“Fascism in FantasyLand” – Pro Wrassler used to toss progressive candidate from FL Dem Convention

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How weird Florida has become. The Florida Democratic Party Chair gaves her son campaign contributions in 2006 for a minor state race while denying any money to 8 progressive Dems running for congress. She denied it. But then she was caught when hard evidence verified the contribution. The guy who exposed her was 2005 Democratic Congressional candidate John Russell.

So Russell shows up at the Florida Democratic Convention and what happens. He's tossed out by a former professional wrestler, Ivan the Terrible. What a joke! The Chair of FDP has a $3500 monthly retainer with the leading Republican power broker in Florida's law firm, has raised just 1/3rd the funds of the Republicans, and has created so much chaos, we'll probably lose the state in 2008.

Here's a blog and story in The Tampa Bay Tribune where you can comment:
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2007/10/trouble-in-para....

And an article by Florida Democrat, activist and attorney Mark Adams

Fascism in Fantasy Land (Video)

Mark Adams
Tampa Bay attorney and voting rights activist

On October 27, 2007, John Russell went to the Peace Rally in Orlando, then he went to the annual Florida Democratic Party Convention. After walking in the doors carrying signs promoting John Edwards for president and saying hello to Clint Curtis’ supporters who know John from his work on election reform, Mitch Kates rushes over, pushes John, and says, "Why are you here. You weren’t invited. You have to leave."

Then, Mitch realizes that John has supporters with him and the camera is on, and Mitch takes his overly aggressive behavior down a couple of notches. John had been invited to the convention as he is a Democrat who has worked to help Democrats get elected for years and as he won the Party’s nomination for Florida’s district 5 Congressional seat in 2006.

However, this is not the first time that John has been told that he cannot attend a Democratic function. After John confirmed the Miami Herald’s reports that former Florida Republican Party chair, Al Cardenas, had arranged to provide lobbying fees for Florida Democratic Party chair, Karen Thurman, and after John had asked why the FDP leaders had not helped him and other anti-war Democrats get elected, John was informed that he was not allowed to attend the Pasco County Democratic Party’s fundraiser. See the Tampa Tribune article - Dark Horse Raises Fist at Democrats http://www.tbo.com/pasco/MGB82X2KW7F.html

Alison Morano, chair of the Pasco County Democratic Executive Committee, claims that the bar John from its fundraiser, and she is seen at the convention with Mitch Kates as he goes to throw John out of the convention.

FDP Communications Director Mark Bubriski told the Tampa Tribune that John showed up at FDP headquarters and started harassing staff, but you can judge for yourself after watching the video here http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=256112369408199...

Here is video of John asking Karen Thurman about the Miami Herald article.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM1qEtNIgSM


For more information see:

Michael Collins article...Florida Citizens Versus Party Insiders
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00219.htm

Miami Herald article on Karen Thurman
http://www.miamiherald.com/423/story/163133.html

St. Pete Times story on Karen Thurman
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/06/State/Party_chief_s_d...