Economy not Miami-Dade congressional races focus of Wasserman Schultz town hall

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz  has come under fire from Democratic activists and the liberal blogosphere in recent days for saying she won't actively campaign against three Republican colleagues, but at a Davie town hall meeting Tuesday night most people had a more immediate worry: the economy.

Wasserman Schultz, a Weston Democrat and Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, have been criticized by party activists for saying they plan to sit out three congressional races where challengers Raul Martinez, Joe Garcia and Annette Taddeo hope to unseat U.S. Reps. Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros- Lehtinen.

But while most of the questions at Thursday night's town hall focused on jobs, health care and the price of gas, Wasserman Schultz did have this to say at the beginning of the meeting:

"I know there are people here that are interested in a political matter, so I will get that out of the way right at the beginning. If you have a concern about my previous comments about my staying out of the races in South Florida where candidates are challenging Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros- Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart, I will tell you two things:

First off, I have not endorsed any of the three incumbents in South Florida, nor will I, and I do not support their re-election campaign. I am supportive of the Democratic candidates who are running against them. I have never said otherwise.

Second, I have a national role as one of three co-chairs of Red to Blue Program. All candidates, from Florida to Alaska, have criteria that have to be met to get on this targeted list. Let me guarantee that if they fulfill those criteria, these three Democratic Candidates will be part of our Red to Blue Program…period, end of story. We have three co-chairs in order to be able to spread the workload among us.  It makes much more sense to have someone from outside of one's own region to be able to make the hits necessary.

But at the same time I am a Congressional representative of the 20th district of Florida, and I think it is absolutely my responsibility to work with my Republican colleagues."

For more on the issue: read what DCCC executive director Brian Wolf had to say in The Huffington Post.

 

 

 

Comments

The classic back peddling from Wasserman Schultz. Boy she must really realize how bad she screwed up.

[Tamarac voter]

She also endorsed Robert Wexler the main Obama supporter in Florida.... Debbie has issues of trust....

[jo]

Sorry but that is not what she said. I have it on video.

This is what she said:

"As far as staying out of the races in South Florida that the candidates that are running against: Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, or Mario Diaz-Balart, I will tell you two things: one is that I have not endorsed any of three republicans nor will I. I don't support their re-elections. I am supportive of the Democratic candidates that are running against them (applause). I have never stated otherwise.

And as the co-chair of the red to blue campaign for the democratic congressional campaign committee, I can assure you that I have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours and will spend more hundreds and hundreds of hours raising money as I have been . I have been actively involved in recruiting candidates and encouraging the DCCC to be supportive of our candidates across the country, including the three democratic candidates in these races and I will continue to do so.

But at the same time I am a member of Congress representing the 20th district of Florida and it is my responsibility to balance my role in Congress with my role at the DCCC and my role as a Democrat. And I think it is absolutely my responsibility to make sure that I can effectively work with my colleagues. And that's a tough balance. You know, it's like walking a tight rope. The way I have chosen to be able to, the way that I can do that is by working behind the scenes to help those Democratic candidates by not publicly coming out (groans-emphasis) against my the Republican incumbents (groans from audience) inaudible work together to help this region and that's how I'm going to address that this evening."

[jo]

Sorry but that is not what she said. I have it on video.

This is what she said:

"As far as staying out of the races in South Florida that the candidates that are running against: Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, or Mario Diaz-Balart, I will tell you two things: one is that I have not endorsed any of three republicans nor will I. I don't support their re-elections. I am supportive of the Democratic candidates that are running against them (applause). I have never stated otherwise.

And as the co-chair of the red to blue campaign for the democratic congressional campaign committee, I can assure you that I have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours and will spend more hundreds and hundreds of hours raising money as I have been . I have been actively involved in recruiting candidates and encouraging the DCCC to be supportive of our candidates across the country, including the three democratic candidates in these races and I will continue to do so.

But at the same time I am a member of Congress representing the 20th district of Florida and it is my responsibility to balance my role in Congress with my role at the DCCC and my role as a Democrat. And I think it is absolutely my responsibility to make sure that I can effectively work with my colleagues. And that's a tough balance. You know, it's like walking a tight rope. The way I have chosen to be able to, the way that I can do that is by working behind the scenes to help those Democratic candidates by not publicly coming out (groans-emphasis) against my the Republican incumbents (groans from audience) -inaudible word- work together to help this region and that's how I'm going to address that this evening."

[Harold]

Now that Debbie Wasserman Schultz has publically endorsed Republican Sheriff Al Lamberti in Broward County, where does this leave her politcally? I never thought that I would see the day that Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz would actually cross party lines to support a Republican in the Broward Sheriff's race.