Tony Sleiman joins Herman Cain team, says their philosophies match

[hightowerlover]

Tony Sleiman joins Herman Cain team, says their philosophies match
He remembers the small start for Rick Scott: 'Look how that turned out.'
Posted: November 3, 2011 - 6:59pm  |  Updated: November 4, 2011 - 4:00am
Advertisement
By Matt Dixon jacksonville.com Copyright 2011 The Florida Times-Union. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 
November 3, 2011 - 06:59pm

TALLAHASSEE - You can chalk this one up as a victory for the old-fashioned art of grinning and gripping.

Outspoken Jacksonville developer Toney Sleiman was planning on supporting Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s bid for the Republican presidential nomination but changed his mind after meeting businessman Herman Cain at a Republican Party of Florida event in Orlando.

“We got to spend a lot of time with the candidates, and his philosophy just lines up with mine so well,” Sleiman said. “I said I’m going to raise money, and I’m going to put up signs for this guy.”

The owner of the Jacksonville Landing was named co-chairman of Cain’s finance team Thursday.

He says recent news reports of claims Cain sexually harassed female staffers when executive director of the National Restaurant Association has not weakened his support. Cain has denied the allegations.

“If I listened to some of the stuff that comes out in national politics, I would not be able to support anybody,” he said.

Sleiman said he is not discouraged by the fact that some of Jacksonville’s biggest names are behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, whose backers include former Ambassador John Rood, state Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, uber-fundraiser Marty Fiorentino and businessman Jay Demetree.

“When I first backed Rick Scott there were only three or four of us in the meeting. Look how that turned out,” he said. “He’s [Cain] going to win Duval County, I know that.”

Sleiman has long been active in politics. Over the past decade he has given more than $12,000 to state candidates and political committees, $15,000 to federal candidates and nearly $30,000 to local candidates. His job as a member of Cain’s finance committee will be convincing others to write campaign checks.

Other Jacksonville-area members of Cain’s money team include Sleiman’s son, Hunter Sleiman, contractor Rick Morales and Joe Mobley, a lobbyist with The Fiorentino Group.

Mobley joining the Cain team presents a bit of an inter-firm split. The Fiorentino Group is a bundler for Romney’s campaign, and the firm’s namesake, Marty, is a Florida co-chairman for Romney’s finance team.

matt.dixon@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4174



Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-11-03/story/tony-sleiman-joins-herman-cain-team-says-their-philosophies-match#ixzz1ckezvSRc

[urbaknight]

I don't want this idiot to have anything to do with National issues. It's no surprise to me that he'd support Cain. Just imagine if the whole country looked like the Landing, look how that place is mismanaged. The Landing and national politics may not be a compatible comparison, but we can tell that anyone who is anything like sprawlman has no business running this country. Furthermore, business men/women in general should not be in government whatsoever. I feel it's a conflict of interests.

[RiversideLoki]

Is Tony getting a little "touchy-feely" with Cain?

[tufsu1]

Sleiman says look how the Rick Scott thing turned out...yes, let's look at it....clearly WINNING

and then there's that pesky Mike Hogan thing.

This guy sure knows how to pick 'em!

[Jumpinjack]

Plus, he's got it down pat - ask for government support for business projects such as removing mobility fee and providing parking subsidies while decrying the big spending liberal government

[avonjax]

Herman Cain is a joke. PERIOD!
Yeah and look how it turned out with Scott. Abysmal ratings and doing an absolutely horrible job as governor. Quit likely the worst in the history of our state.

[hillary supporter]

I don't want this idiot to have anything to do with National issues. It's no surprise to me that he'd support Cain. Just imagine if the whole country looked like the Landing, look how that place is mismanaged. The Landing and national politics may not be a compatible comparison, but we can tell that anyone who is anything like sprawlman has no business running this country. Furthermore, business men/women in general should not be in government whatsoever. I feel it's a conflict of interests.

Yes. And its miraculous how Americans dont see such!

[Garden guy]

Why are we supposed to care if this this man supports republican Cain?

[duvaldude08]

I am black man and personally I can not stand Cain. He reminds me of someone ingnorant uncle at a family reunion. People can say what they will about Obama but he has always been very poised, professional and articulate. Cain is G H E T TO.

[RMHoward]

Herman Cain, a thoughtful, articulate, successful, conservative black man who thinks for himself outside the "keep em on the plantation" Democratic party line. Whats not to hate about that?  Of course the majority of the people on this forum hate him. 

[vicupstate]

If Obama was too inexperienced to be POTUS, with 4 years in the US Senate and 10 years in the IL legislature, how is Herman Cain qualified to be President?   

He is only in the race to 1) sell books 2) get a gig on Fox News and 3) help Romney get the nomination by splitting the most conservative voters, thus allowing Romney to 'run up the middle'.

It's so obvious what his motivations are to anyone else, but the Tea Partiers are not imtelligent enough to see it.   

[Lunican]

Does anyone have video of Cain being as thoughtful and articulate as RMHoward suggests?

[hillary supporter]

Herman Cain, a thoughtful, articulate, successful, conservative black man who thinks for himself outside the "keep em on the plantation" Democratic party line. Whats not to hate about that?  Of course the majority of the people on this forum hate him. 

I hope he wins the republican nomination and, if not, should run as a third party candidate!

[jcjohnpaint]

well I guess stupid people vote for... stupid people!

[north miami]

bland pizza and not particularly healthy to boot is a proven seller..............