Democrats And Progressives Will Rue The Day They Didn't Prevent Marco Rubio's Election In Florida

[DemocratSinceBirth]

He's young, telegenic, has a beautiful wife and family, and a great life story. And did I mention he's a member of the fastest growing minority in the United States; a minority without whose votes Democrats can not win. His power and potential power is reflected in the fact he has united Teabaggers and Latinos in Florida. Think about that. That's akin to uniting Israelis and Palestinians.

It has been a dream of the Bushes and Karl Rove to make inroads if not capture the Latino vote. That's why Jeb Bush has mentored Marco Eubio for this very day.

When Marco Rubio becomes senator from the fourth most populous state in the union he will be the highest ranking Latino officeholder in the land. Who do we have to match him? Bill Richardson? Ken Salazar?

[Ken Burch]

1. Crist is 20 points down. He wouldn't be winning even if Meek had dropped out.,

And the Dems would never recover from pulling their Senate candidate. Every party that does that anywhere just dies out.

Crist was NEVER the answer.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. I Am Not Advocating For Crist. He's Done

I am not advocating for Crist because as somebody to the left of center it is not in my interest to do so. He has no chance. If Meek was to drop out it would like political gamesmanship and hurt both of them and benefit Rubio. However, if Crist was in a position to stop Rubio I would have allied myself with him just as FDR allied himself with Josef Stalin to stop Hitler. I am not comparing Rubio with Hitler but pointing out that politics and war creates interesting alliances.

[SoFlaJet]

22. Crist is NOT 30 points down

All I know is THIS Floridian is doing whatever he can to try and prevent Rubio from being our senator and that means everyone in this family is voting for Charlie Crist. Meek is the worst dem candidate I've seen in 23 years of living down here. All you non-Floridians can say what you like but we're not wasting our half a dozen votes on Meek.

[golfguru]

23. Blacks in Florida will vote 91% for Meek

just like they do for all black democratic candidates.
Crist is done, finito, toast. Even if Meek loses, the more votes he gets
helps him gain more stature for future. A vote for losing Crist does nothing,
zero, zip, nada.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

52. THis is THE most racist statement that I've heard on DU.

I am going to report you for this!

[SwampG8r]

55. but it is true

as a long time (1959) floridian i can assure you any inroads black floridians have made politically in florida have come from unity voting
aknowledging its existence shouldnt be considered racist
from the view of meek it works well he starts with x number of voters who are ready to give him the benefit of the doubt
he needs only to win a decent percentage of the remaining voters
it is crist that is the turd in the punchbowl every vote he has would be a default meek vote this election

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

60. It is absolutely NOT true!!! Examples: Here in Maryland, Mike Steele

was trounced by Ben Cardin for Senate. Same is true with races all over the country where we had black candidates against white Democrats, especially if the black candidate was a Republican. Blacks voted overwhelmingly for BIll Clinton against Jesse Jackson. They neither supported Jesse nor Al Sharpton in primaries where Gore and/or Kerry ran.

There are other examples: Lynn Swann in PA lost because blacks voted for the white Democrat.

It IS racist to assume that blacks ONLY vote for black candidates. It's not true and if you knew the political history on black voting behavior, you would know this.

Oddly enough, when Democrats lose, people automatically blame blacks and other people of color, but around election time, we're always needed to help Democrats win.

Sometimes I agree with Republicans when they accuse white Democrats of being so smug and arrogant towards black voters. Our vote is almost always taken for granted.

Democratic candidates cannot win any elected office without the overwhelming support from black voters, regardless of color.

Blacks have been voting for white candidates throughout history. Had it not been for black voters lifting Carter, Clinton, Gore and Kerry out of the primaries, these guys wouldn't have a chance.

Your post is highly insulting, not to mention woefully inaccurate!

[SwampG8r]

67. maryland is not florida

in maryland is it routine for republicans to run as democrats?and then to recieve support from the state party?that is the florida dsemocrat reality and it has caused a reaction in voters here.since we dont always know who is really who we depend on identity politics.
as for the statement of most AA voters in florida voting for Meek they indeed would.through a combination of identity politics and family history as the meek family is and has been active in florida politics for quite a while.the black republican does not exist in florida.
its only a statement of fact and it will be born out on election day.check the results and see meek will pull over 90% of AA voters in florida.

[Ken Burch]

40. I said 20, not 30.

n/t.

[SoFlaJet]

46. yea I miss wrote it

he's not 20 points down either it's 43 Rubio 33 Crist 23 Meek

[Ken Burch]

47. Rasmussen has it 46 Rubio, 26 Crist, 20 Meek.

Even allowing for some padding(given that its Rasmussen)they likely aren't THAT far off.

Either way, as the non-party candidate, Crist has the duty to get out if he wants Rubio stopped.

[SoFlaJet]

48. That's not the numbers I've been seeing on local TV

and Nate has the numbers I posted

[suzie]

49. Meek would not be winning if Crist got out, he'd just lose by a large margin.

People who actually live in Florida and understand Florida politics keep trying to explain that to you.

Why don't you stop spending so much time berating Floridians and deal with the politics of your own state?

[SwampG8r]

56. 106

[flamingdem]

43. A big YES to that!

Loyal dems do what they can to keep a dangerous teaparty creep out!

[flamingdem]

41. Not True! Two recent polls have him in the margin of error - on CNN today! nt

[saltpoint]

3. Would of course prefer Meek, but the arithmetic is

not there. I don't think there's a case to be made that a stronger effort would have resulted in a likely Meek victory in this Senate race.

I agree with Ken Burch. Crist was not a reasonable choice for Democratic voters on grounds that Meek was not likely to win a statewide ballot in Florida.

Let's see how the Hispanic vote breaks in California this year before jumping to the conclusion that Jeb Bush and Karl Rove have stolen those votes from Democrats. A Rubio victory in this race does not equal a trend nationally among Hispanic voters toward the GOP, and Rubio's long-term appeal is not a guarantee anyway.

I believe the appointment of Sonya Sotomayor to the Supreme Court registers as a very significant gesture of inclusion of Hispanics, and at a very high level, and by a Democratic president.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. It's Ironic

Most prominent statewide Democrats didn't run for Senate because they assumed Crist would win. The sad thing is most of the prominent statewide Democrats are really old- Rubin Askew, dead-Lawton Chiles, or retired- Bob Graham. However when Rubio beat Crist with Tea Bag support the Democrats became desperate to stop him without a candidate to do so.

[saltpoint]

5. There are young Democrats, one might say Obama

Democrats, in Florida. Their in law offices in St. Petersburg, they're in the mayor's office in Tampa, they are working class people up and down the SE coast, and a good number in greater Orlando.

Chiles whipped Jeb Bush the first time Bush sought the governor's job. It bucked a national trend that cycle, with Bush figuring he had the numbers only to discover that "the ol' he-coon walks just before dawn." Chiles kicked his ass and Jeb's campaign director fled back to St. Petersburg to run for mayor.

Again, I'd strongly prefer Meek in this race, but the numbers don't seem to be there for him.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. I Liked Lawton Chiles,

If it wasn't for him there might have been a different Bush in the White House. I like my mayor, Buddy Dyer. He could have been a statewide player if the Republicans didn't "dirty him up" with some arcane campaign violation charge.

I don't want to be misconstrued. Democrats can win here. Clinton did it. Obama did it. Graham did it. Chiles did it. But they are and the political climate have to be perfect.

[The Wizard]

11. If it wasn't for him there might have been a different Bush in the White House

If it wasn't for George Steinbrenner, George W. Bush wouldn't have been president.
Upon learning Bush wanted to be Baseball Commissioner, Steinbrenner said as long as he owned the Yankees, Bush would never be Commissioner.

[COLGATE4]

6. K&R. The one thing we cannot do is let Rubio win! n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. I'm not sure

a Rubio victory presages a mass defection of Latinos from the Democratic Party (BTW I thought he was Cuban). I mean, Michael Steele hasn't exactly done wonders for the GOP's efforts to recruit African-Americans and their profoundly racist anti-immigration efforts in Arizona aren't going to help them with Latinos at all. That being said, I hope he doesn't win either but the polling is not very encouraging at this moment.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. He Is Cuban

I have seen the point made that there is a lack of camaraderie between Cubans and other Latinos but from personal experience as well as real data I can say that is point is overblown.

When Rick Sanchez said as an Hispanic he had experienced real prejudice nobody said his experience didn't count because he was Cuban.

I'm not suggesting that Latinos will migrate to the Republicants just because Rubio is elected. I am suggesting he can count on their support if he aspires to higher office.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

27. He can COUNT on Latino support if he aspires to higher office?

Is that a given- considering his membership in the GOP and his own extreme views? :shrug:

[Bluenorthwest]

29. In the West, Republicans=Pito Wilson

And the wealthy exiled Cubans are not seen as part of that community, at all. At all. So your fear of this 'Latino' candidate is way over blown. In fact, I find the suggestion that Latinos would vote against their prinicples on such a basis to be a bit unkind.

[lunamagica]

50. This Latina lives in this world and can assure you that the point is NOT overblown

There's a real rift between Cubans and the rest. Cubans look down on the word "immigrant" and will correct you and tell you they are "exiles"; and the rest of Latinos resent the special treatment cubans get as soon as they arrive. There's not any love lost between the groups, except for a few cases

[flamingdem]

44. Rubio is a right wing Cuban who is trying to play down his Cuban roots to get latino votes

Cubans are seen as too much of a special interest group. However Latinos are likely to vote for a Latino ... Many young Cuban Americans will not vote for him fortunately, they're tired of right wing Cuban pols.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

59. My Cuban Friends Are Going To Be Disappointed To Learn That Other Hispanics Don't Like Them

And surprised to learn they are all rich.

[depakid]

10. So progressives and Democrats are now to blame for a split on the far right and center right?

This is certainly shaping up to be an interesting post mortem.

[Cosmocat]

12. Right ...

I don't get the pretense of the OP, either ...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. See Thirteen

We also rued the day when George Bush* beat a popular governor named Ann Richards and used that win to wage war on the Middle East.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. It Was Probably Unavoidable

I have seen Rubio in action. He's slick. He's no Sarah Palin or Sharon Angle or Christine O'Donnell.

I have also seen the suggestion that since he is Cuban he won't be attractive to non-Cuban Latinos. The data doesn't suggest that and from personal experience I can say that isn't so.

[kentuck]

15. Crist needs to stay in the race.

That is the only way Meek can win. However, it would take the Democrats to unite behind Meek and not give their vote to the Republican, Crist. If Democrats united and Crist stayed in the race, he could take enough Repub votes from Rubio to permit the Democrat to win. That should be the strategy.

[flamingdem]

42. No way. It's the dems voting for Crist that are the only chance

Do you live in Florida?

[bornskeptic]

16. How would Rubio be a higher ranking Latino officeholder than Bob Menendez?

Both are sons of Cuban immigrants.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. You Are Correct

That occurred to me after the editing period ended.

Thank you.

However, Senator Menendez is not nearly as slick.

[JustAnotherGen]

64. I've been around him

On several occasions. Bob is very very slick - and his 'Cuban' is not a factor to the NJ voters. It's just not a 'big deal' up here the way it is in Florida. He'd remain dominant and a mover and shaker whether this little pup from FL wins or not.

[phleshdef]

20. Not an elected official, but Justice Sotomayor should be mentioned.

[BeyondGeography]

18. With all due respect, you worry a lot

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. You Should Read Awsi's Post

Especially the last paragraphs. Rubio is smooth... He doesn't come off as flippant, ala Sarah Pailn. He doensn't come off as a kook like Christine O'Donnell, and he doesn't come off as batshit crazy like Sharon Angle. He's the type of Teabagger you could bring to a party without worrying about him pissing in the punch. Don't forget Jeb is the cerebral Bush. He groomed Marco Rubio for this day.

[Awsi Dooger]

19. Rubio will instantly be propped as the star among the GOP's new bench

Inevitable. A major media theme a month from now will be the new Republicans, the 6-8 new senators, similar number among governors, and certain House electees who will be spotlighted. We may not want it. There's nothing to stop it. I remember chuckling to myself during '06 and '08 when right wing friends actually believed the polls were wrong, the terrain meaningless. DU is there now.

For one thing, surging gas prices don't help. I've been worried about that all year. My closest station jumped 19 cents in a week. Nationally it's lower than that, but a big sudden spike in the 10-12 cent range and destined to continue, if market prices are an indication. I'm not sure if it's manipulation to aid Republicans or unrelated but it's horrible timing. We can't rebound alongside rising fuel prices and lousy economic conditions.

Rubio earns high profile status immediately, winning a 3-way race handily in a major electoral state including defeat of a well known sitting governor. He'll have a platform and use it. I was scared of him immediately, a wing nut who can feign charming and reasonable. As DSB astutely pointed out, Hispanics would align with Rubio even if their partisanship in general hadn't moved. A vital 3-5% sway, and that's all it takes.

Played football. Married a former Dolphins cheerleader. Plenty of crap to camouflage and soothe.

Regardless, I don't have regrets because there was nothing to stop. A Democrat could not win this race in a 2010 climate. Florida was a huge disappointment in 2008, 4.5 points more red than the nation. Apply that to 2010 and we needed a miracle. Crist may have maintained a small opportunity if the BP story had flamed to this point. But independents have so little foundation I doubt it would have mattered, other than slicing the margin.

[PopSixSquish]

21. No, Democrats and Progressives Will Rue the Day They Got Suckered into Trusting Charlie Crist

Posters on this site rail against the "DLC" and "mod/conserv" Democrats on a near daily basis and want them thrown out of the party. Now we're supposed to vote for Charlie Crist because he "might" caucus with the Democrats and he "might" be a reliable vote? Bullshit!

When Crist, even if he does caucus with the Democrats, pulls a Blanche Lincoln or Ben Nelson or Joe Lieberman, what will you do then?

And nice broad-brush painting of Latinos in this country. All of a sudden, a majority of them are going to start voting GOP because Marco Rubio is a Senator from Florida? I guess all African-Americans in this country vote Democratic because of Barack Obama? Or all women in this country should vote for Sarah Palin because she's a woman?

Why would Marco Rubio hold any more sway over Latinos than Ken Salazar or Bill Richardson or Sonia Sotomayor or any number of others?

[wisteria]

25. The Democrats kept their distance from Crist.

Crist has nothing at all to do with Meek's very weak numbers. He unfortunately seemed to be a throw away candidate from the beginning.

[PopSixSquish]

36. And Yet There are Several Posters on This Site Advocating Voting for Him

Go check the thread on Bill Clinton's visit to Florida for Meek and you will see posters saying that the Big Dawg shouldn't campaign there and go where he's needed more. WTF? Posters on Democratic Underground saying that the former Democratic President of the United States who is one of the most popular politicians and best campaigners still in the country shouldn't campaign for the Democratic nominee for Senate in Florida? He shouldn't at least try?

Oh and Bill Clinton will also be campaigning in WV, WA, CA, NY, MD and a bunch of other places "where he's more needed" until election day...

[wmbrew0206]

63. Clinton is there because having Meek on the ticket and Clinton being with him

will hopefully ensure that there is a larger than average turn out among African Americans on election day. That will help Alex Sink win the governor's race. Which is the biggest state wide election Democrats have a chance at winning.

[DCBob]

26. Much of Crist support is from Independents and moderate Dems who know him well.

Hard core progressives and liberals are voting for Meek.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

28. I Always Click On Profiles To See Where People Are Posting From

I live in Florida where one in five residents is Hispanic and more specifically in Miami where seven in every ten residents is Hispanic. Are there many Hispanics in your neck of the woods in Georgia? I have went to school with, studied with, worked with, and lived with Hispanics. My girlfriend is Spanish/Asian. I love the Hispanic people. I revere them. My physician is Hispanic. My late mother's physician was Hispanic. I could go on... I would never stereotype them.


I did not say all Latinos will instantly become Republicans. I did suggest having a young, telegenic, Latino with a beautiful family and a great life story plating a major role in the Republican party will defintely move some of them. If Rubio aspires to national office, and him being Jeb Bush's protege, I assume he does he will have a great natural base.

[DCBob]

30. No doubt Rubio is likely to become the GOP golden child.

Who knows how far he can go with a high-profile Senate seat. Plus this also give the teabaggers even further inspiration. It is not a good development for Democrats or America.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

32. How Many Senate Candidates Get Featured In The Sunday New York Times Magazine?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/magazine/10florida-t.html

BTW, the article also goes into detail on how Charlie Crist was doing fine until he embraced President Obama and the stimulus. This drove the Tea Baggers crazy.

And I am not saying he is the Latin messiah for the GOP. What I am saying is that Dems need sixty five percent of the Latino vote to win a national election and in some states about the same amount. All Rubio has to do is move the bar a little.

[DCBob]

33. The only thing good I can say about this ugly situation is that Meek helps bring out liberal voters.

who will then likely vote for Alex Sink. FL Gov may the most important person come 2012 Prez elections.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

34. She Will Rise To Nat'l Prominence If She Wins

That' why I had the change of heart and think "nature should take its course" in the senate race. Crist and Meek are toast. Everybody should just vote their conscience. I told my girlfriend I intend to vote for Meek because he has a (D) after his name and I have never pulled the Republican lever in thirty two years of voting. The only way I would reconsider is if the race is too close to call.

Alex Sink will be a player if she wins because she bucked the GOP tide.

[flamingdem]

45. This race will make election night a bummer

.. still hoping the elderly turn out for Crist.

[PopSixSquish]

35. I Lived in Florida for Years and Still Have Family There

So yes I have a vested interest in this election.

And yes there are many, many Hispanics in GA as well.

So what's your point? That even if the first two sentences weren't true, that I can't or couldn't voice an opinion disagreeing with your premise?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

37. You Suggested That I Stereotyped Hispanics Which I Didn't And Wouldn't

Having literally lived among them I can say they are very different. What I did say is it's common for any group to be happy when one of their members does well; especially if that group has been historically oppressed.

[PopSixSquish]

38. Voting for a Party That Openly Discriminates Against You?

Perhaps you didn't mean to stereotype Hispanics, but suggesting that Karl Rove and Jeb Bush waving a shiny object in front of their eyes would deter a person in CA, TX, GA, NY or any place else doesn't give them much credit either.

[Bluenorthwest]

31. Born and lived 40+ in CA

I agree with you 100%.

[book_worm]

39. Well maybe Crist should have run in the democratic primary like the winner of that primary did--Meek

is the legitamite candidate of the Democratic party having won his primary. Maybe Crist should get out of the race and endorse Meek?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

51. I think you're on to something. He certainly is a rising star, as Republicans

tend to bring one of two people of color to "prove" that they're not racists.

Anyway, if it is indeed the case that Rubio will be the highest ranking Latino in elected office, I just wonder how he is going to reconcile his anti-immigrant hate rhetoric with this community?

Second, young Cuban Americans are flocking to the Democratic Party. They don't remember Castro.

Third, at the end of the day, the teabaggers will never accept him unless they can use him effectively. I just think he's too far out of the mainstream.

[burning rain]

54. Rubio is not a person of color.

He's as white as Pat Buchanan and is indeed a favorite of Pat's. Quite a lot of Hispanics, particularly Hispanics of color, have no fondness for the "master of the hacienda" mentality of conservative lily-white Cubans, an attitude Mr Rubio has in spades.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

61. I don't think that I meant to imply the opposite. But you're right

Many Cuban Americans who came to this country consider themselves white. It's very interesting because my understanding is that a large number of Cubans are of dark skin.

[burning rain]

66. Fair enough.

You didn't assert that Rubio's a PoC, but it seemed to me that that was a possible interpretation of your comment, so I wished to clarify.

[golfguru]

57. Latino's are not all people of "color"

Many of them have pure Spanish blood. I have
dated a Mexican woman who was fair, blonde and blue eyed.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

62. You again! Of course I know that. And I didn't write that ALL Hispanices

are of color. Unlike you, I understand history.

Please stop cyber stalking me. Off to IGNORE you go...

[AtomicKitten]

53. K&R

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9293215&mesg_id=9293588

[Mefistofeles]

58. Latinos dislike conservatives

For the most part.

[Aramchek]

65. Even Marco Rubio can't save the GOP's Hispanic Support, that ship has sailed

The GOP is Anti-Immigrant, and that spells its eventual doom.