Graber “Ernesto” Ad Rebuttal
Robert Wexler
:30 (YouTube)
September 15, 2008
Visual
Backup
Picture of Mayor Ben Graber with
hurricane destruction video behind
him.
When Ernesto Hit Florida It Was Not A
Hurricane: Ernesto made landfall at Plantation
Key, Florida, in the upper Florida Keys, around
midnight August 30, 2006. Around 2:00 A.M, a
second Florida landfall occurred on the Florida
mainland in southwestern Miami-Dade County.
At both landfalls Ernesto had maximum
sustained winds of 40 knots and a minimum
central pressure of 1003 mb. To be
categorized as a hurricane sustained wind
speeds must reach 64 knots. (Tropical Cyclone
VO: "While Mayor Ben Graber was
leading the County Emergency Center
during Hurricane Ernesto, Robert
Wexler was safe in Maryland."
CHYRON: Ben Graber for Congress
graberforcongress.com
Report, nhc.noaa.gov; aoml.noaa.gov)
Graber Stated Ernesto Was Not A
Hurricane: Following Tropical Storm Ernesto,
Mayor Graber said, "I think we can all breathe
a sigh of relief this morning that Tropical Storm
Ernesto never really became a hurricane."
(Miami Herald, 8/30/2006)
“A Mild Storm”: Following Ernesto Graber
said Ernesto, “though a mild storm, was a good
test run.” (St. Petersburg Times, 8/31/2006)
Only Some Wind And Rain: Following
Ernesto, the Palm Beach Post wrote, “Ernesto
sent only some brisk winds and occasional
rains to South Florida.” (Palm Beach Post,
9/1/2006)
1.22 Inches Of Rain In Fort Lauderdale:
According to the St. Petersburg Times,
“Broward County Mayor Ben Graber said
Ernesto brought 2 to 4 inches of rain and wind
gusts up to 50 mph to his county, though Fort
Lauderdale logged in only 1.22 inches of rain,
according to the weather service.” (St. Petersburg
Times, 8/31/2006)
Picture of mobile home with blue tarp
on roof and a picture of a downed
traffic light.
VO: "While Ben Graber and his
neighbors had blue tops on their roofs
and no power, Robert Wexler was
high and dry living in Maryland.
CHYRON: Ben Graber for Congress
graberforcongress.com
No Damage And Little Flooding: Following
Ernesto, Graber stated, "’Ernesto has left the
building and he's been real kind to Broward.”
Graber and county emergency officials said
they knew of no damage and little if any
flooding” (Sun-Sentinel, 8/30/2006)
Blue Tarps Were From Wilma One Year
Earlier: Following Ernesto, the Miami Herald
reported that many residents were still
suffering from Hurricane Wilma the year
before: “Still reeling from Wilma; Some
Pembroke Pines residents still wait for roof
repairs from Wilma while others wait for a
permanent home…Ernesto, the storm that
fizzled, served as a strong reminder that many
people are still suffering from last year's
hurricanes.” (Miami Herald, 9/3/2006)
“'05 Roof Damage Still A Problem”:
Following Ernesto the Miami Herald went on
to report: “When Tropical Storm Ernesto
spared Miami-Dade County residents recently,
homeowners living in the Crystal Colony
townhomes in Sweetwater breathed a
collective sigh of relief. The 73-unit community
off Southwest First Street and 109th Avenue is
still covered in blue tarps from damage
suffered during last year's hurricanes Katrina
and Wilma.” (Miami Herald, 9/7/2006)
Less Than 500 Lost Power Which Was
Quickly Restored: Following Ernesto, officials
reported that less than 500 people had lost
power in Broward and that all of them were
quickly restored. Officials also reported that
Ernesto’s winds generally stayed below 35
mph. (Sun-Sentinel, 8/30/2006)
Picture of business with boards over
windows.
VO: "While Ben Graber and his
neighbors lost business, Robert
The Floridian Restaurant Stayed Open:
Despite Graber’s claim that businesses were
lost, the Sun-Sentinel wrote: “In Fort
Lauderdale, It was just a normal day – except
there was no traffic … at all Wednesday
Wexler was safe and sound in
Maryland. Shouldn’t our
representative experience what we go
through with us?"
morning. Even the venerable Floridian, the
popular 24-hour breakfast place on East Las
Olas Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale,
remained open early Wednesday.” (Sun-Sentinel,
8/30/2006)
CHYRON: Shouldn’t our
representative experience what we go
through with us?
Headshot of Ben Graber
AUDIO: “I’m Ben Graber and I
approved this message because it is
time for change you can trust.”
Graber’s Attempt To Politicize Ernesto To
Advance His Career Did Not Work Last
Time: Following the primary election (which
occurred one week after Ernesto) and Graber’s
loss in that primary, the Sun-Sentinel stated,
“So much for Broward Mayor Ben Graber
capitalizing on all that free airtime as the
county’s face during the Ernesto buildup last
week. Graber, who sounded tremulous at the
podium in early briefings, lost his state Senate
race to businessman Jeremy Ring. Graber will
resign his County Commission seat in
November.” (Sun-Sentinel, 9/7/2006)