Party disunity: main course at Democratic bash (When Demmycrats Attack Demmycrats)

Miami Herald ^ | June 29, 2003 | PETER WALLSTEN AND BETH REINHARD

[PJ-Comix]

An event in Hollywood designed to showcase a comeback by Florida's struggling Democratic Party sparked sniping Saturday between two South Florida politicians angling to win a seat in the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch, D-Pembroke Pines, refused to attend the annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner held in his congressional district because one of his rivals to replace Sen. Bob Graham, Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas, received an award.

Deutsch lashed out at Penelas in an interview late Saturday, questioning the mayor's loyalty as a Democrat in the wake of his controversial role in the 2000 presidential recount -- when many Democrats accused Penelas of failing to fight for Al Gore ballots to be counted.

''This is a guy who helped elect George W. Bush, who is trying to destroy Medicare and everything the Democratic Party stands for,'' Deutsch said in a telephone interview.

Penelas, who worked the dinner for hours Saturday, waved off Deutsch's attack, saying he campaigned hard for Gore.

''The reality is that Al Gore won Miami-Dade County by 30,000 votes,'' Penelas said. ``I'm flattered that someone would feel the need to attack me this early.''

Tension has been brewing for months between Deutsch and Penelas, who are considered the biggest fundraisers among the Democrats vying to replace Graham, who is running for president.

The spat underscores the fact that some Democrats hope to make Penelas' role in the 2000 recount an issue to hurt his chances outside his home base. It points to what will likely be a hard-fought primary should Graham continue his presidential campaign and not return to the Senate race.

Deutsch said Saturday he tried to convince Florida Democratic Party Chairman Scott Maddox to let all the Senate candidates appear in the program, but he said the chairman wouldn't budge.

Deutsch and U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd of Monticello, another Senate contender, were not featured, while Penelas received an award for his work passing a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing universal prekindergarten.

Another Democratic Senate contender, former Education Commissioner Betty Castor, accepted an award on behalf of the state's Democratic mayors.

Maddox declined to comment on the bickering.

The dinner, held at the posh Diplomat Hotel, was expected to raise about $750,000 for the state party, which is struggling to revive itself after the worst election performance in modern history.

The man at the top of that failed 2002 ticket, gubernatorial nominee Bill McBride, used the dinner to make his first public political appearance since losing to Gov. Jeb Bush by double digits seven months ago, offering reporters only cryptic answers regarding what he plans to do next.

''I'll be making some announcements soon,'' he said.

Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, who lost to McBride in last year's Democratic primary, was mobbed by well-wishers as she strolled through the hotel lobby.

[PJ-Comix]

I love this! An event publicized to showcase a Demmycrat comeback in Florida turns into a big Flame Fest among Demmycrats.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[SandRat]

Demmies attacking Demmies - - - I LOVE IT!
It's even better than watching Nat Geo. show great whites in a feeding freenzie so wild they are attacking and eating other great whites.

Wonder if we can get "The Croc Hunter Steve Irwin" to cover the next one? The way they behave it should be right up his line.

[Graewoulf]

Sounds like democrat Penelas may be a closet Republican, especially since he is accused of "trying to destroy --- everything that the democat Party stands for."

[jocon307]

"[A] state constitutional amendment guaranteeing universal prekindergarten. "

How long until we have to hand our children over to the State at birth?

[Dan from Michigan]

I hope Boyd and Penalas split the 'moderate vote' and Peter the Nazi(For his first amendment attacks) wins.

[hellinahandcart]

The dinner, held at the posh Diplomat Hotel, was expected to raise about $750,000 for the state party, which is struggling to revive itself after the worst election performance in modern history.

Where's my tiny violin? I feel a song coming on...

[ExSoldier]

"Sounds like democrat Penelas may be a closet Republican, especially since he is accused of "trying to destroy --- everything that the democat Party stands for."

Please tell me you're being sarcastic. I know Penelas personally, but not as a friend, as an adversary. I have fought him ever since he was a county commissioner. The gun club to which I belong fought a hard battle against his initiative many years ago to have the police firing range for Coral Gables PD shut down because it was also open to civilians who had a club membership. He went so far as to salt the field (which is next door to a little league baseball field) with unfired projectiles crowing in an open commission meeting about unsafe practices and the "children's safety." First we slammed him there, then we had our growing membership plaster his office with about 5,000 letters of outrage over his tactics and lies. In the next commission meeting he stood up and withdrew his petition and openly acknowledged efforts of club members. He swore revenge that day. He never again underestimated the strength of gun owners. That's why he is so dangerous. Because he still managed to get several highly restrictive ordinances passed that are harmful to gun owners.

The Dems used to call him "The Cuban Jack Kennedy" although since his sudden abandonment of Gore that adulation has waned somewhat. I suspect that he and Gore were at odds over the Elian affair. Miami Cubans (notoriously pro-gun) will overlook this one shotcoming in favor of the greater good that will accrue to the Cuban exile community if he wins true political power. However, he is not well known elsewhere in the state, and those porkchoppers in the pan handle will not be as kind.