| The decision by Sen. Mel
Martinez (R-FL) not to overhaul his staff in the wake
of the now-infamous Terri Schiavo talking points—which
urged Republicans to take advantage of the tragedy for
political gain—has raised ire among the senator's
own supporters, RAW STORY
has learned.
In a piece set to splash Monday, Roll Call's
Mary Ann Akers will reveal that at least two other staffers
were believed to have helped draft the talking points
the senator passed out on the Senate floor.
A source says "that he knows 'for certain' that
two other senior Martinez staffers helped Darling write
the memo and circulate it to other Republican Senators,"
Akers reports.
“Those three were really working it,” the
disgruntled source quipped.
Martinez does not plan to make changes to his staff.
"Sources say the Senator does not plan to make
any more staff changes beyond that of Martinez’s
counsel, Brian Darling, who left the office," Akers
pens in Monday's editions. "Darling belatedly admitted
circulating a memo that urged Republicans to get involved
in the Terri Schiavo case, in part because it could
yield political benefits."
Martinez's press secretary insists that the memo was
written “unilaterally” by one aide, Akers
says.
"A Republican source close to the situation,"
Akers adds, "said the claim is 'preposterous.'"
Martinez has taken flak in the Florida press for passing
the memo off on a single aide.
"Even the Senator’s biggest media defender,
Orlando Sentinel columnist Myriam Marquez,
wrote that Martinez needs to take responsibility for
his staff’s actions," Akers writes. "'If
Martinez didn’t know what his lawyer was up to,
then the question begs: Who’s really running things?'
she wrote."
Article originally published Apr. 17, 2005. |
