What Rahm is doing throughout Florida, and why we should care.

[madfloridian]

I have met some of these candidates who are being Rahmed. Jan Schneider impresses us a lot, and she has been to various local meetings for a couple of years. I have met others, and I feel very strange about all that is happening here.

It looks like Rahm might not have told Kerry the truth about Schneider's race, as Kerry says he thought the race was unopposed in the primary. Bothers me that Rahm would do that. This is the race for the seat that previously belonged to Katherine Harris.

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2006/1/2/145950/4519

FL-13] DCCC Interference in Florida Races in 2006

The currently best-known instance is the Florida 13th. Congressman Emanuel is pushing Christine Jennings, a retired President of a small bank with a high school education, over Jan Schneider, the Democratic nominee who ran better than any Democrat in decades in the district. Congressman Emanuel has given $2,000 to Jennings and has also persuaded House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senator John Kerry to donate (although Kerry insists he was told that this was "a targeted race with no primary") and Senator Barbara Boxer to host a fundraiser for Jennings.

Schneider won the 2004 Democratic primary over Jennings by a margin of approximately 25%, spending less than one-third of what Jennings spent.

Jennings Banker's PAC donated to Republicans, and she was previously one herself. Christine is a Yale graduate, a lawyer, and she beat Jennings last year.

And I believe I have posted here about this Florida race. A millionaire Republican who only registered as Democrat in July of this year was recruited by Rahm, and our state chair.

Another egregious example is the Florida 16th, where Emanuel recruited a wealthy Republican to change parties and run against two progressive Democrats. After Emanuel selected Tim Mahoney, a Republican venture capitalist reportedly willing to self-finance, Democrats Carol McLean and David Lutrin were reportedly asked to get out of the race to avoid a primary.

There are others mentioned in the post. I think some parts of it I agree with, others I don't. For example, Kathy Castor impresses me a lot for that race in Florida 11th. I really like her, and was impressed as well by her Mom, Betty. So I disagree on some mentions in the post.

I just feel that this is being done too often.