Gowdy, Westmoreland Make Atlanta Stop For Marco Rubio
Congressmen Trey Gowdy (R-South Carolina) and Lynn Westmoreland (R-Georgia) stopped by Marco Rubio’s Cobb County GA campaign headquarters for a media availability before continuing on to an event for campaign supporters.
Regarding the official topic at hand, Gowdy said his support for Rubio was because he “carries our message in an aspirational and thus persuasive way.” Follow up comments noted the importance of not only holding the GOP base together but attracting new people to the GOP in order to win national elections and hold Congress. Thus, the person leading the ticket and presumptively the party must be able to help with that. Gowdy also noted that with the passing of Justice Scalia that “the stakes are really high”. He underscored the importance of the primary process resulting in “the most electable conservative.”
Congressman Westmoreland was asked by the AJC’s Greg Bluestein about Rubio’s siding with Florida over the tri-state water wars issue and Governor Deal’s displeasure with such. Westmoreland stated that Rubio is still a Senator from Florida and thus is charged with representing the interests of the state that elected him. Thus Westmoreland summed up “On the water issue I have to agree with Governor Deal, but for President I’m with Senator Rubio.”
I asked Congressman Gowdy if he had any reaction to the WaPo story where House Democrats were again decrying the wastefulness of his Select Committee on Benghazi on which Congressman Westmoreland also serves. This in light of the fact that Dems paid their staffers thousands in bonuses despite showing little interest or participation. Gowdy recited a littany of things the minority party members had not done in their search for the truth, summing up with a cutting “I can not understate” how helpful the Democrats have been.
The final comments returned to Rubio, with Westmoreland discussing the role of National defense and our allies’ unwillingness to share intelligence with the US right now. Gowdy cited not only Rubio’s work on the Senate Intelligence Committee and Foreign Relations as understanding the gravity and seriousness of the role, but his own interpersonal and hands on approach to working with members of Congress.
About Author
Charlie
Founder of GeorgiaPol.com; Now weekly columnist Very interested in Georgia and Georginas. Interest in politics is waning daily.
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Disappointed at your question casting staff bonuses versus committee effectiveness or even necessity. That seems disproportionate and overly partisan.
I would have asked Gowdy how close to election day did he think would be best to release committee findings, but that’s just me.
Your question and your post.
No doubt Gowdy’s Benghazi investigation, well into its second year, is a seventh bust. It may be that Gowdy is smart enough to not drag it into the summer when there’s nothing new, since he’s up for re-election and it’s in his interest to get distance between himself and uselessness, hence discussion of the investigation concluding in the near future.
Gowdy’s guilty conscience shows itself in the mention of Dem staffer bonuses when confronted with his wastefulness. Dems are responsible because a few staffers got bonuses when they may not have been earned. The usual GOP concept of balance.
Yet another dilemma for GaGOP establishment…. Rubio and Bush siding with FL in the water war. Yeah they’re Floridians, but being in the Oval Office won’t change their position. Either has to win FL to get to the Oval Office, and once there, FL and AL support will be more than twice as important as GA support during their tenure. Georgia’s electoral votes will go to the GOP nominee no matter what, so no need to undermine their standing in FL..
Is another reason for the GaGOP base to support Cruz or renowned dealmaker Trump, since Rubio and Bush aren’t even going to pretend to deliver, or will the integrity of Rubio and Bush inspire support?