This story started last week while I was away from South Florida for Netroots Nation (Las Vegas, baby) and oblivious to this chapter in the book of dirty tricks that the Republican slime machine is using against Joe Garcia in FL-25. Now it looks like it's blowing up in the face of likely Republican candidate David Rivera, with a pertinent ricochet over to the Marco Rubio campaign house. You see -- and this gets really complicated -- the guy behind the slimy mailer is a former staffer for Rubio.
Highly recommended you follow this link to the Miami Herald story and read all the details of this vile thing -- the racist tone to the mailer, the 19-year-old they duped to be the nominal sender, the full creepiness of those Republicans who want to represent us in the US House (Rivera) and Senate (Rubio).
MORE TO COME
I'm curious whether this sort of trick would be possible if the Republicans in the US Senate hadn't blocked the bill to require disclosure of those behind political action committees. Notice that: The Republicans are the villains in this, from the top in Congress -- they gave the finger to all voters in the USA -- down to our local politics in South Florida.
And thanks to the Miami Herald for working this story.
I'm adding Karl Rove to the roster of labels on this post in disgusted tribute to his eminence in dirty tricks.
Let's not forget that Joe Garcia is closely watched nationally and in Florida as a likely winner in this race. The Buzz report on Florida congressional races shows Joe is worthy of support, and then some. Hint: here's how to do it.
For those coming late to the game of South Florida politics, a few facts. President Obama named Joe Garcia to be director of the Office of Minority Impact in the Department of Energy last year. Garcia resigned to run for the FL-25 seat that he narrowly lost to Mario Diaz-Balart in 2008. The incumbent is quitting to run in the safer Republican seat of FL-21 being vacated by his elder brother, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, who is retiring from Congress. Joe Garcia is a former chairman of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, a former head of the Florida Public Service Commission (utilities regulator), a former executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation. His parents immigrated from Cuba and Joe was born in Miami Beach.
A version posted at Miami-Dade Dems.