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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Spotlight On: Burton ‘Bud’ Gotshall


Burton “Bud” Gotshall knew the Republican primary race in his Florida congressional district was going to get ugly. The proof arrived in his mailbox this week.

Gotshall received a campaign mailer from veteran Rep. John Mica, who is running against freshman Rep. Sandy Adams because of congressional redistricting. Mica has been in Congress for 20 years. Adams is aligned with the tea party and has the support of Sarah Palin.

Mica’s mailer accuses Adams of being someone President Barack Obama “counted on” to approve stimulus spending. Gotshall sent the mailer to Spin Detectors. We found the flier to be misleading.

Gotshall, 78, of Casselberry, Fla., is retired from the U.S. Navy. A registered Republican, he’s supporting Adams, who currently represents him.

Overall, Gotshall said he doesn’t care much for partisan politics.

“This whole partisanship thing has gotten way out of hand,” Gotshall said. “Democrats fight the Republicans. And the Republicans fight the Democrats. And the country goes down the toilet.”

— Ben Finley

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