Florida Black Caucus Slams Trial Bar Over “Racially Charged” Mailer
September 29, 2009
I guess I wasn’t the only one who found the Florida trial lawyers association’s latest mea culpa hopelessly lame. State Senator Gary Siplin, Chairman of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus recently fired off a letter condemning a sleazy, racist direct mail piece “created, approved and funded” by trial bar that tried to scare away voters in the September Republican state Senate primary with images of Black Panthers and armed thugs.
“The members of the Caucus find the mailing to be deplorable and represents the very worst nature of political campaigning.”
Scott Carruthers, executive director of the trial lawyers lobby, feigned outrage after the fact, even as the group tried desperately to hide their involvement. To his great credit, even though the groups have been allies in the past, Senator Siplin wasn’t buying it:
“It is obvious from the mailer that the FJA, who created, approved and funded this mailer has racially biased proclivities that are manifested in their thinking and actions. There as no need for FJA to invoke these racial images in an overwhelming Republican and non-minority district. [Hopefully Siplin didn't mean to imply the images would be OK in a Democrat or minority district] Therefore, it is our strong desire for FJA to continue to uphold its integrity [if any] and clean house within its association of anyone who spearheaded and/or had any involvement with this controversial mailer …” [emphasis mine]
No word yet from the trial bar about how the house cleaning is going.
Posted by Dan Pero in the categories: Florida, Trial Lawyers
One Response to “Florida Black Caucus Slams Trial Bar Over “Racially Charged” Mailer”
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