Kendrick Meek Interview

Wayne Garcia of Creative Loaf interviews U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek. Discussed is health care reform, opening relations with Cuba and Meek willing to give up a safe seat to potentially run against Gov. Charlie Crist. Meek explains how Crist is vulnerable.

I think one of the bigger questions for this entire Senate race will be: Governor, you’re the most powerful elected official in the state of Florida, politically. You could sign a piece of paper and change the outlook for Floridians. You’re relinquishing that and that position in the majority in Tallahassee, [where] you have the House and the Senate supermajorities that are there, you could help us. But you have opted to run for the US Senate, going to a legislative mode from an executive mode to then serve in the minority in the US Senate, and you’re saying that you’re doing all of this for us. And in many minds of Floridians, I believe, that goes against good common sense and logic, if you’re doing it for the people. So there has to be something a little different there, and he’s going to have to explain that, more than I have to explain why I am running for the US Senate as a member of the House of Representatives. My intentions are pure.

Meek said there is much work to be done in the Ways and Means Committee on health care. There are several different proposals. What Meek did not mention was Blue Dog Democrats getting cold feet. The Blue Dogs are reluctant to support the public option.

Meek said relations with Cuba will depend free elections and other reform efforts.

Meek said the stimulus money must not be rushed. Meek cites the abuse with defense contracts.