Regular readers of the Flash Report (I read it so you don’t have to) note the fawning idol-like coverage publisher Jon Fleishcman regularly bestows upon State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, the only conservative elected to a statewide office (for those saying I forgot Arnold, please.  He’s hardly conservative and barely Republican).

Poizner appears poised to make a run for Governor in 2010, and Fleischman will no doubt be one of his biggest cheerleaders — Poizner needs Jon’s favorable Flash Report coverage to wrap up the conservative base, but what does Fleischman get of out of it.

Register reporter Brian Joseph had a fascinating story in this morning’s register that may provide a clue. (the story appears to be gone from the web site but it appears on Page 3 of the front section; I have emailed Joseph about the story so hopefully the link will work; or better still, buy the paper!).

More after the jump.

The story concerns Ivar Roth, a Newport Beach podiatrist, who sought a face-to-face appointment with Commissioner Poizner to discuss practices of insurance companies.  Poizner’s staff couldn’t help Roth and offered a meeting with a deputy commissioner. And when the commissioner’s staff finally got a meeting, they could only offer Roth a phoner. 

Joseph reports that Roth learned he could get a meeting with Poizner.  But it came with a price tag.  Roth was put in touch with Jon Flieschman, who, in addition to running the Flash Report, also runs a political consulting firm (where he handled free media relations for disgraced, indicted-on-federal-corruption-charges, N-word using, and admitted-phenominal-sex-machine-but-I-have-a-personal-relationship-with-Jesus-Christ, Mike Carona on the day of Carona’s indictment asking the media to ask then-sheriff Mike “if he plans to resign.”) 

Joseph reported Fleishcman, touting his close personal and professional relationship with Steve Poizner, promised to arranage a meeting with the commissioner for a fee of $2500.

Roth said “It made me feel like the system is dirty.”

Poizner and Fleischman, when contacted by the Register, said the Roth/fee/meeting was “all a big misunderstanding.”

Sure.

Joseph saw an email from Roth provided to him by Fleischman where Jonny Flash honestly thought the good doctor was looking for more professional services than just a meeting.  Joseph reports that in spite of the misunderstanding, Fleischman still maintains he could get Roth a meeting with Poizner, but the commissioner’s office says no consultant can guarantee a meeting.  But how many other consultant’s run a prominent Republican and Conservative blog that a Conservative candidate for Governor will need the support of to make a play for 2010?

I don’t believe Fleischman’s excuse that he’ll do it for free; that sort of service is reserved for folks like Mike Carona.  And I don’t believe Poizner’s office either.

It sure looks and sounds like Pay for Play. Either way, Roth, and voters are getting screwed. 

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Filed under: California, Orange County - Local