What the heck happened to Debbie Wasserman Schultz? I usually like her, but in an unprecedented move, Debbie will not support Democratic candidates over Republicans because they might get elected—Huh?
They’re fuming at U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, because she won’t publicly join Democratic Party efforts to unseat the three Cuban-American congressional Republicans from Miami-Dade County. That’s treason to some activists.
“I almost think it’s a slap in the face. She needs to be held accountable,” said Percy Johnson, a Democratic committeeman and president of the Fort Lauderdale Democratic Club. “Our thing as the Democratic Party is to elect Democrats. It’s not to elect some Democrats, it’s to elect Democrats at all levels: local, state and federal.”
Wasserman Schultz is a co-chairwoman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red-to-Blue program, whose sole purpose is to replace Republican members of Congress with Democrats. But she has said she can’t risk the consequences if she publicly works against U.S. Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen — and they end up getting re-elected.
It’s an election, Debbie. They expect you to work against them. That is politics. Your job as co-chair in the Red-to-Blue program is to help elect Dems instead of Republicans. That’s not rocket science. What consequences could befall you? My god, wake up. If she doesn’t change her tune, she should be removed from her position. And the DCCC should stand with us on this issue. It’s really outrageous behavior on her part. And I’m seeing other bad behavior from her too…David has a great group of diaries that explain everthing you need to know…So does brownsox.
Action alert below with other bloggers joining in.
”It’s too sensitive for me,” she said on the WPLG-Ch. 10 program This Week in South Florida with Michael Putney. A member of Congress assigned to help South Florida’s Democratic challengers “just can’t be me, because if I have to continue to serve with my colleagues after the election, I think I’ll have done damage to our ability to work together.”
This is in keeping with Wolff’s prior comments on how importantly he views this issue:
Brian Wolff, executive director of the DCCC, says the bloggers are making “much ado about nothing,” noting that it’s “customary” for members to remain neutral in races involving GOP members of their respective congressional delegations.
If you, however, take a different view of things, I encourage you to call or write the relevant parties and let them know:
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (campaign office):
E-mail: AskDebbie@DWSforCongress.com
Phone: 202-741-7154DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen (campaign office):
E-mail: chris@vanhollen.org
Phone: 301-942-3768DCCC Headquarters:
Contact form
Phone: 202-863-1500
Jason Rosenbaum says: Some Democrats Have Forgotten How To Oppose Republicans
By and large, the DCCC has been very good this cycle; I’m particularly impressed by Chris Van Hollen’s choice to stay out of the Maryland fourth primary. But what Debbie Wasserman Schultz is doing in not supporting Democrats against three extreme right-wing Florida Republicans is not just bad politics and disloyal to the Democratic Party, it is also enabling the worst instincts of the hardline conservative movement within both parties. Wasserman Schultz is purely doing this to sustain the embargo against Cuba, and she’s reaping donations from sugar interests as a result.
No Trackbacks To “This is unacceptable. Shame on you Debbie“
She obviously cares about her next campaign more than the country. Shameless!
Infiltrator in our midst! The question is who put her there–you might start there.
Well Florida, your off to a great start. Debbie resign. I admired you once. Having to deal with those swarmy Florida Repugs must be tough, but you took it to far.
The “thirty something” Leibermans….You could lay the election on a silver platter for some of these DINO’s and they’d find a way to foulke it up and lose.
With leadership like this, who needs enemies.
I knew when I first read about it that C&L would not like it, and rightfully so.
Now you know what KKKarl Rove meant by the permanent republican majority.
Sadly, it looks as though she has gone from being a stateswoman to being a politician. Sure, she is courting the Cuban vote in her area.
I used to like her so much and admire what she stood for. When she stood for something she did it loudly and with conviction. I guess money and other things tamed her into being more beholden than dedicated.
If she has dug her heels in on this, she should be removed from her position. If you can’t do the job get out of the way so someone else can.
John,
Time and time again I have asked Republican leadership down here why there is no GOP challenger for Debbie’s seat - reply: She is “friends” with Ileana and the Diaz-Balart brothers.
This goes both ways. They work together in congress for each others pork and they each do what they can for each other to avoid facing tough re-elections.
I am a Republican and I support impeachment too. We need to keep our constitution sacred and our country free from corporate hawks who continue to push us into war (either in Iraq or against some new issue that will come up in the future).
It comes down to money and organization and the Cuban congresspersons have it all tied up in such a way that it would look bad to have even an unaffiliated GOP candidate run in that seat.
Of course, this is nothing new. It is ancient practice of quid pro quo.
Chris
Miami, FL
P.S. Don’t blame me I voted for Ron Paul.
Bill @ 2:
Not an infiltrator,… how can you infiltrate when you’re already inside? C’mon, people, Repug, spineless Dem, it’s all the same,… & they’re doing it standing on our backs.
She should resign congress. probably suicide by public controversy. You expect a tick to do anything right? She’s getting a payoff that keeps her on someone else’s side. What surprises anyone here? How many congress people in this country aren’t paid for? 10? 30?
these people will sell you for a contribution. forgot, all ready has sold us.
This also works to keep the DINO’s from having an overpowering majority. Pelosi & Co. can then blame the Repukes for not supporting major, if false, DINO legislative initiatives and no responsible legislation gets passed. Quite a deal!
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Cuban American National Foundation own Debbie. Always have. Always will. Debbie’s primary loyalties are to Likud and Bastista dictatorial power bosses.
Not the first time.
this link has the Ed Schultz audio
If we can’t give Florida back to Spain, can we give it to Israel?
Andy @ 4:
Don’t worry, these lieders will make up some more enemies as time goes on.
I still like Debbie, but I agree something has to give. She has to be willing to take these repugs out electorally or step down. Also, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is one of the vilest members in the entire House. Debbie should make no mistake, Ros-Letinen and the rest of the Florida repug contingent would do everything in their power to get the House back that includes defeating her so she needs to cut the crap.
Cuban Miami Mafia
I’m beginning to think that politicians get a certain illness when they are in power. Whether it is corruption, dirty tricks or situation like this. Quite sad.
People like these are the reason why most Florida offices are term-limited. It should be the same in Federal offices too!
“I usually like her” is the key line here. I’ve seen her speak and have been very impressed but then….
Trouble is, this seems to be status quo with the Dems. Conyers was impressive to me when he was holding hearings in spite of the lights being turned off in the hearing room by the repubs but what stand has he made lately? My two Dem senators sometimes make an impressive stand but, too many times, they seem to be playing good cop/bad cop. One will take a steadfast Democratic stance on one issue but, for the next crucial vote, take a hike on voting for what the majority of the constituents want. Without some kind of consistency the Dems are going nowhere.
You don’t mess with the Dade Miami Mafia
will guess who she’s
f@@kingin bed with. like LIEberman, she’sa repig. vote this bitch out of office.
Forget it, John.
It’s Flor.E.Duh.
It’s possible these pols really don’t expect anyone to work against them, even in an election year. There’s such a thing as the Cuban Mafia, people.
Thanks, Deb, FOR NOTHING. Got those faxes from me yet ?
pissed off patricia @ 7:
She also has asked that a insurance company be banned from florida because they asked where she was going because she asked for a insurance upgrade and according to her free to travel is an american right tell that to the cuban americans that want to travel to cuba and other americans that want to travel there she also strengthed the penalties to travel rights for some penalties for others
Those that govern should have the same rights as those that are governed not this aristocracy it is fast becoming or has become
Here’s why this is so outrageous…
According to many census pollsters, Florida is going to gain an additional three seats in 2010. (Texas will also get three, while my home of Illinois will lose one). We absolutely need to hold onto Florida and keep it that way, or those three extra electoral votes will be going to the Republican candidate from that point on.
Get with the program, Debbie!
And the blogosphere is attacking her because she wants Florida votes to count. Shameless!
Well, this issue seems pretty striaghtforward for a change… A dem who won’t support dems in an election because she is too busy back scratchin with some minority repub candidates.. IF that’s her position, then Debbie Wasserman Schultz needs to resign that co-chairwomanship. If she won’t voluntarily step aside, she should be forcibly removed by the DCCC. Frankly, maybe Howard Dean ought to take her aside and have a little chit-chat about objectives and purpose and goals and whether or not she is onboard with the gameplan. IF she just wants to be a DINO, then maybe she needs reevaluated by all those who thought she had something on the ball. Maybe she should just be sent packing after all…………….JD
JoeMarasmus @ 28:
Thats probably what the Miami Mafia told her on the phone.
dadams @ 23:
Wonderful. Just what we need. A secret police, complete with its own name-calling. Is she a Trotskyite wrecker yet?
Jim H @ 29:
They count votes in Florida? When did this start?
Politics is a contact sport, sweetheat. If the only motivation you have is to keep getting elected, just quit and become a lobbyist already, you douchebag.
Another example of a profile in courage. She must be positioning herself as the next Democratic Speaker of the House. Spineless!!!
I love you all, keep tearing each other up. Between Obama and Clinton, Kwamee and now Debbie, thank you all for letting us keep the White House and take back both Houses. Please keep it up, you are all doing a great job.
All indications are that we will have repukes in the WH for at least another 4 years after the November election.
The demoquacks are continuing to shoot themselves, and each other, in the foot - on a regular basis. If this practice goes on, and there is every indication that it will, the country will be saying “hello” to bush-old (mccain) next January.
Potentially, blood from the deaths of another 1 - 2 million innocent Muslims (this time a mix of Iranian, Iraqi, Pakistani and Afghani) will be on the hands of those who caused/allowed the demoquacks to lose a tremendous opportunity to try and help the country get on the right track.
Troll @ 36:
Keep dreaming!
Being that this is occurring in Florida, maybe the DCCC should take this case up to
the Supreme Court and have that wonderful(snark) judicial court render a verdict
advising Debbie W. that she is “good” for the Repug party.
fool me once…
Why is C&L bashing Dems all of the sudden?
I knew she’d become public enemy #1 as soon as I saw her endorse Hillary over OBama. What took you O-bots so long???
Yeah gee, don’t think for yourself, evaluate people as individuals, or use your own judgment. Instead, mindlessly campaign for anyone anywhere that as a “D” next to their name. That’s Bush-think at its finest. God I hate the two party system.
Ros-Lehtinen stirred controversy by calling for the assassination of Cuban Leader Fidel Castro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MunPrYJWy0
Troll @ 36:
Another Republican wet dream.
Gotugye @ 45:
Why do the smart ones always reply to my posts? Anotrher?
HRC-stumper @ 41:
Did you read the post, it is clear why this is news for those that care about the future of this country.
Somebody please give this woman a new hair do! It should be illegal to have hair like that in 2008.