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Friday, October 29, 2010

Democratocracy in Action in Florida

The Democratic apparatus is at it again. Just days after we learned that early voters in Nevada found their ballots pre-programmed for Harry Reid, we learn that the party's cloak and dagger guy, former President Bill Clinton, was dispatched to Florida to convince Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek to drop out of the race in favor of independent candidate Charlie Crist, who is governor.

This is the second time we know of that Clinton has secretly tried to get a Democratic candidate to drop out of a senate race. The first was Joe Sestak.

Last night on Fox's Greta Van Susteren show, Crist was interviewed and openly admitted to the effort to convince Meek to drop out. (Meek is far back in the polls and the intent is to defeat Republican conservative Marco Rubio, who is leading.) Crist also admitted to discussing the matter with White House officials-whom he refused to name.

Meek, meanwhile, is denying word that he twice promised Clinton he would drop out in favor of Crist. And what is Clinton saying? Has anybody seen him lately?

This is also reminiscient of the time a few years ago when Bob Toricelli dropped out of the New Jersey Senata race very late under Democratic pressure due to the fact that he was mired in scandal and way down in the polls. Frank Lautenberg replaced him and subsequently won.

I wonder how Florida voters feel about this sleazy move. Furthermore, I thought the Democrats were the party of the minorities (Meek is African-American). Why are the Democrats stooping so low in order to defeat Rubio? Is it because they cannot stand to see a successful, conservative Republican Hispanic sitting in Congress? 

5 comments:

Siarlys Jenkins said...

Its standard politics Gary. You're just getting hot and bothered because your boy might lose out. Rubio is ahead with a PLURALITY of voters, not a majority.

If Florida law provided for a run-off, with the ultimate winner having to get an outright MAJORITY, or if it used the "instant run-off" method of reallocating votes to a second-choice candidate, Rubio would be dead meat.

It doesn't do "minority representation" much good to keep running Meeks if he isn't going to win, because a 3rd place finish does not put a "black" candidate into office. Where, oh where, does this sudden hypocritical concern for the size of the "black caucus" in Washington suddenly come from?

You are SO transparent. Hopefully, you will renew a sense of integrity after the heat of the election is over.

Gary Fouse said...

Actually, as long as the black caucus in Washington is exclusively Democrat, I am not concerned. I would like to see some black Republicans in Congress or black conservative independents.

Siarlys Jenkins said...

Well let me clue you in then, that Meeks, if elected, would be a Democratic senator, not a Republican one. So the question remains, why you waxed so eloquent about the racial implications of a Democratic politician asking a black Democratic candidate to withdraw from the race???

Funny you haven't answered any more substantive concerns. One more scandal that falls down immediately if tapped lightly with relevant facts.

Oh, remember the year that Republicans didn't bother to support their nominal candidate for senator from Connecticut, because George W. Bush wanted his friend Joseph Lieberman, running as an independent after LOSING a Democratic primary (not withdrawing from it), to be re-elected? You didn't call that Republicautocracy did you?

Gary Fouse said...

Siarlys,

Isn't it ironic that the "first black president" (Bill Clinton) tried to get what would be the first black senator from Florida to drop out of the race?

Siarlys Jenkins said...

Gary, don't press that red herring. He's NOT going to be the "first black senator" from Florida. That IS Clinton's point. Like I said, its standard politics, and the only way to avoid such situations is to provide for run-offs, instant or otherwise, so voters can freely choose the candidate they REALLY want, knowing that if s/he comes in last, their vote will be transferred to their second choice.