Florida Congressionial Delegation Don't Care For You If You Are Palestinian

Tariq Abu Khdeir is a 15-year-old Tampa resident and Palestinian-American. Khdeir was pinned down and repeatedly kicked in the head by Israeli police in East Jerusalem.

Max Blumenthal reports that Khdeir was jailed in a Russian compound. According to Khdeir's family, he was beaten again while held in the compound.

According to Israeli police, Khdeir was involved in a violent protest. Police allege that Khdeir threw molotov cocktails. Khdeir denied participating in the protests to ABC News. If the allegations by the Israeli police are true then why hasn't Khdeir been charged.

Khdeir's family lives in Rep. Kathy Castor's district. Blumenthal reports that Castor's office has been less than helpful.

While sources close to Abu Khdeir's family say Castor's staff has treated the family with respect even as they rebuffed their demands, a distant relative who visited Castor's field office in Washington D.C. to plead for help said she was "yelled out, intimidated, and insulted" by a staffer.

Despite my repeated requests for an interview, members of Castor's staff have refused to discuss the case with me.

In a private letter to Abu Khdeir's family, Castor pointedly stated that she had not called for the teen's release and return to the US. Instead, she assured them that she "requested for Tariq to be provided with the appropriate and needed medical care and for [her] to be kept apprised of any plans of his return to the United States." In a separate letter to the US consulate in Jerusalem, Castor merely stated that she would "appreciate being kept apprised of any plans for the return of Tariq and his parents to the United States."

Rep. Dennis Ross accused Khdeir of being guilty without complete facts.

Though all of the facts surrounding the incident remain somewhat unclear," Ross wrote, "it is widely reported that Tariq was participating in a protest in Palestine in response to the kidnapping and murder of his cousin, a Palestinian teenager."

Sen. Bill Nelson has not issued a statement on Khdeir.

Khdeir gives a more detailed account to the Washington Post.

Assuming that Khdeir was involved in the protests it still doesn't explained why Israeli police continued to kick him in the head after he was already restrained.

Can Castor, Nelson or any other member of the Florida Congressional delegation look at that video and say the police force used was justified. Members of the Florida delegation rather do nothing for a constituent than risk being attacked for being anti-Israel. Leadership is about doing what is right. Leadership is not living in fear of the next two Fox News cycles.

Dennis Ross Says Shutdown About Republican Pride

Florida GOP Rep. Dennis Ross speaks truth to The New York Times about how foolish the government shutdown is for Republicans.

“Republicans have to realize how many significant gains we’ve made over the last three years, and we have, not only in cutting spending but in really turning the tide on other things,” he said. “We can’t lose all that when there’s no connection now between the shutdown and the funding of Obamacare.”

“I think now it’s a lot about pride,” he said.

The deficit has gone down under President Barack Obama. Economists have warned that the deficit had gone down too fast and has hurt GDP growth. Republicans have inaccurately predicted austerity policies would boost the economy. The slow recover has proven Republicans to be wrong.

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Florida Members of Congress Voting For Government Shutdown

Via Stogie: here is a list of Republicans who voted for a CR bill that would delay Obamacare. This is a nonstarter in the Senate and President Barack Obama would never sign it into law. This vote is just to appease the tea party base of the GOP.

Rep. Jeff Miller [R-D1]

Rep. Steve Southerland [R-D2]

Rep. Ted Yoho [R-D3]

Rep. Ander Crenshaw [R-D4]

Rep. Ron DeSantis [R-D6]

Rep. John Mica [R-D7]

Rep. Bill Posey [R-D8]

Rep. Daniel Webster [R-D10]

Rep. Richard Nugent [R-D11]

Rep. Gus Bilirakis [R-D12]

Rep. W. Bill Young [R-D13]

Rep. Dennis Ross [R-D15]

Rep. Vern Buchanan [R-D16]

Rep. Thomas Rooney [R-D17]

Rep. Trey Radel [R-D19]

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart [R-D25]

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R-D27]

Florida Republicans Voting Against the Violence Against Women Act

This should be used as a helpful reminder to voters. I don't want congressional members of the Florida delegation to duck voting against the Violence Against Women Act. Here is a list of Florida elective officials voting nay on VAWA.

House of Representative

Gus Bilirakis, Ron DeSantis, John Mica, Jeff Miller, Bill Posey, Trey Radel, Tom Rooney, Dennis Ross, Steve Southerland, Ted Yoho

Senate

Marco Rubio

Remember this next time you head into the voting booth.

Horrible Tweet by Dennis Ross

Congressman Ross, the suspected shooter Anders Behring Breivik is described by local police as a "right-wing Christian fundamentalist."

I try to stay away from news stories involving tragedy. Especially when I don't know the facts. I went out of my way to avoid following the Casey Anthony story. Those posts generate traffic but it really isn't worth it.

Hat tip to Pensito Review.

Lori Edwards On Dennis Ross Receiving Joe Barton Money

Dennis Ross is the likely Republican nominee for the Florida district 12 Congressional release. Ross received $2,000 from Rep. Joe Barton's Texas Freedom fund PAC. Barton's now famous apology to BP CEO Tony Hayward was seen as insensitive. Ross's campaign manager Fred Piccolo told the Tampa Tribune Ross disagrees with Barton but will keep the PAC money. A true profile in courage.

Ross' campaign manager, Fred Piccolo, said the candidate disagreed with Barton when he apologized to Hayward. But he isn't giving back the money he received via the Texan's committee, Piccolo said.

Democratic district 12 candidate Lori Edwards is asking Ross to return Barton's PAC money.

“Ross' refusal to give back Joe Barton's dirty money or explain his view that more offshore drilling is the key to our energy future makes it clear that his loyalty lies with big oil not with those most affected by this environmental disaster," said Edwards Campaign Manager Tony Coppola. "It's unfortunate that Dennis Ross is siding with Joe Barton and big oil even at a time when the oil spill is threatening Florida's economy and destroying its beaches.

“I understand the link between protecting our beaches and growing our economy, said Lori Edwards. "We need a representative who is willing to stand up to big oil not for them."

Ross supports drilling in the environmentally sensitive Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Gulf of Mexico. The Ross website states being against unsafe drilling. Ross doesn't say how he would make offshore drilling safe.

The BP disaster is proof there is no way to cap a deep water offshore drilling accident. An anonymous oil industry expert told the Young Turks show there is no way to make deep water drilling safe.

Lori Edwards Fundraising Woes

The Doug Tudor and Randy Edwards nonstory has been covered on this blog. The real story is Lori Edward had a bad fundraising quarter.

Roll Call reports Edwards raised only $39,000 in the third quarter. She spent $44,000 during that period. Republican candidate Dennis Ross $144,000. Open Secrets has breakdown of the candidates' fundraising.

Republicans

Dennis Ross

Raised: 381,319
Spent: $126,321
Cash on Hand: $254,997
Last Report: September 30, 2009

Randy Wilkinson

Raised: $6,250
Spent: $2,155
Cash on Hand: $4,094
Last Report: October 01, 2009

Thomas K. Snider

Raised: $198
Spent: $98
Cash on Hand: $100
Last Report: June 30, 2009

Democrats

Lori Edwards

Raised: $141,181
Spent: $64,593
Cash on Hand: $76,586
Last Report: September 30, 2009


Doug Tudor

Raised: $1,486
Spent: $1,750
Cash on Hand: $3,106
Last Report: June 30, 2009

Randy Edwards

No reports on record for this candidate.

District 12 was held by Adam Putnam. The Congressman is giving up his seat to run for Agriculture Commissioner. The district has been red. Edwards would have a difficult time winning the district, if her fundraising was even with Ross's. If Edwards doesn't step up her fundraising the DCCC will give up on her.

Doug Tudor Can Not Win District 12

Susan Smith is attempting to increase support of Congressional candidate Doug Tudor over Democratic candidate Lori Edwards. Down With Tyranny has also endorsed Tudor. Why must the netroots back candidates that can not win?

Edwards is the Polk County Supervisor of Elections. She has more name recognition with voters and connections with the Polk County Democratic Party. Tudor is not even mentioned on the Polk County Executive Committee web site. Progressives should be very clear on this. Tudor has no chance of beating Dennis Ross in the general election. Acording to OpenSecrets.org, Ross has raised $236,889. Edwards has raised $102,636. Here is what should tell any astute political observer that Tudor should drop out. Tudor has only been able to raise $1,486.

I like Doug Tudor and would love to see him get elected to Congress. It isn't going to happen. The netroots needs to get behind Edwards. We not not always agree with her. We certainly won't agree with Ross. FriedGator is behind Edwards' candidacy.

I caught grief for backing Christine Jennings over (then) netroots darling Jan Schneider. Jennings ran a now infamously close election with Vern Buchanan. Schneider ran as an independant in 2008 and hindered Jennings' chances in her rematch with Buchanan. Schneider knew she couldn't win but decided to pull a Ralph Nader. Another netroots darling, Samm Simpson, endorsed Ron Paul.

Does any progressive believe Tudor can beat Edwards in the primary? Does Tudor honestly think he has a chance against Edwards? Why must we continue this charade? Edwards will win the primary and if progressives want District 12 to turn blue they are going to have to back a blue dog Democrat. I don't care if Tudor drops out. Tudor isn't running a strong enough campaign to damage Edwards. Sad but true.

Update: Tudor is now listed as a candidate on the Polk County Executive Committee web site.

Marco 'The Hammer' Rubio

It seems rather supicious that the two lawmakers who voted against the property insurance bill suddenly resigned from their leadership positions. Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio refused to confirm or deny if he made Don Brown (R-DeFuniak Springs) and Dennis Ross (R-Lakeland) step down.

"I stand by my statement,'' said Rubio, shortly after watching Crist sign the insurance bill into law. "I have nothing further to say on this issue."

Apparently, Rubio believes not giving a straight forward answer to a question counts as a statement.

Brown chaired the House Jobs & Entrepreneurship Council. Ross chaired the Safety & Security Council. Both were also on the Rules & Calendar Council. Which helps sets the House agenda.

I don't agree with Brown and Ross voting against the bill. Homeowners insurance is in need of serious reform. The bill was far from percent, but it was a start. What concerns me is Rubio running the House like Tom Delay. That is reason for concern.

Update: here is the official Rubio statement.

House Speaker Marco Rubio said in a written statement that he had accepted the resignations of Rep. Don Brown of DeFuniak Springs and Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland as chairmen of two House councils. ''I respect their decisions and look forward to working with them in their new roles,'' Rubio said.

Ross contradicts the press release.

Ross said Rubio called him into his office in the afternoon and asked for his resignation. Ross said Rubio told him that "he needs leaders that are with him on major votes."

"My vote cost me my chairmanship. That's the price you pay if you want to express yourself," Ross said, though he added that he did not hold hard feelings toward the speaker.

The fact that Rubio will not answer any more questions on the subject says much.