but they don't always welcome us?

[Bradley in DC]

FLORIDA. Republicans love to use the phrase "Big Tent" to describe the purported range of views welcomed within the GOP -- but a new Republican candidate in Florida may be testing the limits. Meet criminal defense attorney Gary Ostrow, the new GOP nominee for Broward County Public Defender. Ostrow garnered media coverage when he previously represented Miami Dolphins star runningback Ricky Williams for testing positive for marijuana, in violation of the NFL's substance abuse policies. Does Ostrow have unusual views? Ostrow is a Republican who plagiarizes Karl Marx for his personal quote on his AOL Instant Messenger page. "Organized religion is the sign of the oppressed creature ... It is the opium of the people," writes Ostrow. Colorful? Check out Ostrow's personal YouTube page -- linking to all his favorite soft-core porn and stripper videos. But -- most unorthodox of all -- was how Ostrow celebrated the last-minute filing his candidacy papers just before last Friday's deadline: by announcing he put $200,000 of his own money into his campaign account ... and then getting himself arrested a few hours later on felony cocaine possession charges.

[constituent]

my kinda guy.


where's the chip-in?

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

I like what I hear so far. The drug warriors set the stage for what we have now. Ostrow's views may be unusual for a politician, but they aren't unusual for a citizen

The following statement won't be popular with the crowd around here, but just because Marx was Marx, doesn't mean he never said anything worth repeating.

[tekrunner]

He's got my vote.
So people don't care if you have a criminal record so long as you have cash for your campaign? Excellent.

[constituent]

He's got my vote.
So people don't care if you have a criminal record so long as you have cash for your campaign? Excellent.

i know right... feeling suddenly inspired to run for office.

[JosephTheLibertarian]

Why doesn't he also pursue the LP of Florida's nomination? Sounds quite Libertarian, so far. http://www.lpf.org/

Why RP supporters should join the LP: be a member of both parties!

http://www.lpf.org/rp.htm

[Cowlesy]

FLORIDA. Republicans love to use the phrase "Big Tent" to describe the purported range of views welcomed within the GOP -- but a new Republican candidate in Florida may be testing the limits. Meet criminal defense attorney Gary Ostrow, the new GOP nominee for Broward County Public Defender. Ostrow garnered media coverage when he previously represented Miami Dolphins star runningback Ricky Williams for testing positive for marijuana, in violation of the NFL's substance abuse policies. Does Ostrow have unusual views? Ostrow is a Republican who plagiarizes Karl Marx for his personal quote on his AOL Instant Messenger page. "Organized religion is the sign of the oppressed creature ... It is the opium of the people," writes Ostrow. Colorful? Check out Ostrow's personal YouTube page -- linking to all his favorite soft-core porn and stripper videos. But -- most unorthodox of all -- was how Ostrow celebrated the last-minute filing his candidacy papers just before last Friday's deadline: by announcing he put $200,000 of his own money into his campaign account ... and then getting himself arrested a few hours later on felony cocaine possession charges.

Hahahahaha, awesome.

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

He's got my vote.
So people don't care if you have a criminal record so long as you have cash for your campaign? Excellent.

If your "criminal record" is a result of simply ingesting a substance you happen to enjoy, then no, not at all. If your "criminal record" is a result of simply possessing something, then no, not at all.

The incumbent democrat is named Finklestein. This is a quote from an article I found.


Finkelstein said he was "stunned" to hear from a reporter that Ostrow was arrested on the drug charge on the day he filed to run for public office.

"I hope he's OK, and I hope he deals with whatever he needs to deal with," Finkelstein said. "I'm just not the type of person to jump on somebody when they're down."

Finkelstein battled a drug problem in the 1980s. He lost his law license for a year after he crashed his car containing a briefcase with a small amount of cocaine and a bottle of painkillers into a deputy's car.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbostrow0509sbmay09,0,779864.story

[mdh]

my kinda guy.


where's the chip-in?

For the campaign or for bail?

[mdh]

For the record, the Marx thing is disturbing. The drugs thing isn't, if he can handle himself well (some people can, some people can't), obviously we don't want someone in office who has a genuine substance abuse problem that has a negative impact on their ability to do their job.