But wait, there's more… of the LePage-Cutler bromance (VIDEO)
Tonight's Maine gubernatorial debate had several memorable moments. Governor LePage claimed that $100,000 is "not that rich" (never mind that that's over twice the state's median income). He admitted that "I cannot create jobs," while in the same breath bragging about putting 3,500 Mainers out of work through his hiring and firing power. But we'd be remiss if we didn't especially highlight even more touching examples of the LePage-Cutler bromance that took place tonight at USM.
The Greedy Outsourcing Party
It's no secret that Mitt Romney's checkered business career was part of what doomed his election hopes in 2012. When people looked at Mitt Romney, they saw a vulture capitalist who was willing to close down American plants, lay off workers, and ship jobs overseas, so long as it helped their bottom dollar. Having run for president, Romney's business practices are likely the most infamous among Republican politicians, but he's hardly alone. This year, key GOP candidates in close senate and gubernatorial races espouse the same self-interested philosophy -- reaping profits while hurting American workers. In Georgia, David Perdue's campaign was rocked as POLITICO reported that Perdue had stated plainly in a 2005 deposition that he had "spent most of his career" outsourcing. This statement itself would have been severely damaging to Perdue's candidacy, but what was even more detrimental, perhaps because it was so revealing, was Perdue's dumbfounded response to the story. Asked how he would defend his outsourcing career, Perdue looked surprised -- "Well defend it? I'm proud of it!" In Illinois, billionaire gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, who took a page out of Romney's playbook and funneled millions in profits to Cayman Island tax shelters to avoid paying American taxes, has demonstrated similar priorities. Rauner's vast portfolio while at GTCR, the private equity firm he co-founded, included directing H-Cube, a “premier global business outsourcing firm.” And just this month, we learned that a lawsuit has been launched by the former CEO of LeapSource, another outsourcing company where Rauner sat on the board, alleging personal threats from Rauner over her lack of success as their CEO.
Bill Cassidy Blatantly Lies About Voting Against VA Medical Center
Listen to it for yourself -- this is a direct quote from Rep. Bill Cassidy: "Well first, I chuckle when Senator Landrieu, for example, says I voted against the VA hospital in New Orleans. I wasn't in Congress when the VA hospital was voted on. I'm not sure if it's a half-truth, I think it's a lie." There is only one person lying, and it's Bill Cassidy. No, he wasn't in the United States House of Representatives at the time. Neither was the bill. It was a state legislative bill in Louisiana when Cassidy was a Louisiana State Senator. He voted against it. There isn't much more to it.
Meet Fancam
Whether we're canoeing behind candidates or welcoming them home on secret fundraising trips with digital billboards, American Bridge is always a pioneer in the field of tracking. So today, we are proud to unveil our newest technology: Fancam. Wherever Rick Scott goes, Fancam will be there to help him keep his cool and avoid further campaign meltdowns. See you out there, Governor!
VIDEO: The LePage-Cutler bromance blossoms
High-fives, hugs, applauding each other -- the hallmarks of a certified bromance, and yet, also of the Maine gubernatorial debates, thanks to Governor LePage and Eliot Cutler's mutual admiration society. Indeed, in response to a question last night about whether he'd sign a bill raising the governor's pay, Cutler gushed "not mine, but I'd increase... Paul's!" Swoon.
VIDEO: A Fan-tastic Collapse, As Told By Local News
You've probably heard about Rick Scott's #Fantrum by now. So has everyone in Florida with a TV. In case you…
VIDEO: Scott Walker: Working for the Kochs, Not For Wisconsin
Scott Walker made both local and national headlines yesterday when he bluntly stated that his opinion is that the minimum wage "serves no purpose." Thousands of minimum wage workers across Wisconsin would probably disagree with that assertion. But Scott Walker isn't looking out for them -- he's looking out for the Koch brothers and his other wealthy allies.
Rick Scott Delays Debate Over A Fan
At tonight's Florida gubernatorial debate, incumbent Republican Governor Rick Scott delayed - and nearly refused to participate in - tonight's debate because of the presence of a regular old fan. We here at American Bridge were stunned (like just about everyone else in the country following the debate). So we tried to come up with a list of reasons why Scott could have been so afraid of a fan. Here's our best college try:
Top 7 Reasons Rick Scott Could Have Been Afraid of a Fan
1. They're so distracting
2. They're hard to hold onto
3. TOO MUCH BREEZE
The Massachusetts Outsourcers Vs. The New Hampshire Voters
Scott Brown's lackluster campaign is always in need of a lift. Maybe they're hoping for a car elevator kind of lift. That's right, Might Romney's coming back to town! Brown has truly bear-hugged Mitt Romney in this campaign, and it makes sense if you think about it. Sure, Romney lost New Hampshire decisively in 2012, but him and Scott Brown have striking similarities: Two proud Bay Staters who have yielded huge profits from their roles at outsourcing companies. Scott Brown says he won't create one job in New Hampshire. But if you want to create jobs overseas, you can't beat the Brown/Romney tag team!
Maine students react to LePage's student loan plan (VIDEO)
Tonight, Governor Paul LePage will participate in his third gubernatorial debate, and if last week's debates were any indication, LePage will once again trumpet his plan to address the student loan debt crisis: selling student loans to employers. LePage also raised this proposal on Monday during an appearance at the University of Maine, where students were on fall break at the time. Perhaps if he'd had the event when students were actually on campus, they would have told him what several USM students told American Bridge: it's a singularly "bad idea" to sell student loans to employers in exchange for a tax credit.