Posted on 08/25/2003 6:59:31 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
LEESBURG - U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch tore into his U.S. Senate Democratic rival Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas in person Sunday, accusing Penelas before a stunned audience of ``single-handedly doing as much as anyone to help George W. Bush become president.''
As a stone-faced Penelas sat beside him, staring straight ahead, Deutsch, of Pembroke Pines, looked at the mayor and called him a ''pathological liar'' for suggesting that he had labored to elect Al Gore during the 2000 presidential race.
Then Deutsch repeated his accusations that Penelas has engaged in ''illegal and criminal'' fundraising in his bid for Senate.
Deutsch's attacks -- the most vicious, personal ones to date -- came before more than 100 Central Florida Democrats, two months after launching long-distance barbs at Penelas, whom Deutsch views as his most likely rival for the Democratic nomination to replace U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination.
Deutsch also presented Penelas with a letter asking him to make public a federal investigation into his fundraising.
Deutsch initiated the investigation, but it will not be made public unless Penelas waives confidentiality. His campaign has said he will not waive confidentiality.
Penelas, who followed Deutsch at the lectern, addressed the attacks only indirectly, saying Democrats can best keep Graham's seat by staying united.
''I will not tear down my fellow Democrats, nor will I tear down my party,'' Penelas said, instead launching into an attack on the president, his remarks warmly applauded.
`SLASH AND BURN'
Penelas' campaign has charged Deutsch with waging a ''slash-and-burn'' campaign, but, asked by reporters after the face-off, Penelas declined to comment on the attack or the charges.
''I'm going to run a campaign based on the issues,'' Penelas said. ``I respect the congressman tremendously. He has the right to run his campaign as he chooses, and I'm going to run the campaign the way I choose.''
With the Democratic primary to replace Graham still more than a year away, an already bitter feud has erupted between the two South Florida Democrats who are competing in a field of five for the party's nomination.
''The campaign for second place is fierce,'' quipped Jeffrey García, campaign manager for former Education Commissioner Betty Castor of Tampa, who led the field of Democrats in name recognition in a recent poll.
Castor, who has suggested the infighting could damage the party, did not attend the Lake County Democratic Executive Committee's event at a country club but sent her daughter.
STANCE TOWARD GORE
Deutsch and some Democrats have long criticized Penelas for what they said was his lackluster support for Gore during the 2000 election and the protracted recount. Deutsch has leveled the charges for months, but Sunday's encounter marked the first time he had confronted Penelas face to face.
Deutsch, who also charged Penelas with raising money for Republicans, said he's only pointing out weak spots that the Republicans will exploit should Penelas win the nomination.
''We can be nice, but primaries determine whether we're going to win in the general election,'' Deutsch said as the crowd began to murmur its disapproval of his attack.
But Deutsch wouldn't stop, again accusing Penelas of taking illegal money and declaring: ``The Republicans are not going to give him a walk.''
But as the bewildered audience turned hostile, with one man shouting, ''Sit down!'' and at least one woman walking out in protest, it was unclear whether the attack hit its target.
Still, amid boos, Deutsch persisted, his campaign finance manager behind him unveiling a series of anti-Penelas poster boards.
A pained former U.S. Rep. Karen Thurman looked on as event organizers exchanged worried looks.
''I have absolutely no second thoughts about what I've said today, because in the general election, Alex, your Republican friends are not going to be so nice to you,'' Deutsch said.
FEDERAL INQUIRY
Deutsch's calls for a public airing of the probe into Penelas' fundraising is based on contributions to Penelas' campaign from associates and employees of CarePlus Medical Centers, whose owner told employees in March that they were each ''expected'' to give Penelas $1,000.
Such contributions are considered coerced and are illegal, and Penelas' campaign has said the mayor would not accept the contributions.
A Herald analysis of campaign finance data, though, found that Penelas took at least $68,000 from the company's employees, their relatives and business associates. The campaign has said the donations came not through the e-mail solicitation but from a fundraising reception held at the home of the firm's owner in May.
LOL! This is rich! Deutch's venomous remarks undoubtedly caused distress amongst the listening rank and file (and I do mean rank!). The Dim sheeples had to be calmed and reassurred and were, when they heard something so very familiar---Bush bashing.
I love to see RATS tearing at each others throats.
Prairie
FMCDH
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