Lawyer for Cuban Boy's Relatives Is Elected Miami Mayor

New York Times ^ | 11/14/01 | DANA CANEDY

[kattracks]

IAMI, Nov. 13 — Manny Diaz, a political no-name who became a central figure in the Elián González episode, shook up the local political establishment today by easily winning the race for mayor of Miami in his first campaign for elected office.

Mr. Diaz, a 47-year-old Cuban- American lawyer who became publicly known last year as a representative of the Miami relatives of Elián, the young Cuban survivor of a boat sinking, defeated Maurice Ferre, a former mayor who could not gain enough support among African- Americans and non-Cuban whites to overcome Mr. Diaz's lock on the decisive Cuban-American vote for the runoff election.

Mr. Diaz, an independent, had 55.3 percent of the vote to 44.7 percent for Mr. Ferre, a Democrat.

"Forty years ago my mother and I arrived as poor immigrants in this city and lived a couple of blocks away," Mr. Diaz said in his acceptance speech at his headquarters in Little Havana. "And 40 years later here I am as mayor of the city. God bless America."

In many ways, the election of the political newcomer was vintage Miami politics. In a familiar election theme here, a campaign that initially focused on taxes, city services and other municipal issues shifted in the last week into a battle dominated by race, ethnicity and Cuban-American ideologies. The shift highlighted the deep divisions among racial and ethnic groups in a city that prides itself on its international reputation.

The candidates were forced into a runoff after they came in first and second in the election on Nov. 6 in which no one received more than 50 percent of the vote. In qualifying for today's matchup, the candidates defeated Mayor Joe Carollo.

Almost immediately after eliminating their opponents, the front-runners began accusing each other of pushing ethnically sensitive hot buttons for political gain.

Mr. Ferre, who is Puerto Rican, accused his opponent of spreading a rumor in the Little Havana section that he supported Janet Reno, the Democratic candidate for governor who has been vilified among many Cuban-Americans for ordering the federal raid that returned Elián to his Cuban father while she was attorney general in the Clinton administration.

Mr. Diaz's supporters, meanwhile, pointed fingers at Mr. Ferre over pamphlets placed anonymously on cars in a black neighborhood that showed Mr. Diaz with Elián and suggested that he used the boy to advance his political agenda.

Both candidates denied the other's accusations while accusing each other of waging a divisive campaign.

"There's been a lot of dirty stuff here," said Mr. Ferre, who was mayor from 1973 until 1985 and campaigned on his experience, which included presiding over the city during the Mariel boatlift and the race riots in the Liberty City section.

"I think what has happened is that what keeps popping out is Elián and Janet Reno and, you know, the right- wing fanaticism in the Cuban-American community," Mr. Ferre said this afternoon.

"It is the lock-step blind fanatical rejection of anything not within the purview of what they think is right," he said. "There is no middle ground in the minds of many of these people."

Mr. Diaz's supporters said Mr. Ferre had simply run a negative campaign at a time when voters were looking for positive change.

"People are upset at the way Ferre handled his campaign," Alberto Lorenzo, Mr. Diaz's campaign manager, said this afternoon. "He's doing what he likes to do, which is divide and confuse."

Some voters, however, emphasized the need for political experience in a city that has been plagued by scandal and embarrassment.

More than a dozen Miami police officers are awaiting trial on federal charges of brutality and corruption. And Mayor Carollo has had his own legal troubles, having spent a night in jail in February after being accused of throwing a cardboard tea container at his wife. Prosecutors later dropped a misdemeanor abuse charge against him.

"Manny Diaz has never had this kind of job and has no political experience," said Marina Vazquez, 37, who voted for Mr. Ferre, saying he made her feel "a bit more secure."

Despite Mr. Carollo's troubles, his endorsement of Mr. Diaz seems to have been a factor.

"Running against a Cuban-American is always difficult here," said George Gonzalez, a political science professor at the University of Miami. "Cuban-Americans here do vote along ethnic lines."

In his concession speech, Mr. Ferre again emphasized the ethnic and racial divisions that he believes helped to determine the outcome of the race. "The time will come in America when we can look and deal with each other based on our value and our worth and not on the color of our skin, our nationality or our ethnicity or our religion," he said. But he added on a hopeful note: "Today Miami seems to be a divided community but from a divided community to a united community, the change can be very quick and very short."

[history_matters]

[Bump! Now we need to get to work electing Cuban Republican Orlando Sanchez as mayor of houston. www.orlandosanchez.com - i encourage all freepers to donate as much as they can. The RNC's too busy twiddling their thumbs to get involved in this one early on and will probably jump on board last minute when they wake up. But we need financial resources now, not the day before the election]

BTTT

[ISonnet]

Bet Reno's shaking in her shoes over this. Oh wait, she was already. Nevermind!

[GringoInChile]

And Mayor Carollo has had his own legal troubles, having spent a night in jail in February after being accused of throwing a cardboard tea container at his wife.

Sorry for getting off topic, but doesn't this seem a little bizzare?

[Hugh Akston]

"Cuban-Americans here do vote along ethnic lines."

So do other minority groups.

[Erasmus]

The turnout seemed incredibly low. I don't think the eligible voters viewed this race in Manichean terms. But then I am far from the fray.

Even though they had a couple of Manichean Candidates.

+<)B^)

[Plummz]

You make some great remarks, and I also remember some other details such as Senator Fred Thompson not being allowed (ALLOWED! A U.S. Senator!) in to see Juan Miguel and Elian while they were being held (at Camp David? some compound in VA?)

Sen. Bob Smith; Andrews Air Force Base in MD

[Plummz]

How did Diaz fit in to the lawyer situation after Kendall Coffey (DNC) took over and offered the incompetent representation that helped land Elain back in cuba?

[ElCubanoAusente]

As you well know Elian is gone to Cuba. If you don't know he is used by Castro for propaganda purposes. Nevertheless the question that confronts everyone now is not Elian, but he way he was removed from the relatives home in Miami. If you approve of that it would be very difficult for you claim foul when the government does the same to anyone else. Our rights, our castles, were stepped on by Janet Reno and Bill Clinton in an unscrupulous arrangement with the Dictator of Cuba. I think after 42 years i running the Country he can be classified as Dictator, couldn't we?

[Norb2569]

"I think what has happened is that what keeps popping out is Elián and Janet Reno and, you know, the right- wing fanaticism in the Cuban-American community," Mr. Ferre said this afternoon.

"It is the lock-step blind fanatical rejection of anything not within the purview of what they think is right," he said. "There is no middle ground in the minds of many of these people."

These demonRATS are absolutley clueless, which is a good thing. They apply such a hypocritical double standard to anyone who is NOT for them. This too, is a good thing. The more they continue this, the more elections will be won by non-demonRATS. Ferre is representative of the demonRAT party with its message of divisiveness.

I hope and pray that Janet Reno disregards this race as nothing important, because she will get HUMILIATED if she runs against Jeb!

The GOP should take note of Manny Diaz' campaign, as it teaches lessons on HOW TO WIN.

The American sheeple can take great lessons of patriotism from the Cuban-American population:
1. FREEDOM from government, above ALL ELSE
2. Self-reliance and community esprit de corps
3. Sticking to your guns - refusing to be politically correct

I have great respect for these former refugees, as they are TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOTS! They have seen the great American dream - FREEDOM & LIBERTY - and they are not afraid to defend it!

Norb in Jacksonville

[Norb2569]

BUMP for LIBERTY!!

[craig_eddy]

Not ONE mention in the article that this man is a Republican. A Republican who THOROUGHLY trounced the Demorat opponent. Makes you go hmmmmm....

[Mudboy Slim]

"Elian" will continue to Haunt Leftist Politicians in Florida for Years to Come, IMHO.

FReegards...MUD

[Norb2569]

(Where was this warrant, or a copy of this warrant, between the time the government CLAIMS it was preseted and the time the government produced a copy for the press and the family's lawyers?) The warrant- which according to witnesses was NOT presented- was for the ARREST of an illegal alien by the name of Elian Gonzales. That was an unlawful warrant because as everyone knew- including the people who sought the warrant- the boy was NOT an illegal alien but was in fact still in the US... by court order... and with the person whom the court bestowed legal custody and an additional order to the custodian (his uncle, the bio-father's brother) to make sure the child was NOT allowed out of the state of Florida!

piasa, you are the MAN!!

JD86, consider yourself GATOR FLAMED!

Norb in Jacksonville

[Mudboy Slim]

"Young Elian's Daydreamin'"
(To be sung to Jimmy Buffett's "Havana Daydreamin'")

Fussed and cussed that Reno whore...
"Butch" storm-trooped his new home!
Sent him back to Ol' Castro...
To help her pal, Gore.
Wishin' he'd been older then...
So he wouldda had some rights.
Thinkin' 'bout how sweet FReedom did taste...
Fer his Liberty, he'd fight!!

Young Elian's daydreamin'...
'Bout when his FReedom was swiped away.....

Papa played Ol' Fidel's game...
'Else his own ma'd be dead!
Elian knows the Ultimate Villain...
Was America's Tyrant, Slick!
Couldda stood up strong and bold...
Instead kissed Castro's A$$...
'Cuz Lib'rals believe that real FReedom's obscene...
Said, "RE-Enslave that lad!!"

Young Elian's daydreamin'...
Lord, he's just schemin' his return to the States!!

(Soothin' guitar/piano reprise)

Greggie Craig, consigliere...
Clinton's private whore...
Fought the case against Liberty...
JUSTICE?! Ain't parta his World!
Sheeple, why should we be resigned...
To accept this Leftist BILE?!!
Let's sing and yell...let's give Left Hell!!
We'll be groovin' 'cuz Right's back in style!!

Else young Elian'll be leavin'...
Folks, we'll be stealin' his rights away...
Come on, all you FReepers...
Folks, it's all 'bout FReedom...Elian must stay!!

Doo doo doo dooo doooo...
Doo doo doo dooo dooooooo...

MargaritaVille FReegards...MUD

77 Posted on 06/25/2000 08:53:51 PDT by Mudboy Slim

FReegards...MUD

[Norb2569]

GWB in the White House was Elian's Revenge

Hey Lorenzo, this guy knows your name!!

[LarryLied]

I would have been more sympathetic to the relatives in the US if they had been flying American flags in Miami instead of Cuban flags in Miami.

Those people waving Chuban flags are the reason Al Gore is not president today. I stood next to many people waving Cuban flags at street rallies in West Palm Beach when Al Gore's lawyers were inside the recount center trying to steal votes. I see a Cuban flag today, I get the same feeling I do as when I see an American flag. The person waving it is an American patriot.

[rolling_stone]

I agree with you 100 % it was a custody issue, imagine if it was over state lines not countries. Politics should have been left out. Who is to decide what is better for the kid than his father? I lived in foreign countries with my parents as a child and feel that was more important than where I was. When he is 18 if he so desires, he can jump on boat like everyone else and come to Florida of his own volition.

[Norb2569]

I would have been more sympathetic to the relatives in the US if they had been flying American flags in Miami instead of Cuban flags in Miami.

Abviously you have never been to Miami or Little Havana or you must have been blind or blinded by your prejudice supported by the liberal media led by the Clinton News Network - (by the way, a JD should know about prejudice).

The Cuban flag has been flying in Florida for 41 years, since these refugees/exiles arrived in the land of liberty after the Castro revolution and overthrow of the duly elected government. The Cuban flag represnts their CULTURE, not their loyalty.

Go to any 'ethnic' neighborhood in the USA, (especially the ones of hispanic origins), and you will see flags flying from their native country. Does this mean they are anti-American? Heck no, it means they are PROUD of their heritage!

Us southern folk like to fly the stars and bars because it is our heritage. Does this mean we are anti-American? If you listen to the liberals you will beleive EXACTLY THAT! You are falling for the same symbolism over substance that the NAACP uses - WAKE UP!!

Norb in Jacksonville

[bjs1779]

If our own Justice Department is not bound by the Law, what kind of a country do we have here?

That is not quite accurate Luis. A federal court ruled that the raid did not violate any constitutional issues and therefore was legal, right down to the search warrant and the arrest warrant for Illegal Alien Elian.

The country we have is that nobody thought is was important enough to appeal that ruling. Only an excessive force case was allowed to go forward, as you know.

BTW, is there anything we could do to help out Jose Canseco?

[Alex Murphy]

...first, why not look at it strictly as a custody situation? the mother was dead, the child should be with his father.

Why not look at it strictly as a "last will and testament" situation? Elian's mother - in her last dying act - tried to get her son into the United States, where oh what a coincidence the boy's father did not live. If we honored his mother, the boy would still be in the US today.

...A parent could take a child to a communist or Muslim country. Would they be justified to keep an American child and refuse to return the child to a country of infidels?

Now, now, don't get our hopes up like that. You know darn well that Chelsea Clinton wouldn't have been born for another ten years. Besides I am proud to be an infidel, in a country of infidels who don't harbor and support those who crash planes into buildings. The God I serve doesn't bestow martyrdom on those who cause the death of innocents.