Another Democratic Endorsement For Crist & What It Means

Charlie Crist receives another Democratic endorsement. Former Democratic Party chairman Charles Whitehead has endorsed Crist.

“I am supporting Governor Crist because he chose to follow his personal convictions over that of a party ideology that is becoming increasingly out of touch with the issues that most Floridians face in their everyday life,” Whitehead said.

I have literally lost track of how many Democrats have endorsed Crist over Kendrick Meek. I would send an email to the Florida Democratic Party asking what they think about Whitehead's endorsement, but they would just stick to talking points about supporting Meek. At some point this has to be embarrassing. Past and present Democrats are ignoring the party nominee and the FDP and endorsing Meek.


Kenneth Quinnell did a post hysterically fact-checking my tweets. (I look forward to Quinnell fact-checking my Facebook status updates.) That doesn't bother me and Quinnell can blog whatever he wants at his site. I find the last three paragraphs of his posts of interest.

-Meek is running against Rubio & couldn’t get netroots love. Fact: Clinton played FLA SEN kingmaker for Meek & (sigh) Hugh Rodham.

The first part of this is largely true. It’s not remotely true for the reasons Michael thinks it is. The facts don’t matter here. I know why Meek couldn’t get Netroots love and I’ve explained it to Michael, he ignores it and says it was because I did a “shitty” job, despite the fact that the very people who aren’t giving Meek that love explicitly told me that it wasn’t because of me.

The last part of this is speculation on Michael’s part and is not supported by any evidence that I am aware of. Yet Michael says that it is a “fact.” I guess Michael and I jus have different definitions of the word.

Are we suppose to believe that Bill Clinton's endorsements and fundraising had nothing to do with Rodham and Meek getting the Democratic Senate nominations. Imagine Florida Democrats getting together in a star chamber. We would have to suspend doubt and believe Florida Democrats found that the best candidates to run against Connie Mack in 19944 and Crist and Rubio were two scandal plagued Democrats.

Rodham never ran or held elected office before his 1994 campaign. Rodham is the brother of Hillary Clinton. The endorsement of Bill Clinton cleared the Democratic fields. The closest thing to an opponent Rodham had in the Democratic primary was UFO conspiracy theorist Mike Wiley. The year before Rodham and brother Tony got into trouble for asking corporations to pay for their personal parties.

Tony knew that Step 1 was to go out and buy a tuxedo. Step 2 was equally simple: hire a lawyer to dial the Top 10 companies in America and get them to bankroll the brothers' parties. "We obviously need to pay for it somehow," Hugh told the Wall Street Journal.

In some ways, the ambition of their reach as they solicited $10,000 donations from the likes of Ford Motor Co. and Mobil Corp. is surprising for two men who have declared that their only goal in the capital is to raid the White House refrigerator. "As you can see, we do like to eat," Tony has said about himself and his portly brother. But at another level, the Boys, as the family has called them for years, may have simply exhibited the naive impulse of new guests wanting desperately to join the party. (Most potential bankrollers turned them down, and the fetes were dropped.)

Here is a picture of Hugh Rodham. Does he look like anyone's idea of a Senator.




I ask you do you honestly believe Democrats would make Hugh Rodham their first choice as a Senate candidate. If Meek was Florida Democrats first choice than why are so many willing to abandon him? Bill Clinton needs to stop playing kingmaker in Florida politics. If the Florida Democratic establishment can't stand up to Clinton than they will keep making it easy for Republicans to win Senate seats.

Before the Clinton endorsement of Meek, Pam Iorio was the Democrat establishment people were begging to get into the race. Iorio has never lost an election and is popular along the important I-4 corridor.

Meek's mother Carrie Meek announced she would not run for her Florida Senate and congressional seats shortly before the filing deadline. The only Democrat that filed on time was Kendrick Meek. Carrie Meek angered other Democrats by giving her seat to her son. Meek ran unopposed in the Democratic primaries of his first Florida Senate and congressional races. Carrie Meek's districts are over 80 black Democrats. Her son was guaranteed a safe seat after winning his first Florida Senate and congressional primaries. The districts are aligned so it is virtually impossible for a Republican to win. Meek faced no Republican candidates in his congressional races. I ask you is Meek the first candidate the establishment would pick if Clinton didn't give an endorsement. Do you really believe Meek is the Democratic dream candidate to run against Crist or Rubio? Kenneth Quinnell would have you believe that.

The Democratic endorsements of Crist is a reaction to Meek having the path cleared for him during his career and doing nothing to earn it. Many Democrats would rather lose with Crist than Meek. The star chamber is selecting Crist and ignoring Clinton.