What is it wrong with this picture? For the first time in a generation the Dems have two strong challengers in South Florida: Cuban Americans Joe Garcia and Raul Martinez. Both are competing toe to toe against well funded-one issue republicans Mario and Lincoln Diaz Balart. The two brothers have done nothing for South Floridians, oh yes! sorry, my mistake, Mario did vote against SCHIP after receiving campaign contributions from the tobacco companies. The brothers talk only about Fidel Castro and Cuba, that's it. And they neglect the proven fact that the demographics have changed, and that people want to have the freedom to visit their relatives in the island and send money to them.
But, what the Dems do in a year that Barack Obama will clearly help get votes for "down ticket" candidate in many MORE states? Leave it to Cli-berman supporter Debbie Wasserman Schultz....
From the Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/...
Party leaders have tapped Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz to raise money and coach candidates in a high-stakes, aggressive bid to expand the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.
But as three Miami Democrats look to unseat three of her South Florida Republican colleagues, Wasserman Schultz is staying on the sidelines.
What??
This time around, Wasserman Schultz and Meek say their relationships with the Republican incumbents, Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and his brother Mario, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, leave them little choice but to sit out the three races.
Are you still angry? Wait there is more...
Both Meek and Wasserman Schultz have benefited from a close affiliation with the U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC, which since its founding in 2003 has contributed $22,000 to Wasserman Schultz's campaign committee and $10,500 to Meek's.
Wasserman Schultz said the PAC support played no role in her decision, but she acknowledges she's closer to the Republican incumbents on Cuba issues than she is to the Democratic challengers, who favor easing restrictions on family travel to the island.
Without the Party's support will be an uphill battle:
However, Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the Rothenberg Political Report, which tracks political campaigns, said the lack of support from top Democrats could make donors leery.
''Debbie Wasserman Schultz is a favorite of leadership, somebody on the move,'' Rothenberg said. ``When somebody like that doesn't want to be a major player in taking on a Republican, that's a signal.''
One word: UNBELIEVABLE.
Joe Garcia notes such nonaggression pacts are ``part of why progress is so difficult in Washington. The status quo is hard to move. But when all of this is said and done, we're going to be elected by people who live in the districts we're running in.''
I am so upset that I am going to eat my computer.
Update1: Here's the contact information for Debbie Wasserman-Schultz:
Washington DC: 202-225-7931
Pembroke Pines: 954-437-3936
Aventura: 305-936-5724
Website: http://www.house.gov/...
Email
And here's the info for Kendrick Meek:
Washington DC: 202-225-4506
Miami Gardens: 305-690-5905
Pembroke Pines: 954-450-6767
Website: http://kendrickmeek.house.gov/
Email
Update2: I am not commenting or making statements about ethnic background here. It is just that I am tired of the Joe Lieberman's of our party. And by the way, the first to use the word CLI-BERMAN was Sam Seder on Air America last friday.