Subject: More Coverage of Florida Press Call
From: "Jefferson, Deshundra" <[email-masked]>
To: Comm_D <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2016 14:41:25 -0700

WFOR CBS used sound from the press call in an noon hit (h/t Jonathan Polson): Watch WFOR here<https://toolbox.dnc.org/?tool_name=vantage%20uploader&path=vantageuploader.dnc.org/videos/shared_show?jwt=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpYXQiOjE0NjEyNzM2MzIsImVtYWlsIjoicG9sc29uakBkbmMub3JnIiwiaWQiOjMxMDY3MywiZG93bmxvYWRhYmxlIjp0cnVlfQ.G_jP4Hd2cu2HD8zPAl18B2BoNOl9SYnhd1G7qVFf4Zg>

The Sun Sentinel updated their story:

Republicans reject rules changes; Rick Scott pushes Donald Trump at national meeting<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-republican-president-rules-20160421-story.html>

Battered by supporters of Donald Trump, who are convinced the Republican establishment is plotting against them, the Republican National Committee raised the white flag of surrender Thursday.

At the national party's quarterly meeting, its Rules Committee decided against recommending any changes to the rules that will govern the presidential nominating convention where the party will pick a presidential nominee.

The action - which involved not taking action - came shortly after a speech to the RNC at which Florida Gov. Rick Scott - one of Trump's most prominent endorsers - reminded party members that like Trump, he was an anti-establishment candidate when he first ran in 2010, and argued against tinkering with the system.

"We've got to be transparent and we can't take a chance that we are accused of any monkey business, tricks" or anything that leads Republicans not to have confidence in the way their party is operating, Scott said. Trump has been fueling concerns among his supporters that establishment Republicans are scheming to manipulate the rules to make his nomination more difficult.

The governor notably didn't mention Trump by name during his 12-minute speech at the RNC luncheon on Thursday, at a gathering where many of the party establishment leaders aren't Trump fans. Instead, he offered a less direct plea to the crowd that included many supporters of other candidates to support the eventual nominee.

Speaking to reporters after his speech, Scott was more direct: "The way to win in November is rally behind Donald Trump," he said.

"Follow the will of the voters," Scott recommended. Scott signaled his support for Trump early in the year, but didn't officially endorse him until after the Florida primary, once presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, lost in Florida and dropped out of the presidential race. Scott didn't want to alienate Rubio supporters in South Florida as he prepares for what's widely believed to be his plan to run for U.S. Senate in 2018.

Republican National Chairman Reince Priebus' hand was clear as the Rules Committee met at the Diplomat Resort and Spa. Priebus has been signaling for days that he didn't want the controversy that would come with any rules changes.

Any changes approved by the RNC wouldn't necessarily come to pass anyway since the convention has its own Rules Committee and the presidential delegates ultimately need to vote on rules for the convention when they meet in Cleveland.

Overwhelmingly defeated on a voice vote, after a lengthy debate, was a proposal to change the rules governing the presidential nominating convention from the rules that govern the U.S. House of Representatives to Roberts Rules of Order. The rule change, proposed by Oregon RNC Committeeman Solomon Yue, seems arcane. But the House rules, which have been used for past party conventions, put much more authority in the hands of the convention chairman, who almost certainly will be House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.

Member after member of the rules committee spoke against making such a major change. "Making a change of this magnitude at this point is the worst thing we can do," said Enid Mickelsen, a committeewoman from Utah.

Randy Evans, an RNC committee member from Georgia, cautioned that, in light of the charged political environment, "any change that we make will be viewed with a large degree of cynicism."

Two minor changes were quickly disposed of when the committee members proposing them withdrew their proposals.

Saul Anuzis, a former RNC member from Michigan who is a senior adviser to the Ted Cruz presidential campaign, said it's likely that the Cruz and Trump campaigns, which will have the biggest pools of delegates headed to Cleveland, would reach a pre-convention agreement on rules. He said the convention would end up deciding the nomination. "Trump folks think they can beat us. We think we can beat them."

Much of Scott's speech was a variation on his usual talking points, in which he touted the state's economic recovery since the Great Recession - and took shots at Democrats. Early in his speech, he said former Gov. Charlie Crist "wrecked" the economy. Later in his speech, he said President Barack Obama "ruined" the economy.

Scott said the state's economy would get even better if the Republicans from across the country spent money in Florida, which means they'd pay state sales tax. And, to the group that includes many who are well-heeled, he suggested another way they could spend their money in Florida: "Buy a second or third or fourth home."

He returned to that theme when he avoided a direct answer to a reporter's question about the wining and dining of Republican convention delegates by campaigns hoping to win their support. He said he hoped the money was getting spent in Florida.

Scott noted some of the significant - and insignificant - subjects everyone knows about the Republican presidential candidates: "Who's got the best hair," "Who's got the most beautiful wife," "We know somebody's going to build a wall," and "Ben Carson's either the angriest person in the world or the calmest." Also, Republicans love Ronald Reagan, don't care for Hillary Clinton, oppose abortion and the Islamic State, he said.

And he paraphrased one of his candidate's favorite lines. "And we know we're going to start winning so much we're going to get tired of winning," he said.

A key to victory, Scott said, is to focus on the economy.

"In this president's race, we have not talked enough about jobs, enough about capitalism, enough about growing this economy," Scott said. "We need to focus on growing this economy."

"Democrats are going down the path of socialism," Scott said. "We are going to go down the path of jobs, capitalism, free market. We are going to talk about jobs and we are going to win."

Priebus introduced Scott by saying "it's awesome that we've got a fantastic governor of the state of Florida with us today."

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, used the Republican gathering - at a hotel in her district - to criticize Scott and the Republican presidential candidates.

"Scott laid the groundwork for [Trump]. Birds of a feather certainly flock together," she said in a conference call with reporters.

Wasserman Schultz derided the Republican candidates, front runner Trump, Cruz and John Kasich.

"The Republicans have three choices now -- lose with Trump, lose with Cruz, or lose by handing the nomination to Kasich or another Republican politician," she said. "Their brand is poison."

From: Jefferson, Deshundra
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2016 12:59 PM
To: Comm_D
Subject: Coverage of Florida Press Call

Here are the hits we have had thus far. I highlighted a comment from the Florida Politics post. They had votes, and I asked the press to email me any follow up questions. Will follow up with the reporter.

Florida Politics: Debbie Wasserman Schultz Say GOP Getting What It Deserves<http://floridapolitics.com/archives/207583-debbie-wasserman-schultz-gop-getting-presidential-candidate-deserves>

Ridiculing the Republican National Committee's meeting in her district, Democrats' leader U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Thursday the GOP is getting what it deserves.

Wasserman Schultz of Weston and U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch of Margate held a telephone press conference Thursday to respond to the RNC's spring meeting in Hollywood. On Wednesday it drew the Republican's second- and third-place presidential candidates, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Wasserman Schultz charged that both Cruz and Kasich are there trying to figure out a way to stop Donald Trump outside of the primary process. And both, she suggested, may have plenty of interested partners in a GOP that is uncomfortable with the front-runner. However, RNC chairman Reince Priebus reportedly has has made it clear he is not interested in any rules changes for the nominating process.

"It's been kind of amusing to see Republicans trying to distance themselves from their presumptive nominee," Wasserman Schultz said. "But the Republican party just doesn't get it. Donald Trump is the face of the GOP. His offensive, divisive misogynistic campaign is deeply imbedded and engrained in the party. It is their MO.

"The GOP has made their bed, and now they have Trump in it," she declared.

She also dismissed Cruz as someone desperately trying to find a way to force a brokered convention, and ridiculed Kasich as someone who can't win anything but his own state, saying he is on a "fools mission."

Deutch called it a misconception that Trump is somehow an outsider for the Republican Party.

He' s no such thing. He's exactly the opposite. He's the natural extension of the divisive, obstructionist do nothing that we've been seeing here on Capitol Hill for years," he said.

Neither of them stayed long to take questions from the media about their statements. Wasserman Schultz abruptly shut down the press conference after one question - about Florida congressional races - citing an unexpected, urgent vote call in Congress.

Sun Sentinel: Wasserman Schutlz derides Republicans as they meet in her Broward district<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-republican-president-rules-20160421-story.html>

As the Republican National Committee holds its spring meeting in Hollywood, the head of the Democratic National Committee went on the attack.

"First off, there's more than a little irony that the Republican National Committee meeting is taking place in my congressional district at a union hotel," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, said in a conference call with reporters Thursday morning.

The RNC meeting is at the Diplomat Resort and Spa through Friday. The party leaders will discuss changing rules about determining the nominee at their afternoon session, although chairman Reince Priebus has said no changes will be made.

Wasserman Schultz derided the Republican candidates, front runner Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. "The Republicans have three choices now -- lose with Trump, lose with Cruz, or lose by handing the nomination to Kasich or another Republican politician," she said. "Their brand is poison."

She also had terse words about Gov. Rick Scott, who is scheduled to speak to the RNC on Thursday afternoon. "Scott laid the groundwork for [Trump]. Birds of a feather certainly flock together," she said.

Rep. Ted Deutch, D-West Boca, told reporters Trump is the "natural extension of the divisive, obstructionist" politics in Congress. "House Republicans are no different than Trump, they're no different than Sen. Cruz or Gov. Kasich -- this Tea Party obsession with broken government," he said on the call. Deutch is running for re-election in a newly drawn district that's mostly in Broward County.

Wasserman Schultz said the Republicans aren't interested in substance. ""The GOP made their bed and now they have Trump in it," she said.

This story will be updated. Check back for more information.

Palm Beach Post: Republicans meet in South Florida amid Trump rules fight<http://postonpolitics.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2016/04/21/republicans-meet-in-south-florida-amid-trump-rules-fight/>

National Republicans gathering today in South Florida are wrestling with what rules will apply in August in Cleveland when it votes for its nominee.

Front runner, and part-time Palm Beacher, Donald Trump, is far ahead, but might not reach the 1,237 delegates needed to win on the first ballot.

The two men who hope to step in if a failed first ballot leads to a free-for-all second vote, Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, came Wednesday to the RNC's quarterly meeting. at the Diplomat in Hollywood to woo members in hopes of wrestling the nomination from Trump.

Trump has said the Cruz and Kasich scenarios are evidence of a system "rigged" against him by the GOP establishment. Amid Trump's constant criticism, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and many of the party officials here appeared skittish about taking any action that might smack of favoritism toward a candidate.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is set to address the meeting at midday followed by the rules committee meeting.

This morning, the Democratic National Committee, in advance of a press call by DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, said, "with Republicans all over the map pledging to skip this summer's Republican Convention, it's clear the GOP is in a full-scale freak-out."

[SigDems]<http://www.democrats.org/>Deshundra Jefferson, Southern Regional Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]> | (202) 863-8112

Subject: Press Call TV Coverage
From: "Polson, Jonathan" <[email-masked]>
To: "Jefferson, Deshundra" <[email-masked]>, "Price, Jenna" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2016 14:24:28 -0700

Hi,

Just wanted to pass along that today's Florida press call was featured in the WFOR noon broadcast in Miami. I'll check the evening broadcasts throughout the state tomorrow to see if there is more coverage.

Watch WFOR here<https://toolbox.dnc.org/?tool_name=vantage%20uploader&path=vantageuploader.dnc.org/videos/shared_show?jwt=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpYXQiOjE0NjEyNzM2MzIsImVtYWlsIjoicG9sc29uakBkbmMub3JnIiwiaWQiOjMxMDY3MywiZG93bmxvYWRhYmxlIjp0cnVlfQ.G_jP4Hd2cu2HD8zPAl18B2BoNOl9SYnhd1G7qVFf4Zg>