Posted on 02/21/2006 7:36:56 PM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis compared the way Republicans run Florida to the way Fidel Castro runs Cuba as the state party rallied supporters Tuesday for the upcoming election.
State workers are afraid of retribution if they say what they really think about how the state is run, said Davis, a congressman from Tampa.
"I had a state worker put his arm around my shoulder, he looked around the room to make sure nobody was looking at him, and said 'Jim, I'm for you.' What kind of country is that? I've had the same conversations with other people - in Havana," Davis said at the Florida Democratic Party's unity luncheon.
Later, he added, "There are people I run into every time I'm here (in Tallahassee) who are afraid to express criticism of their own government and to have their voice heard. That is not Democracy. That is not a healthy environment."
The Republican Party of Florida criticized the comment.
"It's entirely irresponsible and unbelievable that someone who pretends to be a serious candidate for statewide office would compare Florida to a communist regime," said Andy Palmer, the state party's executive director. "The fact that the state continues to grow by over 400,000 people a year is evidence that this is a great place to live."
Sen. Bill Nelson, the party's only statewide elected official, criticized the way Republicans have used their leadership in Washington and Tallahassee.
"This is a dog-eat-dog two party state where the other party has figured out how to cut all the corners in order to just completely run over the minority party. It is time for us to change that," said Nelson, who will likely face Republican U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris as he seeks a second term this year.
Nelson said that the public is hungry for professionalism and courtesy.
"For this democratic constitutional government to work, you've got to have an ability to get along, to reach out and build consensus in order to govern a country that is as broad and is as diverse as our country is," Nelson said.
State Sen. Rod Smith, who is the other major Democrat running for governor, criticized Republican policies on education, Medicaid, stem cell research and more.
"We are going to have a unified Democratic Party in the fall because it means so much. There is a difference in our parties," Smith said. "The poor, the sick and ... the families of this state need our help."
The luncheon raised $100,000 for the Florida Democratic Party. Nelson and party Chairman Karen Thurman suggested the idea as a way of showing their top candidates standing together for the good of the party.
Republican Gov. Jeb Bush can't seek re-election because of term limits. Republicans hoping to replace him include Attorney General Charlie Crist and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.
Gallagher issued a statement about Davis' remarks after reading them.
"Anyone who understands the true nature of Fidel Castro's brutality would know better than to make the remarks Jim Davis made today," he said. "Fidel Castro is a murderer, responsible for the imprisonment, torture and execution of thousands of his own people, and thousands of Cuban-Americans across Florida have suffered greatly due to his brutal dictatorship."
Puzzling since the Democrats still own the Legislature and this Governor can't do a darned thing without asking, "Pretty please." Davis' reasoning hasn't improved.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
LOL, wrong state.
So Jeb's opened up all the looney bins and put the inmates on rafts...?
So Karen Thurman is the FL RAT Chairwoman. She lost her Congressional seat to a Republican. It takes a loser to lead a loser party.
The GOP owns huge majorities in both houses of the Florida legislature.
This will not help Davis establish moderate credentials.
I saw the name Davis, and zoned to California. Oops...
I didn't realize the legislature was as lopsided back there too.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Wrong. You win elections then you govern like you won.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
The advice contained in my post, is not exclusively for Democrats, Republicans could learn from it too. :)
Two quick shots from the hip on this one:
1) Likening the GOP to Castro's communists is not really the politically savvy thing to do when most Cubans in Florida either fled Castro or are descended of those exiles and are staunchly positioned within the GOP.
2) I thought the libs liked Castro's Cuba.
I know exactly what you did...because I did the same thing.
I was two paragraphs into the story before something clicked (say, wasn't that dateline "Tallahassee"...???).
Beg your pardon. The Republicans hold the majority in BOTH the Seanate and the House. You must be thinking of some other state.
Ya' know, were I not for the fact that I live here in Florida, I would have thought the same thing.
The name "Davis" reminds me more of California's disgrace...this Davis is supposed to be a big cheese with the Denocrats and yet this is the first time I recall hearing of him.
He sure picked a stupid way of getting publicity and getting his name known.
Uhh, actually, the Democrats don't control the legislature in Florida.
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