Wilkinson Conspiracy Theory

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October 27th, 2010 11:02pm
Wilkinson Versus [Michael] Reagan

by Bill Rufty

Randy Wilkinson went head to head with Michael Reagan on CNN’s Anderson Cooper and remained standing after being accused of belonging to the “fake” tea party.

Reagan argued that Wilkinson is in the fake Tea Party because he is a candidate of the Tea Party of Florida, which Republicans have said is a Democratic Party front to siphon off conservative votes from Republicans and that the “true” tea party movement has disavowed his campaign.

Wilkinson is running for the 12th Congressional District seat against Republican Dennis Ross and Democrat Lori Edwards. Reagan accused him of being in the race as simply a spoiler against Ross, but Wilkinson who sometimes fails to make a point during his debates as a Polk County Commissioner gave as good as he got this time.

“I am actually siphoning off more independent and Democrat votes than Republicans,” he said. “I started my own tea party in April of 2009. I have been a member of the 9-12 Group and been in other tea parties,” he said.

Cooper asked Reagan for proof that the Tea Party of Florida was a Democratic front. Reagan answered that Orlando Political consultant Doug Guetzloe, had formed the Tea Party and that he served on boards with Democratic Congressman Allen Grayson, saying that true tea parties.

Wilkinson claimed that many of the tea party movement organizations “are run dictatorially by Republican leaders.” While he presented no proof, a tea party event in Lakeland on Lake Morton during the summer involved members of the Republican Executive Committee of Polk County as some of the organizers.

As Cooper was trying to wrap up the interview, Wilkinson turned on Ross, who distributed brochures claiming that Wilkinson is involved with liberal ideas.

“The Republican (in the race) is a Republican in name only. He supported the Taj Mahal courthouse…’’ he said before Cooper ended the conversation.

Ross has said he had nothing to do with the extravagant 1st Court of Appeal courthouse in Tallahassee that could result in the first ever removal of a judge through the retention vote on Nov. 2.