Joe Garcia TV ad features arrested former mayor
Patriot Majority USA is out with a new TV ad for Joe Garcia this week and while it’s sad that the freshman Congressman already needs his Democrat allies on the airwaves trying to revive his image, that’s not the story here. 
What some folks might have missed in the TV ad is that former Homestead Mayor Steven Bateman makes a cameo. Why is that noteworthy? Well, because he was arrested last summer on public corruption charges. Remind you of someone?
NRCC Statement: “It’s troubling that Joe Garcia’s political shop is full of criminals but now even Super PACs find it challenging to run TV ads for the corrupt Congressman without featuring arrested criminals. South Florida families are sick and tired of corrupt politicians yet Joe Garcia seems to enjoy shoving his own corrupt ways in their faces.” – Katie Prill, NRCC Spokeswoman
In case you missed it…
New Joe Garcia video ad features Steven Bateman cameo
Political Cortadito
http://www.politicalcortadito.com/2014/05/12/joe-garcia-video-ad-steven-bateman/
The new 30-second video ad touting Congressman Joe Garcia talks about his opposition to a Tea Party “radical plan that would end the Medicare guarantee,” keeping prescriptions affordable for seniors and the cost of student loans low.
“Call Congressman Garcia. Thank him, for putting the middle class first.”
But a casual local observer would have to wonder if former Homestead Mayor Steven Bateman, arrested last summer on public corruption charges, has already thanked him.
Bateman makes a cameo during the video. It is obviously B-roll as the Congressman toured a fruit stand on some agricultural press junket/photo opportunity right after he was elected. Or at least before August of last year.
No longer touring dignitaries, Bateman now awaits trial on charges that he received unlawful compensation as a secret lobbyist for Community Health of South Florida, Inc. Investigators said he used his position as mayor to snag the $125-an-hour gig and then used his position as mayor again to try to get favors for his clients without disclosing that he was working for them.
In one instance, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said Bateman came to talk to him about a Community Health issue and Gimenez thought he was speaking as a mayor representing his community, not a paid lobbyist representing a client.
Community Health of South Florida, Inc., which paid him$125 an hour to grease the government wheels on behalf of projects and permits for the company’s planned expansion.
Community Health of South Florida, Inc., which paid him$125 an hour to grease the government wheels on behalf of projects and permits for the company’s planned expansion.
Bateman, who was later charged with seven counts of misusing campaign funds, is also reportedly under investigation for a couple of other things, including some bargain land deals for Dade Medical College at the same time as his wife was their real estate broker and that the president, Ernesto Lopez, was funneling funds into his 2009 campaign.
The suspended mayor will be appearing soon on a TV near you. Alex Leary of the The Tampa Bay Times reported today that Patriot Majority USA — a Democratic super PAC that is not required to disclose its donors — could spend close to $265,000 on TV ads to help Garcia and Congressman Patrick Murphy in coming weeks.
Bateman will also be appearing soon — in courtroom near you. He has his next hearing Thursday.
Can’t help but wonder if Garcia will be a character witness. Or make a cameo.