Pot politics: FL GOP criticizes Dem donor Morgan for "sexism" over criticism of DNC chair

@MarcACaputo

Add a little marijuana to the "politics makes for strange bedfellows" cliche and this is what it looks like: The Republican Party of Florida is taking a measure of umbrage on behalf of Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz for the way that major Democratic donor John Morgan criticized her over her comments about a medical-marijuana initiative he backs. (The background is here).

Bottom line of the RPOF message: Morgan's criticisms amounted to "sexism" for saying Wasserman Schultz was an "irritant" who is "disliked" and "despised" and that she should be a "bridesmaid" at the next wedding of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

This isn't so much about medical marijuana or even Morgan as it is about the governor's race and Democrat Charlie Crist, who works for Morgan and is running against Gov. Rick Scott. Crist has also ducked debating longtime Democrat Nan Rich.

"Coupled with Charlie Crist’s favorite put-down of Democratic opponent “God bless her” Nan Rich, Charlie’s problem with women just got bigger," the Republican Party said in a news release, which provided this quote from Chairwoman Leslie Dougher: “First, Charlie Crist dismisses life-long Democrat Nan Rich. Then, his most ardent supporter hurls disgusting and grossly sexist insults at Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Not only are Charlie’s policies bad for women, now he and his cronies are openly insulting them.” 

Morgan says his criticisms weren't rooted in Wasserman Schultz's gender and that Dougher's comments are phony. "Sure she is concerned," he said. The GOP, for instance, said nothing in 2012 when Republican challenger Ozzie deFaria depicted Wasserman Schultz in a dog collar (his Republican opponents in the congressional race, however, bashed the imagery).

Last year, it was the Florida Democratic Party Chair, Allison Tant, who said RPOF was sexist for calling her comments a "Tant rant" and calling Wasserman Schultz "Debbie Dunce."

Polling also indicates Scott has a far bigger problem with women than Crist. Obviously, that can change.

For the GOP, the Democratic donnybrook also gives the party the chance to talk about Scott's raison d'être: Jobs. In the press release bashing Morgan's comments, it provided a graphic showing the change in female unemployment rates under Crist vs. Scott.