam Smith:

How is this relevent to the election?

September 3, 2004 12:22 AM

Rob Deters:

It's relevant, Adam, because the Republicans are hypocrites.

Not to say that Democrats aren't either. They sometimes admit it though, sometimes they fess up that decisions are hard to make and things change.

But no. Republicans tend to come across as pure as the driven snow.

Politics is a dog eat dog world and I would simply like a little clarity.

Besides, Martinez is running for office in Florida and the hope is that his candidacy will drive a lot of conservatives to the polls. Given the .0000001% margin in the last election there, pointing out the gaping, huge hypocrisy behind endorsing a candidate like Maritnez while attacking Edwards is fair game.

September 3, 2004 08:34 PM

rape pics:

incest rape http://www.rapestoriespics.com/

November 3, 2004 12:26 PM

payday loan:

Thanks for that insightful comment! It makes interesting reading, especially when I need a payday loan .

November 25, 2004 11:06 AM

Post a comment




Remember the above information?