State Rep. Fred Mills, R-Parks, a GOP newbie who switched parties a few weeks ago and most recently announced his intention to seek the state Senate District 22 seat vacated by Troy Hebert, is being labeled a RINO — Republican In Name Only — by a conservative blogger. Suspicion of Mills’ motive in switching parties was already foreshadowed in the comment section at theind.com, and it’s a sentiment that could gain traction in what will be a short campaign. (The election will be held Jan. 22; other candidates to qualify are Republican Simone Champagne of Jeanerette; David Groner and Ruben LeBlanc, both of New Iberia and neither with party affililation; and Republicans Arnold Schwing of New Iberia and Ken Squires of Jeanerette.)
Seen in some circles as mere political expediency — Democrats just can’t catch a break in Louisiana’s current political climate — Mills’ party switch is increasingly becoming a topic in the blogosphere, most recently in a post titled “The Fred Mills File” at a site called Cajun Conservatism; the post was picked up by the right-leaning aggregator website The Dead Pelican.
Cajun Conservatism highlights political contributions by Mills ranging from $50 to $500 in 2008 and 2009 to Democratic politicians, Cedric Richmond and Don Cravins Jr. among them, as well as to the House Democratic Campaign Committee. The site also points to votes by Mills it considers antithetical to conservative principles, including voting against a bill that would require welfare recipients to be drug tested and a bill that would use public dollars for private school tuition vouchers.
The post further opines, “Fred Mills’ recent switch to the Republican Party prior to his qualifying for the special election for the District 22 Senate seat should leave one to question his true conservative principles. A cursory look at both his past political contributions and voting records show someone who is far from being within the mainstream Republican Party. Do we need another RINO to represent the people of District 22 in Baton Rouge?”
... written by Whatever , December 30, 2010 - 07:26 pm
Champagne switch to Republican in June, what would you call her, a RINO or DESPERATE?
... written by Conservative Republican!! , December 30, 2010 - 08:00 pm
Mills' behavior has been no less reform/conservative than the typical Louisiana House Republican over the past three years. His score of 71.67 on the index that was used in the Louisiana Legislature Log (see http://www.laleglog.com) is right at the mean for all Republicans of 71.96 and only slightly lower than Champagne's 76.67(who switched to Republican in June, 2010). So, by the numbers, Mills is no more a RINO than the typical Republican, and not much less conservative/reform than his main oponent. So, it's OVERBLOWN to argue that he's not in the "mainstream" of the GOP.
... written by No thanks RINO , December 30, 2010 - 08:55 pm
I don't care what score somebody gets on a scale. If you donate money to a corrupt New Orleans Democrat and you vote in favor of giving money to trial attorneys you not a real Republican.
Mills is a career politician that switched because he thinks that WE the voters don't know any better.
... written by SENSIBLE POLITICS , December 30, 2010 - 09:23 pm
written by Conservative Republican!! , December 30, 2010 So, it's OVERBLOWN to argue that he's not in the "mainstream" of the GOP.
Yes he is in the mainstream of the gop. The mainstream being that bigotry and hatrate of non-whites.
... written by chickenchit , December 30, 2010 - 09:27 pm
DINO they are, as in dinosaurs. Their outdated policies are a longing for the days when racism and bigotry were law.
... written by RCajunrunner , December 30, 2010 - 10:08 pm
First off, Champagne switched before the Senate seat became vacant. Second, she does't have a trail of Federal campaing contributions made to Congressional candidates who endorsed Obama for President. You don't get much more left than Cedric Richmond. Finally, this college professor, probably the commenter on this thread, constantly goes on other blogs linking his own invented so-called conservative scorecard as the final authority on who is conservative and who is not. This scorecard for the past session did not factor in the bill to withhold taxpayer benefits for felons convicted of crime of their office while being incarcerated, nor does he care much apparently to count how legislators voted to irresponsibly tack on an extra 2 Billion to the original operating budget this past session. Mills voted both to continue paying out taxpayer funded benefits to public officials serving time in jail and for liberally adding 2 Billion more in spending, making the deficit problem for next year worse. Simone Champagne has continued to vote on the side of reform and conservative spending.
... written by northsidian shotgun , December 31, 2010 - 03:58 am
Aye Mills, when in doubt whip it out, its best to jump ship first, Show some style, ahead of the rats who hang in there til they get all the dregs.
... written by Hmmm... , December 31, 2010 - 05:09 pm
Mills had a 100% LABI rating in 2010 (before the Senate Campaign), just like Champagne. His 2008-2010 cumulative LABI rating is 76%, three points higher than Champagne's 73%.
Additionally, in 2008 & 2009, the Louisiana Right to Life Federation gave Mills a 100% rating.
As for the 'career politician' label -- they were both elected at the same time. Only Champagne was on the public payroll in Iberia Parish for years, when Mills was working in the private sector.
All this RINO talk is just stupid. If anything, Mills is more conservative than Champagne.
... written by spending , January 01, 2011 - 02:26 pm
Neither LABI nor LRLF grade votes related to reponsible government spending, so neither tell the whole story about Freddie.
... written by Conservative Republican!! , January 01, 2011 - 07:34 pm
In speaking of career politician....Champagne list her occupation on the legislative website as "State Representative." She has NO real job!!!
To: RCajunrunner: What about ALL the dems Champagne donated to?! When she changed parties she was doing so for selfish reasons. If Champagne is so concerned about elected officials committing crimes why did she go to Rep. Jim Tucker, Speaker of the House, when D. A. Phil Haney LIED under oath in a house committee meeting and have him stop any reprimand. She is just as guilty as he. She's sneaky and an opportunist too.
... written by Shawn , January 02, 2011 - 06:04 am
To conservative Republican: Switching parties right before running for higher office is opportunism. Switching from the majority to the minority when you are not planning a run for higher office is a principled switch. Simone Champagne is the President of Iberia Bank. She has a real job, and if you did some real searching, you may have realized this. Someone who donates to Cedric Richmond is not on our side. Fred Mills is not on our side.
... written by Simone Champagne Fan Club , January 02, 2011 - 04:09 pm
On Thursday, December 30th @ approximately 4pm I witnessed a F-250 blue truck making a "delivery" on the bayou-side of Hwy 31 in St. Martin Parish. It brought back memories: Several years ago when former Senator Craig Romero ran for the congressional seat his twelve (12) W-2 forms were exposed publicly. Upon questioning the former senator as to exactly what his occupation entailed with these 12 employers he responded "I deliver donuts to customers." Little has changed, he is still making deliveries but this time for Simone Champagne and it wasn't donuts, it was a large sign! Just wondering what David Groner is feeling because Craig treated him to breakfast at Victor's Cafeteria the morning he qualified for the senate race. I had always heard Craig Romero was "alot of things" but now I know he is a 2-timer!! Doesn't say much for Simone Champagne.
What say ye, RCajunrunner?!
... written by RCajunrunner , January 03, 2011 - 04:43 pm
I'm no fan of Craig Romero. He's a term-limited legislator who was part of the problem with politics in Baton Rouge and Louisiana in general. I was glad to see we didn't play a visible roll in Jeff Landry's campaign last year, and I hope if he's playing a roll in Champagne's, it is extremely minimal.
What did D.A. Haney lie about?
From what I understand, Troy "Pretty Boy" Hebert has been seeking vindication against the 16th J.D. ever since they nailed his buddy, former Iberia Parish President Will Langlinais.
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , January 03, 2011 - 05:14 pm
CRAIG ROMERO, "IS ALOT OF THINGS", BUT THIS IS A GP RATED WEEKLY, so we cannot go there. A smart politico mentor nevah has all his eggs in one basket, the smart political straw-boss always leaves a crack in all the doors that he may later, do like a rat, and shrink his head and squeeze thru for a crumb. The sun nevah sets on Craig's haid without Craig setting the reaper in motion, "FOR HIS PERSONAL GAIN. CHAMPAGNE is ROMERO'S counterpartner in crime, a doozy of a ball buster with great aspirations to run for the state's highest office, the one which contains the vault with the state's coffers.
... written by MollyBloom , January 03, 2011 - 06:12 pm
Hahaha! You guys are just too funny! Arguing over RINOs when your party now ranges from David Vitter to John Alario! Welcome to the big tent model!
... written by Simone Champagne Fan Club , January 03, 2011 - 06:13 pm
RCajunrunner: You say you were glad to see Craig Romero didn't play a visible roll in Jeff Landry's campaign last year? You must have been walking around with blinders on; Craig Romero played such a pivotal role in Landry's campaign his daughter, Sarah, will be working for Landry in Washington D.C. There is no "if" he is playing a role in Champagne's campaign, that's factual, not minimal.
It's public record, you may look up and view Haney lying on the legislative website during a house natural resource committee meeting which coincidentally Champagne sits on.
Right, I remember the Will Langlinais episode, Champagne was his CAO of Iberia Parish. Very interesting you bring that up, you're correct when you say "they nailed his buddy" meaning Haney & Champagne. That may clear up why Champagne was protecting Haney when he lied under oath, she owes him for not exposing her.
Langlinais & Hebert are the past. We need to protect our future which need not include Champagne.
... written by Conservative Republican!! , January 03, 2011 - 06:39 pm
Shawn: Oh my, where to begin! First, Champagne sights have always been to seek higher office, she is being groomed by Craig Romero. Second, "Simone Champagne is the President of Iberia Bank." If you, my friend, would have done a real search you would know it is Representative Taylor Barras who is President of Markets for Iberia Bank in New Iberia & Community Markets in Louisiana. Third, if you would do some real research and go to Champagne's legislative site you will see she has listed as her "occupation" - State Representative = Career Politician. Finally, what you really mean to say is someone who donates to Mary Landrieu is not on our side. Simone Champagne is not on our side, she's sneaky and an opportunist!
... written by Wow Shawn! , January 03, 2011 - 07:18 pm
Shaun, you're a little mixed up. Rep. Taylor Barras is President of Iberia Bank. Simone Champagne use to work for Iberia Parish Government when she left under contoversial circumstances as the parish president, her boss, became a convicted felon. Her occupation is state representative. She has no real job. Rep. Fred Mills, on the other hand is also President & CEO of F & M Bank in St. Martinville, he is also a pharmacist and owner of Cashway Pharmacy in Parks. He has REAL jobs.
Simone Champagne has donated to liberal Mary Landrieu and took it a step further when she hosted a dinner at Mr. Lester's Steakhouse in appreciation of Mary.
... written by MollyBloom , January 03, 2011 - 07:31 pm
Mary Landrieu is the best Republican money can buy! (She is what WE call a DINO!)
... written by Conservative Republican!! , January 03, 2011 - 08:27 pm
To MollyBloom - Eeeeeewwwwww!!!!!!!
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