Republicans Call on Democrats to Denounce ‘Disgusting’ Mailer of GOP Candidate on Shooting Target
TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Florida Republicans condemned a Democrat funded mailer that depicted Republican candidate Corey Simon on a shooting target.
Republican candidate Corey Simon faces Democrat incumbent Loranne Ausley in the Senate District 3 race. City & State reported images of a mailer, which on one side portrays Simon on a shooting target with the words “North Floridians cannot trust extremist Corey Simon.”
The mailer was paid for by the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which City & State reports is led by Sen. Lauren Book.
Republican State Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, the senate president designate, called on Florida Senate Democrat Leader Lauren Book to denounce the mailer.
“As Senate President, Minority Leader Lauren Book and I will be called upon to set an example of respect, decorum, common decency, and concern for one another for our members, in order to carry out the people’s work,” Passidomo said. “That basic call for humanity shouldn’t have to wait until after the election. Minority Leader Book should denounce this mailer and hold accountable those who are responsible for its disgusting content immediately.”
Florida’s Voice reached out to Senator Book through email and text Wednesday afternoon for a response. The story will be updated if a response is provided. Passidomo continued to say Book should not tolerate “this level of hate now.”
“Further, Minority Leader Book should remove her spokesperson for making statements on her behalf that attempt to blame Corey Simon for the blatantly divisive use of racially motivated imagery that puts the life of a future colleague in danger,” she said.
On the other side of the mailer were pictures of school children and a teacher in front of shooting targets with bullet holes.
“The hypocrisy of these Florida Democrats who claim to support Black lives, yet yield to their worst instincts simply because they don’t agree with him politically, says a lot more about their character than it ever could about Corey Simon,” Passidomo said.
Republican Party of Florida Chairman Joe Gruters called on Florida Democrat Party Chairman Manny Diaz to denounce the ad because it puts “Corey Simon and others’ safety at risk.”
“They must be held accountable and demand answers from those responsible for this reprehensible and racist ad,” Gruters said. “Mr. Simon, his family, and Floridians deserve better than this.”
Florida’s Voice reached out to the Florida Democrat Party Thursday morning and will update when a response is received.
Republican Rep. Webster Barnaby and GOP nominee for state Rep. Berny Jacques released a joint statement Thursday saying the “divisive” and “ignorant” use of a black man on a shooting target “has no place in civil political discourse.”
“We hope that members of the Florida Black Caucus will join us in condemning this mailer, and those who approved its creation and distribution. We may not see eye-to-eye on everything, but surely we can agree that political disagreement should never include dangerous imagery of a black man being used for target practice,” the join statement said.
“The dangerous, racist implications of this kind of imagery are unconscionable. To think that Florida Democrats Lauren Book, Loranne Ausley, Janet Cruz, Janelle Perez and God only knows how many consultants, staff and lawyers participated in and approved this hateful garbage underscores the partisan hypocrisy behind these Florida Democrats’ Black Lives Matter rhetoric,” the joint statement said.
Simon previously served as CEO of Volunteer Florida and began a success center to mentor the underserved population. He brought up the mailers during a debate with his opponent last week.
“This latest attack on me from my opponent put children on targets with gun shot, with gun holes in them. Put me on a target,” Simon said. “In this current environment where we just had a 40 year old man run down an 18 year old kid for his political stance, I think that is a bridge too far.”
Ausley has served in the state legislature since 2000 and has served on a variety of boards for organizations. She was asked during the debate whether she approved the mailer and knew if it was going out.
“My campaign is not responsible for the mail piece. As you said it was put out by the Democratic Party. I have no control over what they send out,” Ausley said.
Corey Simon and Loranne Ausley Debate in Senate District 3 Race
During the debate, Simon said he supports the Guardian Program which allows certain armed and trained personnel to protect students at schools.
