Florida Independent

VIDEO: Priorities USA Action releases ad tying Romney to Big Oil

By Virginia Chamlee | 04.02.12 | 4:15 pm

Priorities USA Action today released an ad it says reveals Mitt Romney’s ties to Big Oil companies. According to Priorities, dedicated to protecting progressive leaders against what they call “misleading attacks,” the true motivation for Big Oil’s criticism of President Obama is to elect Mitt Romney, who the group says “stands to protect Big Oil’s profits at the expense of middle class Americans.”

Right-wing groups to ‘pressure states and localities’ to purge voter rolls

By Ashley Lopez | 02.15.12 | 1:59 pm

A right-wing group has announced it will “pressure states and localities” through lawsuits, if necessary, “to clean up voter registration rolls pursuant to Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).” The group claims that several states, including Florida, have voters on their registration rolls that are ineligible to vote.

Reports document how interest groups are playing vastly expanded role in 2012 election

By Marcos Restrepo | 02.03.12 | 11:03 am

Broadcast media still dominates the world of political campaign ads, which are financed more than ever by interest groups that will play an increasing role in the 2012 presidential election, according to media reports issued this week.

Gingrich to headline Orlando event

By Virginia Chamlee | 01.06.12 | 1:22 pm

Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich has been tapped as the star of the Orange County Republican Executive Committee’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner, which will be held just three days prior to the Florida presidential primary, and two days after the GOP Presidential debate is held in Jacksonville.

Romney’s K-12 education agenda based on standardized tests, school choice

By Marcos Restrepo | 01.05.12 | 11:18 am

Mitt Romney, the GOP presidential candidate who edged out an eight-vote victory over Rick Santorum in the Iowa caucuses, has a long track record on education that includes standardized testing and accountability, charter schools and school vouchers.

Bachmann steps out of 2012 presidential race

By Virginia Chamlee | 01.04.12 | 4:32 pm

On the heels of a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses, Michele Bachmann has announced that she is ending her campaign for Republican nominee for President.

Romney edges Santorum in Iowa

By Virginia Chamlee | 01.04.12 | 9:11 am

Would-be Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney edged his opponent Rick Santorum by a hair during the Iowa caucuses — defeating him by only eight votes. The Republican Party has deemed it the closest-ever margin of victory in a Republican presidential contest.

Down to the wire in Iowa

By Virginia Chamlee | 01.03.12 | 5:05 pm

Republican presidential hopefuls made the rounds in Iowa today, in a last-minute push before an expected 100,000 of the state’s residents visit the polls to cast the first votes to help determine who will be the Republican presidential nominee.

Physician finds fault with Huckabee’s personhood-promoting Gift of Life

By Virginia Chamlee | 12.19.11 | 11:20 am

In a partnership with Citizens United, former presidential contender and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is promoting “fetal personhood” – acting as narrator of Gift of Life, a film that promotes legislative action meant to overturn the landmark abortion rights act Roe v. Wade. Now, the Board Chair of Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health argues that the film demonstrates a “disconnect” between the patients and doctors depicted in the film.

Former rep. who says Muslim Brotherhood is behind Occupy Wall Street endorses Gingrich

By Ashley Lopez | 12.15.11 | 2:32 pm

Mother Jones reports that presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has received an endorsement from former Rep. Fred Grandy, R-Iowa, an anti-Islam activist.