Collins airs new ad

U.S. Senate candidate LeRoy Collins will launch a second round of radio ads this week that will air until the Sept. 5 primary.

The 60-second ad touting Collins experience in the Navy is set to the song "Danger Zone" the theme from the movie Top Gun.

Here's the transcript:

I’m LeRoy Collins and I approve this message.

As a retired two-star Navy admiral I am uniquely qualified to address the global war on terrorism in the United States Senate.

I support the fair tax, a tough immigration policy including returning illegal immigrants to their home country, eliminating our dependence on Mid-East oil, and reducing Florida’s skyrocketing home insurance rates.

VO: LeRoy Collins a proven leader.

I have been endorsed by the Miami Herald, Tampa Tribune, Gainesville Sun, Naples Daily News, Florida Times Union, Lakeland Ledger, and the St. Petersburg Times.

VO: LeRoy Collins a proven leader.

I am the only candidate in this race with military and business experience and I ask for your support.  Don’t you agree we owe our children a brighter and safer future?

VO: LeRoy Collins a proven leader.  The only Republican candidate that can win the U.S. Senate race.

Unidentified female: She can’t win!

Paid for by the LeRoy Collins campaign

An audio version of the ad can be heard on the internet at www.LeRoyCollins.org.   

Comments

Gallagher still sucks

http://www.taxingtom.com

This thread isnt about tom.

Sorry 6:37

Charlie is going to win

Thanks

Sorry again,

Harris and Collins suck

Crist will be the next Gov.

[H. Rok Fever]

>Unidentified female: She can’t win!

See?? Anonymous former Harris staffers *ARE* finding work!!

what a disappointing ad

Nice ad. Did you set up the recorder on the pool table. All Collins is doing is being a spoiler for Will McBride. So on election night lets all say thanks to the admiral if we have her at the top of the ticket and we lose everything else because she drags everyone down. Go Team Collins! You cant win, drop out.

collins can too win!!! he has 15% and will get an additional 5 with those great radio ad's! wait sorry 20% will not win and is only going to ensure that Harris wins...thanks admiral guess your pro-abortion views cant be seen in congress after all

[lame-o]

ahahahaha ive seen city commissioner web sites with better set-up...hahaha and the ad, who are you kidding--what was your budget $2,000. lol this is ridiculous can we please get an alternative who can do things right, what a joke

[McBride's sour grapes]

All these losers (McBride people) who laugh and poke at Collins need to get a life. First and foremost, McBride is a liberal trial lawyer/immigration attorney. No one who thinks granting amnesty for illegals belongs in the GOP (McBride, Martinez, Nelson --they're all Dems). McBride organized a rally for illegal immigrants in Tampa. Check out the photos. They're in the LaPrense newspaper and Collins and Monroe both have them on their websites. McBride is a hypocrit. All he has ever done in life is marry well. So quit blaming Collins. The fact is McBride is an uninspiring candidate with nothing to offer but a slick smile and his daddy in-law's money. Is that what we want in an elected official? Thanks, but I'll take Harris over that. At least she's not bad to look at. LeRoy Collins obviously has something to offer or all the McBride wanna-bes wouldn't be so worried. And if you go by the polls (as the McBride losers like to do), the most recent poll has Collins in 2nd at 20% and McBride in 3rd at 15%. So maybe Slick Willie should drop out. No one is to blame for the Harris mess but Harris and maybe Jebbie Bush because he was and is so completely inept at being a leader who can get anything done. He ought to be out there helping Anyone But Harris but he has chosen to act like the poodle that he is and hide in his pen.

That ad is funny!!! Got my vote. "SHE CAN'T WIN!!!"

8:25 is right. McBride photos at an immigration reform protest... Link is here:

http://leroycollins.org/campaignnews.html#McBrideAD

If you're happy with Mel Martinez' actios on immigtation, you'll LOVE Will McBride!

Election immigration debate turning 'offensive'

BY MARC CAPUTO
August 15, 2006
mcaputo@MiamiHerald.com

During a question-and-answer period, McBride was hit with this: How can he say he opposes amnesty when he appeared at a May 1 march with Immigrants United for Freedom, a group that finds the Senate bill too harsh? McBride, a personal-injury lawyer and sometime-immigration attorney, said he helped people there because he's bilingual and knows the law.

Then came this question to McBride from a woman named Jackie Brownhill, a Harris volunteer who later told The Miami Herald that the campaign put her up to it: Why did you change your last name from ''Rodriguez?'' Brownhill later said McBride ''doesn't look American,'' according to the St. Petersburg Times.

''I found it highly offensive. I found it to be an attack on my heritage. I was insulted,'' said McBride, noting no one in his family was named Rodriguez. ``It was something to show I was Hispanic -- and that somehow it would be a negative.''

by: Peter Wallsten
Date: Apr 5, 2006
Los Angeles Times

Copyright (c) 2006

Accusing politicians of "pounding their chests" on immigration for short-term political gain, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday that the tone of the debate had been "hurtful" to him and his Mexican-born wife, Columba.

Bush, the younger brother of President Bush, reserved some of his sharpest criticism for conservatives in his own Republican Party, calling it "just plain wrong" to charge illegal immigrants with a felony, as a provision passed by the Republican-led House would do. He also opposed "penalizing the children of illegal immigrants" by denying them U.S. citizenship, an idea backed by some conservatives but not included in the legislation.

"My wife came here legally, but it hurts her just as it hurts me when people give the perception that all immigrants are bad," the Florida governor wrote in an e-mail exchange with The Times.

Gov. Bush has generally avoided injecting himself into national political fights, and he rarely invokes his soft-spoken wife of 32 years in such a public way. But his comments reflect the concern among many Republicans that calls by conservatives for an immigrant crackdown risk alienating Latino voters.

His brother is attempting to navigate a growing rift among Republicans over what to do with the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country. The president has proposed a guest- worker program but has not said what should happen to those already here illegally.

Florida is home to millions of residents who were born in other countries. And the Bush brothers, in Florida and Texas, where the president was governor, have been popular with Latino voters.

Both have long advocated open immigration laws, putting them at odds with many in their party.

Longtime friends and associates say the president's relationship with his brother's family, along with his experiences living and working in Texas, contributed to his views on immigration.

The Senate is debating immigration proposals this week, and White House allies are beginning to speak out more forcefully on the issue.

Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman used a speech Tuesday to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to extol the contributions of immigrants.

In his e-mail, Gov. Bush chastised both politicians and the media for being simplistic on immigration, and he lauded his brother for seeking a civil tone.

"The cumulative effect of some politicians pounding their chests about immigration is hurtful to both of us," he wrote, referring to himself and his brother. "I fear they do so for current political gain at the expense of thoughtful policy over the long term."

Jeb Bush pointed to the political damage wrought 12 years ago by California's Proposition 187, in which the state's voters backed a plan to strip illegal immigrants of public benefits. The initiative was pushed by then-Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican. Some analysts have since blamed that campaign for a backlash among Latino voters that has made California reliably Democratic in national elections.

Gov. Bush wrote that Wilson "fell prey" to the short-term political temptations. "I know he felt he was doing the right thing, but matters are worse now and the Republican Party is now the minority party in California," Bush wrote.

Wilson, in a recent interview, rejected the theory that Prop. 187 turned California to the left -- arguing that, instead, he had performed especially well with female voters who later abandoned the GOP over abortion.

Referring to Republicans who shied away from cracking down on illegal immigrants as "gutless," Wilson said they were "intimidated by the fear that they will be charged with racism."

For the Florida governor, though, immigration is a personal matter. He met his wife during a high school exchange program in Mexico, and the two married when he was 21. They settled in Miami in 1980 in part because she would feel comfortable in a heavily Latin city, home to Cubans, Mexicans and thousands of other Spanish- speaking immigrants.

The governor speaks the language fluently. His son, George P. Bush, has cited his Latino heritage in campaign appearances for his father and uncle and is considered an heir to the family political dynasty.

"Columba and I watch the news early in the morning and in the evenings," Bush wrote in the late-night e-mail exchange. "The cumulative effect of the coverage is that immigrants are bad and hurting our country. The coverage is black and white, good and bad, without the nuances that the coverage deserves."

The Florida governor has said he does not intend to run for president in 2008. But he has been mentioned as a potential running mate for another likely candidate, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

In his e-mail, Gov. Bush endorsed the idea of a broad guest- worker program encompassing the kinds of low-wage workers sought by farms and factories as well as high-tech professionals from places such as India.

Like his brother, he offered no specificity on how to treat current immigrants and whether they should be granted a path to citizenship.

"The focus should be on protecting our borders rather than these piling on provisions that are punitive to many who have made a great contribution to our country," he wrote. "Along with that, the focus should be on a guest worker program and a means to deal with the millions of long term undocumented workers....

"Frankly," he added, "I also believe we should open up legal immigration to the qualified scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs and others who can additionally add value to our great country."

Looks like the Collins campaign is attacking everyone tonight. Bush, Martinez, wow people had it right when they said LeRoy is a Democrat, his folks seem to hate everyone in the Republican Party. But it is not the first time LeRoy has attacked the Governor, he hit him on Schiavo. But what do you expect from a pro-abortion, pro-gay guy. Go back to the Democratic Party and take your staff with you. And next time hire a Democratic media consultant to do your ads, the made in the garage thing is laughable.

Sour grapes, your little rant about every Republican elected official in the state says it all except this. No one, even the Collins staff, thinks he can win. The point is and you made it very nicely. They are just making sure we all lose in November by giving us Katherine. No wonder people think he is a Democrat he is giving them the election and probably a lot more than just the Senate by handing this over to Katherine. The only thing I suspect the McBride people are worried about is Collins acting as a spoiler, he is not going win anything. "He can't win!"

[Irish Heather]

Unfortunately Ms. Harris will beat the poo out of Collins and the others.

Irish we have Collins to thank for that if it happens.

[KrazyKatie Go AWAY]

I wish everyone would get behind Will McBride. Collins is too old and Monroe well no one knows who he is.

Its just a shame that we couldnt have just one candidate other than Krazy Katie.

Yeah and what is with the Collins people attacking Martinez and Bush?

Krazy Katie that fits her to a T. Does she really wear a tin foil helmet?

The suggestion that former Admiral Collins is better qualified to be a United States Senator simply because he was an Admiral reminds me of John Kerry stepping up to the podium at the Democratic National Convention: "Reporting for Duty", as if to imply that he was more fit to be President simply because he served in Vietnam. It was wrong then and it is wrong now.

8:25 must be right about McBride because I haven't seen any comments that refute it. And I don't see an attack on anyone. What gives?

[Reputation]

5:12 You are right on top of things as usual! You dont consider that an attack on Jeb Bush?

"No one is to blame for the Harris mess but Harris and maybe Jebbie Bush because he was and is so completely inept at being a leader who can get anything done. He ought to be out there helping Anyone But Harris but he has chosen to act like the poodle that he is and hide in his pen."

[hcb]

Everyone seems to agree Harris is neither qualified to be a Senator nor a viable candidate. Everyone also seems to agree the remaining republican candidates would never have considered running but for Harris' missteps and vulnerability. Now, it seems, everybody has picked one of the three and considers the other two unqualified.

At best, all of that makes the primary "race" appear foolish - doesn't it? Look at the guy running for the congressional seat Harris is vacating - tells the paper his opponent has been married five times and is a former pole dancer? Take all of that together and it certainly makes the republican party look like it's not quite the party of efficiency and discipline it once was.

Why not simply sit it out? What is the point in spending a lot of time and money to - as even the most ardent Harris detractors say will happen - lose to Harris in the primary so she can lose in the general? How does that help anything? Doesn't it create the appearance of "we have to have a republican there no matter the cost and no matter his or her qualifications. We just HAVE to have a warm body there."

Doesn't all this talk go to show that Harris really was nothing but a warm body with an (R) behind her name so the national party had a higher head count? She is - according to the people who were closest to her - an incompetent, drunk, practically illiterate, man-chasing harpy. With an (R) on the nameplate.

And that is the person a lot of people here seem to think will win the primary over the others who are in the race.

Makes no sense.

[hcb]

Oh - and please excuse me posting again so quickly but I wonder this as well: Assuming someone other than Harris wins the primary, what will be his message to the public before the general election as compared to what Harris would have said? In other words, assuming the Florida and/or National Republican Party will get involved in the general election, how will the reasons to elect whoever the republican candidate is differ from the reasons that would have been argued in favor of Katherine Harris? Other, than, obviously, "he's a retired admiral and understands war" and "he's a trial lawyer and understands conflict." And so forth. What substantive message to the electorate will be different?

And, if there's no substantial difference, doesn't that again add to the appearance that all the party wants is a warm body to be counted in favor of the party line? Which, of course, Katherine Harris could do if she just kept her mouth shut otherwise, didn't aggravate her staff and didn't have such expensive dinner tastes. None of which has anything to do with holding up an (R) when necessary.

It is going to be fun watching the Republican party when it's Nelson v. Harris after the primary. What in the world are they going to say, do, etc.? Will Jeb let her get away with using his photo? Some of you insiders, please enlighten us.

[Concerned GOP Voter]

Actually the latest polls still show McBride being the closest one to beating Harris. Collins is nothing more then a democrat in Republicans clothes. Check out where he stands on Abortion issues, Stem cell research and gay marriage. He is no different then Bill Nelson. http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/6300.article
Also his views on Cuba. He states we should lift the sanctions against Cuba.

McBride though stands with the Republican Party and beleives in the principles of the party. He strongly favors seuring our borders, is against amnesty for illegal immigration and wants to fix the broken imigration system that has allowed so many illigals to enter into this country. He also wants to stop all of this pork spending and bring the spending under control.

If we want any chance of winning against Nelson in November then we must elect Will McBride in the primary on Sept 5th. He is the only one who even has a chance.

hcb-check your facts. it wasn't the guy running for KH's vacated seat it is in fact the guy running for Donna Clarke's seat that said it. If you check your facts you would know that. also, at this point Dave Mills (guy who said Laura Benson was a pole dancer) has now written a formal apology (not that makes any of it better). all in all...all of these antics are making the RPOF look stupid.

[hcb]

Sorry for the mistake and I appreciate the correction. I was going from memory and I should have looked again. If I recall correctly, Ms Benson confronted him and, instead of apologizing to her, he tried to justify what he had said.

However, you correctly state my point - I would think the party would be giving a little guidance on propriety at least.

[hcb]

ConcernedVoter - that Baptist questionnaire is so awful I have to admire Admiral Collins for maintaining his composure. The questions are loaded but meaningless. Once again - if the Republican Party of Florida was involved in this process, the candidates should have been advised against responding to such questions other than to say they are so loaded and so meaningless as to be insulting.

And - yes, I've read Katherine Harris' responses. That certainly doesn't change my opinion of the questions. It's the kind of debate by bumper sticker fodder that should be beneath serious candidates for high public office.

McBride is not for controlling our borders. He opposes a barrier, is for amnesty, and paticipated in an immigration reform protest rally in Tampa. Those are the facts.

Haris is for controlling our borders. Always been that way. That is the fact.

Top Gun kicks a++ he gained mine and my families vote.

"Tampa-- Katherine Harris, the Republican candidate for United States Senate, will deliver remarks at the Republican Club of West Volusia in Deland, Florida today, August 30, 2006 from 11:45 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 350 East International Speedway Blvd."

Any further questions about who the republican candidate is?

KATHERINE HARRIS SUCKS!!! WHEN ARE PEOPLE GOING TO REALIZE SHE IS A BLOOD SUCKING WOMAN WITH NO REAL INTENT ON SERVING THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA BUT MORE TO GAIN SOME KIND OF SICK TWISTED FAME IN HER HEAD!

GO AWAY KOOKY KATHERINE. YOU CERTAINLY AREN'T WANTED IN FLORIDA.

She does?

[GulfportRep]

I want one too!

[Irish Heather]

gulfportrep, your sexist perverted entries continue I see.