Penelas Tries To Make Sense Of Gore Attack

[JohnLocke]

Penelas Tries To Make Sense Of Gore Attack
Tuesday, June 8, 2004
WPLG Channel 10 News
----
MIAMI -- Alex Penelas fired back Monday, a day after former Vice President Al Gore launched a full frontal verbal assault at the Miami-Dade County mayor.
(...)
Much of that criticism, Penelas said, is because Gore supports his opponent, Peter Deutsch. Gore praised Deutsch in a published report, calling him, "a standup leader for our party in difficult times such as the 2000 election recount in Florida."
"He supports Deutsch. That's what this is about. It's clear that former vice president has a right to do so, just as he supported Howard Dean. But to be vicious about it, to be mean-spirited, is hurting Democrats," Penelas said.
Some Democrats came to the defense of Penelas. Retiring U.S. Sen. Bob Graham called the mayor "a good Democrat." Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson questioned Gore's decision to inject himself in the race, arguing it would hurt the party's ability to retain Graham's seat and cause a disruption in a key state for presidential candidate John Kerry.
----
Read the rest here.

[deminflorida]

1. Why isn't Gore putting forth the same amount of work...

in supporting John Kerry, that he is in disrupting the Cuban Democrat support in Florida. Inquiring minds want to know???

[ibegurpard]

2. I guess you missed his speech a few weeks ago.

eom

[AlGore-08.com]

3. If you don't like the amount of time Gore's campaigning complain to Kerry

In every political speech Gore has made since Kerry cinched the nomination, Gore has gone out of his way to say "Vote for Kerry", "Kerry will be a great President", "Kerry is doing everything right". He's also been doing a lot of fundraising.

It would be kind of odd for Kerry's people to be having Gore campaign at big events this early - - or Clinton, as far as that goes. They and HRC are the big draws in the Democratic party - - you want to use them to draw in crowds close to election day.

[madfloridian]

6. This is not about Kerry.

This is about Gore and free speech.

[DemsAreAlwaysRight]

9. Maybe Gore is pissed that he is not running the White House

He came real close to saving America from the malaise we have now. I'll bet he is pissed.

[AlGore-08.com]

11. Additionally, Gore gave Kerry's campaign $4 MILLION dollars on 4/28

Plus $1 million to the Democratic Senate Campaign, $1 million to the Democratic Congressional Campaign, $250,000 to the Tennessee Democratic Party and $240,000 to the Florida Democratic Party.

These donations were made in the part of the campaign cycle when all of them - - including Kerry - - were strapped for cash and needed mega bucks to begin to counter the cash heavy GOP and their attack ads.

Insinuating that Gore hasn't done anything lately to help Kerry, or Florida Democrats is pretty insulting.

[deminflorida]

21. Bet Gore doesn't like my reply also....

But that's just tough....Wanna do something right Gore, get your ass down here to Florida and camp out and spend time raising hell about the voter lists that are currently being reviewed by the GOP. Stop stirring shit with the Cubans.

Be the point man for Florida county voting systems review....use some of your money to go on T.V. and tell Floridians just exactly what the dead-line is to register to vote for John Kerry in November. Tell them where to go and learn how to vote properly and what I.D. they'll need in order to counter any under-handed election fraud attempts.

Taking sides in a Democratic election, and trashing a fellow Democrat as a crook even if the SOB is a crook does nothing but give ammunition to the GOP and if it doesn't turn off the Cubans that want to support Kerry in November and it just might keep them at home.

For those of you who are interested, NO I'm not Cuban. I'm from Alabama, and live on the Panhandle in probably the most conservative part of the state. But, let me tell you this the Dems up here are working their asses off to win this election.

www.panhandleforkerry.com

Just like I don't like what Gore is saying, then maybe some of you don't like what I'm saying either, but that's why I'm a Democrat. I'm saying it anyway, it's the way I feel.

[AlGore-08.com]

22. Has your group asked him if he'll come to the panhandle to help you?

Or you just assuming he won't come, and bashing him bashed on your assumption?

The Office of the Honorable Al Gore
2100 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[deminflorida]

26. Well just to be honest I know for a fact that requests have been

sent out, even to the Kerry Campaign...the only two Candidates that visited here during the primaries were Clark and Edwards.

[AlGore-08.com]

29. Requests to Gore were sent out?

It's not clear from your post.

[deminflorida]

32. Not sure about Gore, but I know that requests have been sent

several times to the Kerry Campaign...but you know what if pissing Gore off and getting him to visit is what it takes to make up for the 600 votes we lost this state by in 2000 then this post would be worth it.

I'm sure Gore could set the record straight in Pensacola, if he'd come here and speak. The media up here is horrible, but a visit by Kerry or Gore would scare the hell out of the GOP machine in this state, simply because of the number of active duty deployed military families in and around the Panhandle.

They're not happy campers right now.....

Then again I repeat what I posted earlier...

Reagan's Eleventh Commandment....

Never Trash a Fellow Democrat...

(Guess I've sort of violated that myself).....

[AlGore-08.com]

34. Hey, as the saying goes - - it's politics, not beanbag. ;)

Your organization should defiantly send a fax to Gore's office, and formally invite him to help y'all out.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

24. Don't let being dead wrong stop you now...you're on a roll!!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

23. Amazing response. Did you see Gore a couple of weeks ago?...

And your comment about Gore "disrupting the Cuban Democrat support in Florida" is priceless!

Nope...Gore is exposing a turncoat that sold him out during the 2000 election, and Gore is just now returning the favor.

Since you seem to think you have an "inquiring mind", why aren't you checking out the real story instead of spreading rumors?

[deminflorida]

28. That's just it isn't it, this is not about 2000, it's about 2004.....

Living in the past isn't going to give us our country back this year..

Paybacks and revenge politics will lead us right down the shitter...

For once wake up and take a lesson from the Freepers, ......

Follow Reagans Eleventh Commandment....

Never Trash a Fellow Democrat!!!

[madfloridian]

31. And look how things are turning out for GOP now.

They are not happy campers, not the real Republicans. They are ashamed and embarrassed, and they got there because they toed the party line and never dissented.

Gore is not trashing him, he is bringing out the truth.

[ibegurpard]

33. And it looks like Penelas is reaping the reward

for breaking that commandment.

[Cheswick2.0]

41. you are just pissed Gore didn't endorse Clark

get over it. You know your story would be totally different if he did.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

44. "Never trash a fellow Democrat"? Maybe Penelas should have...

...remembered that in 2000.

There's also another saying, "What goes around, comes around".

You need to just let this go on the DU boards because anger is going to fuel the Democratic Party repudiation of the NeoCons in November whether you like it or not.

As far as taking lessons from Freepers, is that where you learned some of the tactics you're using in this thread?

[Justice]

4. I appreciate Gore's right to speak out

But it would look better if he wasn't speaking out at the same time he is supporting the other candidate.

[madfloridian]

5. I am stunned at some of you here in denying Gore the right to speak.

That is exactly what he is doing. He has been giving passionate speeches for our country all over the place. He stands up for Kerry, he speaks out.

If you don't think he got screwed here in Florida, then you need to do some research.

This is,last I heard, a country of free speech. But every damn time a politician speaks up on any issue....he get slapped down.
Gore has a right to speak, Penelas has a right to speak. Let Penelas sue him if he wants to do so.

And one last word....I am so tired of hearing phrases like this:
"why isn't he doing more for Kerry?"

This is NOT all about Kerry....it is about our country! Our country is in trouble here, deep trouble. If Kerry chooses not to say so, then let the other dogs out!

[AlGore-08.com]

7. Not to mention - - the candidate decides who speaks for him/her officially

As a private citizen, Gore can talk up Kerry - - which he does.

And Gore can offer to campaign officially for Kerry, but Kerry has to accept. Then it's up to Kerry when, where and how Gore speaks for him. That's the way all campaigns work.

As I said in an earlier post, Kerry will probably save Gore and the Clintons for much later in the campaign.

[Pastiche423]

8. MF - if I could stand up

I would give you a standing ovation for your post!

There are no words to express how much your posts and your research mean to me, and I am sure many others.

This is not the same DU I joined three years ago. Back then everyone was screaming for a Dem to stand up and speak out for us!

But now that we do have Dems, like Gore and Dean speaking up, it seems many here want them to be nice, quiet little Dems and SHUT UP.

Keep speaking out, Al! I'm listening to you!

[madfloridian]

10. Thanks, appreciated.

:hi:

[bpilgrim]

12. ditto

i remember... :hi:

http://news.globalfreepress.com/mp3/airAmericaRadio.com/gore/we_desperately_need.mp3

http://news.globalfreepress.com/mp3/airAmericaRadio.com/gore/gore_nyu_05-28-04.mp3


peace

[madfloridian]

14. But, Pilgrim, he was too passionate! Thanks for the audio.

I thought he sounded like the real president myself. Thanks for sharing.
:hi:

[Zhade]

35. Hear, hear! You make me proud to have grown up in Florida.

You wrote what I was thinking.

[lojasmo]

13. " But to be vicious about it, to be mean-spirited, is hurting Democrats,"

Wah, freaking wah. somebody give this fellah a kleenex. I can't stand whiney politicians. Yuck. Shades of Joe Lieberman.

Look, al gore wouldn't be saying this about Penelas simply for partisan reasons. I believe He has good reason to feel that penelas' actions in 2000 were unbecoming of a Democrat. Perhaps Penalas' failings lie at the ROOT of Gore's support for Deutsch.

[madfloridian]

15. There was a debate with the candidates tonight.

It was from Naples. I kept hoping they would ask Penelas, but they didn't. I thought it sounded whiny, too.

[AlGore-08.com]

17. F.Y.I. in 2000 Penelas was accused of working to end the recount

(I posted this on an earlier thread about Gore's comment, sorry if some folks have already read it.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/01/politics/01DADE.html?pagewanted=1&ei...

December 1, 2000

Miami Mayor's Role a Riddle in Decision to Halt Recount
By DON VAN NATTA Jr. and DEXTER FILKINS

MIAMI, Nov. 30 — In the hours before and after Miami-Dade County's hand recount was halted last week, Democrats and Republicans believed that one man had the power to determine its fate: Alex Penelas, the 38-year-old Democratic mayor of Miami-Dade County and a rising star of South Florida politics.

Last Tuesday, as the county's hand recount racked up dozens of new votes for Vice President Al Gore, the mayor had lunch at the Governor's Club in Tallahassee with a Republican state legislator. Later he met with other Republican lawmakers, who are significant to Mr. Penelas because Florida's Legislature will draw new Congressional districts in 2002 and Mr. Penelas, political observers say, has hopes of running for Congress.

The next day, the three members of the Miami-Dade County Canvassing Board, one of whom works for Mr. Penelas, voted to stop the manual recount and canceled plans to review the 10,750 ballots that voting machines said had no presidential preference. The vote came despite the Florida Supreme Court's ruling that recounts could go forward.

Not long afterward, Mark Fabiani, the Gore campaign's communications director, said, Mr. Gore called Mr. Penelas and asked for his help in reversing the board's decision.

The mayor promised he would issue a statement calling for the recount to resume, Mr. Fabiani said.

But Mr. Penelas's statement said nothing supportive about the recount. Instead, it said that he had "no jurisdiction over that board's decisions."

(snip)

"The whole community is very suspicious of what happened surrounding the decision to close down the recount," said Representative Carrie P. Meek, a Democrat from Miami-Dade County. "People are suspect. Wouldn't you be if there were 10,700 votes that were not counted?"

(snip)

But Mr. Penelas stayed in constant contact with David Leahy, the Miami-Dade supervisor of elections and a member of the canvassing board, speaking to him as many as three times a day, Mr. Penelas said. Deputy County Attorney Murray Greenberg said that at one point during the canvassing board meetings last week, he passed a note from Mr. Penelas to Mr. Leahy. Mr. Greenberg said the note contained a request from Mr. Penelas for Mr. Leahy to call him.

Mr. Leahy acknowledged receiving a note from Mr. Penelas and said it contained a message to call him. When asked for a copy of the note, Mr. Leahy said that he could not find it.

After the Miami-Dade board voted on Nov. 22 to stop its hand count, Mr. Leahy explained the decision this way: "We simply can't get it done. There was this concern that we were not conducting an open, fair process."

(More... )


http://www.evote.com/features/insider/insider02062001.asp

Is That a Knife in My Back, or Are You Just Sorry to See Me?
february 6, 2001

(snip)

If you recall, after Election Day 2000, Miami-Dade County was one of the three key battleground counties in which Al Gore hoped to pick up enough votes in a recount to swing the election to the Democrats.

So, on the day after the Election, when it looked like there was a good shot at pulling out a victory, Gore made calls to various party people in Florida, and most especially, called Alex Penelas in Miami. Gore's key request was to make sure that the Miami Dade County election workers would have the full support of the city government -- especially in terms of getting enough workers to do the recounts, and in getting whatever else was needed to make the recount go forward.

Penelas assured Gore that he would do everything possible to help him, and Gore reported to his close advisers that whatever else happened, they could count on the City of Miami and Alex Penelas.

And then, Alex got on a plane and went to Barcelona, Spain for a two-week vacation. Miraculously, overnight, all of the support for Gore in Miami vanished, and the Miami-Dade County Election Board found itself with no extra budget money, no volunteers from the city government, and in fact, were so short-handed that they couldn't even call county employees over the weekend to come and help them with the count because they were denied access to the home telephone numbers and call lists that the city of Miami kept in readiness for emergencies.

(More, but not about anything connected to the 2000 Florida election)

[lojasmo]

39. alright then, I'm CONVINCED Gore's right

Penelas is a back-stabbing wanker, republican toadying creep. Nuff said.

[Raster]

16. it's about time the Dems grews some nuts and kicked some ass...

Right On President Gore!!!

[PurityOfEssence]

18. Aaah, he's just a sore winner, that's the problem

n/t

[Catt03]

19. Again

We need to retain the senatorial seat of Bob Graham. Nothing else matters at this point.

I agree with Graham on this. Stop the fighting and use some common sense. Al Gore has to look at himself first.

Penelas may not have helped but Al Gore made some bad decisions on Florida.

[madfloridian]

20. Yes, it does matter.

I don't know why you guys think Penelas has such a great chance outside of Miami. Castor is almost hands down ahead here in Central Florida, though Deutsch is a close 2nd.

Gore did not make most of the 2000 decisions.....others did.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

27. Gore's first bad decision was trusting Penelas to help him with the....

...recount. The Gore people helped get Penelas elected, and they expected him to help the Gore campaign in return.

Instead of helping, Penelas went on a sudden vacation.

Penelas doesn't DESERVE Graham's senatorial seat.

[Cheswick2.0]

40. what bad decisions would those be?

And Penelas has no business running as a democrat anymore. It is not like he is in first place and they are going to lose to the republicans if he doesn't win. Florida is a big state and Penelas is a very small backstabbing man.

[Judi Lynn]

42. You bet he's a small, backstabbing man. He has no place in Congress

with his own record of having made a public statement that he would be withholding police support from federal authorities who would have to retrieve Elián Gonzalez, since his drunken great-uncle has defied a federal court order, and wouldn't hand over the kid.

To take a city official who has defied the federal government and send him to Washington is just plain odd!

It might work for rightwingers, but Democrats ARE different from that.

[Catt03]

43. That is not going to change...Penelas is running

[notbush]

25. I've got an Idea!!!!!!! Lets have the democrat candidates

along with their surrogates (Gore,Nelson,Graham, etc) just beat the total shit out of each other.
We'll ALL love that when a repug waltzes in the back door and takes the senate seat.

[AlGore-08.com]

30. I've got a better idea! Let's elect any crook with a "D" after his name

And all act shocked when he spends his time in office committing crimes against US.

That's how rank and file Republicans wound up with Smirk in the White House - - because they bought into the idea it was sooooo vitally important to end the evil that was the Democratic party, they rushed to embrace any crook with an "R" after his name and a flag in his lapel.

[tkmorris]

36. Exactly

Look, for those of you who don't know anything more about Penelas than the "D" he carries after his name, go do some research. Seriously. This man is something of a hero to the Cuban exiles in Miami-Dade and NOTHING ELSE. He's no Democrat, except perhaps in the old deep-south tradition of corruption that so many once shared. He's a crook, and an embarrassment to the party. North of Boca Raton he's about as useless a politician as you'll ever see.

The only votes he will gather in this state are those from Little Havana and anyone retarded enough to vote for a man simply because of the alphabetic suffix after his name.

[Judi Lynn]

37. FEC fines contributor to Penelas mayoral campaign

Posted on Wed, Jun. 02, 2004





FEC fines contributor to Penelas mayoral campaign

KEN THOMAS

Associated Press


MIAMI - The Federal Elections Commission has fined a former Venezuelan commerce minister for making $2,500 in illegal campaign contributions to the 2000 re-election campaign of Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas, now a candidate for U.S. Senate.

Jose Casal, a former Venezuelan senator and minister of commerce, agreed to a civil penalty of $8,250 for violating federal campaign finance laws barring contributions by a foreign national, according to documents released by the FEC on Wednesday.

Penelas' campaign said the mayor was unaware of the case and did not know Casal.

"He certainly respects and believes in campaign finance laws and follows them both in letter and in spirit," said Senate campaign spokeswoman Danae Jones.
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/8821957.htm?ERIGHTS=-8914977381425782457miami:&KRD_RM=3mkmlmmlnkjppmjjjjjjjjjsko|
(Free registration required)

If Penelas attracts Venezuelan "exiles" like former politicians, he's connected to the Vene. "opposition," which is most assuredly right-wing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On edit:

Where can I buy some giant scissors, like the ones here being wielded by Alex Penelas?

[robbedvoter]

38. Deutsch was one of the Florida 14 - Gore better support him!

For you Floridians who don't care about what Penelas&comp did to our votes, you have the jeb reelection to look back as accomplishments...The entire Mcbride mania on DU explains much about why you have Jebbie. :puke:

[Judi Lynn]

45. A bit of interesting info. you may have never heard on Alex Penelas

Just found this in the Miami Herald:

...He's a lifelong Democrat, yet his political base is the heavily Republican Cuban-American community. He's a leading party rainmaker, yet he has raised money for Miami Republicans such as U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart. He's an eloquent spokesman for the party platform but defied a Democratic administration during the standoff over Elián González and disappeared during the closest presidential election in U.S. history.

''That's the challenge for him now. Some Democrats have hard feelings,'' said former leading rivals, U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch and former Florida Education Commissioner Betty Castor.

''The mayor has to overcome Elián and Gore. He has to earn one vote at a time,'' Meek said.

Though he has been in politics for 17 years, Penelas has never run as a Democrat. All of the offices he has sought and won -- for Hialeah City Council, Miami-Dade County Commission and Miami-Dade mayor -- are nonpartisan.

Questions about Penelas' party loyalty incense his wife, Lilliam, a lifelong Republican who switched parties so she can vote for her husband in August. She points out that he regularly touts Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on the campaign trail.
(snip)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/8910036.htm
(Free registration required)

[BeachBuckeye]

46. Penelas is a SNAKE and the Party needs to dump him

NOW! I love Bob Graham but I am thoroughly puzzled that he would back a weasel like Penelas.