Amazing Interview – Florida Dem. Party Chair Interviewed by Progressive Dem – Part II of Series

[autorank]

Link: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00271.htm

Show Me the Money (& Listen to the Tape)

Citizen John Russell Interviews Florida
Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman

…

...the concern is there is only one party in Florida, the money party, and you represent the Democratic side and Al Cardenas is representing the Republican side. Where do the ordinary people fit in? We only have so much time…John Russell, Florida Democrat, Progressive, Candidate for Congress

Transcript and audio tape of the July 16 interview
Part I of series – Florida Citizens versus Party Insiders

Michael Collins
“Scoop” Independent News
Washington, D.C.

Earlier this week, “Scoop” covered the controversy surrounding the Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, Florida Citizens Versus Party Insiders. Florida news papers revealed that Florida Chairperson, Karen Thurman was lobbying for a law firm headed by Al Cardenas, the former Chairman of the Florida Republican Party. A powerful figure in Republican circles, Cardenas was open about the relationship and indicated that he may have more lobbying work for the prominent Democrat.

Thurman is paid $100,000 a year to be the full time chair of the party. She receives $3,500 a month to lobby for the Cardenas firm. In addition, she has a $100,000 a year lobbying contract with another group.

Florida progressives like John Russell are particularly upset at the lack of support provided to their campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives. Russell attended a Democratic Party fund raising event this Monday, July 16 in St. Petersburg, Florida. He approached Karen Thurman and engaged her in discussion. Russell had his video camera with him that captured the interview through audio recording. That audio recording can be found at YouTube at the link below.

The interview is fascinating. Interviewer John Russelo is a progressive Democrat and the recent candidate for the 5th Congressional seat in 2006. Karen Thurman, the current chair of the Florida Democratic Party and former Representative from the 5th; and, Al Cardenas, a prominent and highly influential figure in Florida legal and Republican political circles, was the former chair of the Florida Republican party;

-----------
Date of Interview: July 16, 2007, Monday evening

Florida Democratic Party Fund Raiser
http://www.bellabrava.net/ShowPage.asp?page=reservations.asp|Bella Brava Restaurant>
515 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, Florida.

KT = Karen Thurman, Chair, Florida Democratic Party, Lobbyist.
JR = John Russell, citizen, progressive Democrat, candidate for Florida’s 5th Congressional District, 2006

http://tinyurl.com/yor7jc">YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM1qEtNIgSM&mode=user&search=

Tape starts.

KT: John how are ya?

JR: Very good Karen. Just drove all the way down to hear your side of the story on this Miami Herald thing.

KT: I’m not worried about it John.

JR: They’re a lot of people are concerned about it.

KT: OK so what do you want me to say?

JR: If you worked for Pepsi, can you honestly you do some consulting on the side for Coke?

KR: Well I don’t work for Al.

JR: He signs the check doesn’t he?

KT: He does…no, his check comes from the Miami Dade County Commission who says, we need some democrats.

JR: The paper says you’re working on a number of lobbying gigs.

KT: No they said that I have the Miami Dada contract that he has. They said to him, since the Congress has changed to be Democrat, that they they want some Democrats representing them to Washington, DC. My former staff person Eric Gould, who worked as my counsel for Ways and Means, who worked at the Clinton White House (inaudible). They did a contract with me to help Miami Dade be able to talk about port security. That’s it.

JR: OK, so the deal is, the public, when we’re talking about a position that you hold and the public, being not as we’ll say sophisticated in the wiles and ways of government, the ordinary person, (and I’ve been that ordinary person I started out in your campaign in 2002 and prior to that Al Gore) walking the pavement, getting people out to vote, writing a check for any amount, (some times it’s a lot more painful to write a check for $25 than for $2500), OK, so the public is not really able to digest that that well, quite frankly, either am I, either are a lot of people…the concern is there is only one party in Florida, the money party, and you represent the Democratic side and Al Cardenas is representing the Republican side. Where do the ordinary people fit in? We only have so much time…

KT: John, excuse me. Let m ask you this, do you think port and airport security is important?

JR: Yes, I absolutely believe it’s important it’s important. And here’s what I would suggest. If this were truly an important issue to be working on with Republicans, would you have to take a check for it?

KR: You know John, it is a…. you know what

JR: Would you not have made a public announcement: ‘I’m going to be working for the Republicans on port security in an effort to…’

KT: You know John, to be honest with you; I never thought about this…The fact of the matter is I didn’t. I don’t know how this story began. The fact of the matter is … I had been lobbying before I took this job. I made it very clear I was going to be doing that. I am very selective in what I do and who I do what for. … and in this case , it is a agreement I made with a former employee of mine, who was my counsel for the ways and means committee, who worked for the Clinton White House, Eric Gould and I…

JR: …Well all that stuff is fine but it boils down to. You’re working for Republicans.

KT: I’m not working for the Republicans. I am working for Miami Dade County on port security. They requested Democrats to be involved because we became. … We took over.

JF: OK, I’m not going to accept that and neither are a lot of people, but the fact of the matter is we’re talking about pursuing a check that in somehow is passing through a conduit that includes Al Cardenas, the architect of Republican domination…

KT: Now has not fallen out of, out of the grace of Congress because of the fact the Democrats took over.

KT: Do you know how many K Street people are hiring Democrats today?

JR: That’s great!

KT: That exactly right. So we’re taking money away from Republicans.

JR: That’s just part of the money party insider game that leaves the people wondering where they fit in.

KT: John you know what, you and I are never going to agree on this.

JR: Well, no because People like myself and people who walk the pavement they don’t get paid to do what they do.

KT: So do I.

JR: But you’re getting paid $100,000 per year…

KT: and I left a job or was taken out of a job making over $150,000 and they came to me and they said to me and said please provide a leadership position in the Democratic Party. Right? Is that on. Is that on?

JR: I don’t know.

KT: Well I would, I would… If we’re going to have a personal conversation then I’m not going to talk to you if that’s on.

JR: Actually, yeah, well, I think the people want to know, if you cant talk about it on the record.

JR: I think that people deserve to know… If you can’t talk about it on the record… Well, I think people want to know.

KT: John, I have no problem talking about it on the record. I’ve made it very clear that I’m not afraid of this issue. I think it is perfectly OK for me to … John, now wait a minute, I have always had a lobbying company on the side before I took this over. And I said when I took it over there were people that knew that I was doing lobbying. I’ve always done that. …


JR: That’s fine. The point is, the point is you stated that when you took this jobyou left a $150,000 a year job and you made a choice to provide leadership

KT: I didn’t leave that job. I was doing that job and if you asked my DNC members they knew that I was doing some lobbying on the side. … It has not taken away from anything that I do. OK. I get criticized when I criticize Bill Young.… I am doing the same job that I did whether I am doing this or not…

JR: Well when people when you talk about for example, 2006 elections, people are concerned about how well that went…

KT: It went well.

JR: Well it didn’t go well!

KT: Yeah it did John!

JR: It did not go well.

JR: You can spin what you’re talking about it any way you want… Look at Glen Claytor. How many meetings did you have with Glen Claytor?

KT: John you know what. You and I are just gonna disagree… This why I am doing these kind of event so that I can have the money. OK. The fact of the matter is how much money did Glen raise? How much money did you raise?

JR: And how much money did your son receive from the Florida Democratic Party?

KT:, I told you this… my son raised $60,000 dollars, he received little or nothing… there was not one mailing. You know what… you and I are…

JR: Yes he did. I have his finance report right here. The finance report is right here… He received $11,000 from the in in-kind

KT: Oh my God!

JR: and $4,000 in a check. (See appendix for financial records)

JR: and that’s the finance report and you just told me again… after Citrus County...

KT: John, you know what, you know what, I’m trying.

JR: Thank you very much, Thank you very much. Very nice seeing you.

Tape Ends

ENDS

Permission to reprint or reproduce with a link to this article in “Scoop” Independent News and attribution of authorship.

Note: In the previous article on Florida’s Democratic Party, I mentioned several very promising house candidates who failed to get any support from the state party. I left out one of the best, former Marine and union member, Joe Roberts A Native of the Panhandle from a Working Class Family.

Appendix:

Florida Department of State Campaign Finance Report for Macky Thurman.
Florida Democratic Contributions on Record: $15,000.00.

Florida Department of State, Division of Elections

http://election.dos.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/contrib.exe

Search Criteria:

Detail of Candidates

Election Year: 2006 General Election

Office: State Representative

Party: All

With Candidate Last Name Starts With: Thurman

Sort Contributions By: Contributor Name

And Then Sort By: Candidate/Committee Name

Candidate Information, etc Contribution

Thurman, Macky (DEM) (STR) 09/28/2006 $2,000.00
INK FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
214 SOUTH BRONOUGH STREET
TALLAHASSEE, FL 32301 STAFF

Thurman, Macky (DEM) (STR) 08/21/2006 $7,053.00
INK FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
214 S BRONOUGH STREET
TALLAHASSEE, FL 32301 POLLING-TDM RESEARCH

Thurman, Macky (DEM) (STR) 08/22/2006 $2,000.00
INK FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
214 BRONOUGH STREET
TALLAHASSEE, FL 32301 CONSULTANT - MELANIE R

Thurman, Macky (DEM) (STR) 10/25/2006 $4,000.00
CHE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
214 SOUTH BRONOUGH STREET
TALLAHASEE, FL 32301
________________________________________________

Total FDP Contributions to Macky Thurman $15,000.00
.
Link to article: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0707/S00271.htm

[Me.]

1. K & R

Good work

[althecat]

2. I love this bit...

KT: and I left a job or was taken out of a job making over $150,000 and they came to me and they said to me and said please provide a leadership position in the Democratic Party. Right? Is that on. Is that on?

JR: I don’t know.

KT: Well I would, I would… If we’re going to have a personal conversation then I’m not going to talk to you if that’s on.

JR: Actually, yeah, well, I think the people want to know, if you cant talk about it on the record.

John Russell handles this IV so much better than most journalists I know would. Tis magnificent...

[autorank]

10. Public figure in a public place;) And after that she agreed...but this, OMG!

--------------------
KT: ... How much money did you raise?

JR: And how much money did your son receive from the Florida Democratic Party?

KT:, I told you this… my son raised $60,000 dollars, he received little or nothing… there was not one mailing. You know what… you and I are…

JR: Yes he did. I have his finance report right here. The finance report is right here… He received $11,000 from the in in-kind

KT: Oh my God!

JR: and $4,000 in a check. (See appendix for financial records)

JR: and that’s the finance report and you just told me again… after Citrus County...

KT: John, you know what, you know what, I’m trying.
---------------------

And the Florida Department of State Election Finance Database shows that Citizen Russell is exactly
on target - The Florida Democratic Party gave Chairperson Thurman's son $15,000 while six progressive Democratic House candidates got exactly nothing from the party. She was in error when she
said her son received "he received little or nothing."

Go to KOS and vote in this poll on the FDP:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/19/184834/118

[blm]

3. This has been going on since KStreet exploded in the 80s and zoomed thru the 90s.

Thurman is doing on a smaller scale what Terry McAuliffe did on the national scale. Serve the REAL POWER players while wearing your Dem mask.

Terry made MILLIONS in the 90s on deals that also included Poppy Bush. I know - just another one of those 'coincidences' we're supposed to ignore.

[mod mom]

4. No wonder Carville didn't raise eyebrows w leadership like he did with voters.

So many politicians are willing to throw away party values for their worship of the all mighty dollar. This makes me sick.

[autorank]

8. blm, You are a Truth Teller... We'd clean up in Florida without this crap!

Check the link on Florida 1st candidate, and no DFP funding, Joe Roberts (it's at the end in a "Note" by me). He's perfect for that district, a progressive and a good man. He got NOTHING!!!

[kster]

5. K&R,. bookmarked..nt

[bleever]

6. Up you go.

:thumbsup:

[FogerRox]

7. Repubs everywhere. some even call themselves DEMS

[althecat]

9. Some are even running for the Presidential nomination...

[FogerRox]

13. LOL. true, very true.

[autorank]

11. Vote on the Florida Dem. Party Chair Scandal at KOS, no membership required

Go to KOS and vote in this poll on the FDP:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/19/184834/118

[Hissyspit]

12. .

[Ellipsis]

14. K&R

"yeah the goons have gone global
and the CEO's are shredding files
and the democrans and the republicrats
are flashing their toothy smiles" - from "Serpentine" by Ani DiFranco

...another internet expose, thanks Michael.

[autorank]

15. Ola!

Now that's some poetry. She should sing at the next inauguration, whenever that might be.

But we've got the Feinstein Bill on election systems...that will protect us. I wonder who
the manufacturer is?

These Florida progressives are fighting mad and they're fighting back. It's a good example.

I went looking for the other progressive in my state and I actually found him...Webb:evilgrin:

Best to you!

[Kurovski]

16. K&R. (nt)

[autorank]

17. Here he is to save the day...

What's with the world out there? Nothing but negativity and nastiness.

Can't we all just learn to get along?

[Kurovski]

18. Aaaaaah...

fuck it.

And God bless us everyone! O8) :hi:

[autorank]

19. Well, then there's just one thing to say...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3489963153942934632

[Kurovski]

24. Goes great with coffee...

:headbang:

"Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Motherfucker!
Uggh!"

[JCMach1]

20. Progressives are not so welcome in Florida by the party leadership

It has been this way for a long time...

[madfloridian]

32. Yeh, and sometimes they even support the Republican against a Democrat

Don't they, JC.

Ah, what a time that was.

Hooking their wagons to Republicans from whom they profit.

:hi:

[autorank]

21. Look at these responses to the interview on YouTube - Holy Cow!

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM1qEtNIgSM&mode=user&search=

Comments & Responses

promokid1 (20 hours ago)

All Dem. candidates are not equal. The essential re-
quirement for establishment candidates is the acceptance of money and it's supporters as the only real criteria for running, and the only reason for activities such as lobbying or running political organiztions. While Karen Thurman has every right to be a lobbyist, it's just foolish for the party to accept a p/t leader with unavoidable conflicts of interests and priorites.

VoteLiberty (5 hours ago) Marked as spam

Thurman, you're a disgusting political prostitute. You should be FIRED. My name is Frank Gonzalez. I received 41% of the vote in 2006. I was on the ballot in Miami-Dade County against Republican Lincoln Diaz-Balart. You were doing HIS bidding, you $100,000 criminal. It is because of you that I am exposing yet more hypocrisy from you. Let's remember, unions gave over $200,000 to my Republican opponent. I'll be back in 2008 as a Ron Paul independent.

VoteLiberty (5 hours ago) Marked as spam

Thurman, I will do my best to expose your lies. You should STEP DOWN from your position. Lobbyists are whores for their special interests. Special interest groups are precisely the groups that violate our individual rights. You are an enemy of the US Constitution!

VoteLiberty (5 hours ago) Marked as spam

John, congratulations on a job well done in exposing this slimebucket in Democrat clothing. She's as slimy as the rest of the politicians and you did a good thing for liberty. It's pretty shocking to see some stubborn Democrats still making excuses for this piece of garbage.

Itopenedupmyeyes (1 hour ago)

Roxanne... you don't have to put on the Red Light...


bigsauceradio (14 minutes ago)

How could the democratic party condone this treason? No wonder the republican neocon fascist scum are in control - even the supposed 'opposition party' leadership is covertly supporting them!!! A political whore Karen Thurman is not all Karen Thurman is, she is a disgrace to the human race. I'm Dean Santoro running for US House in District 18 Florida and I, long with Frank Gonzalez will bring INTEGRITY back into fashion.

[blm]

23. GOOD!!!!!!

If this thread drops, auto, you need to repost it.

This stuff is REAL. No doubt McAuliffe's deals were to look the other way on Bushies' election fraud for 4 years he was chair in exchange for an easier ride for their run in 2008.

[Kurovski]

26. "Thurman, you're a disgusting political prostitute."

Nicely said.

[babylonsister]

22. Thanks for the 'scoop', autorank! She's been very selective

in what she does; does that mean she's selective in finding the highest bidder to sell herself to?
Thurman doesn't appear to be interested in 'leadership' at all.

Nice interview, and I'll remember that name. I imagine it'll be awhile before Thurman grants another interview.

[althecat]

34. I don't think she thought she was being interviewed.....

Getting a pro. PR Hack to expose themselves like this is a rare treat.

[Kurovski]

25. Kick. (nt)

[Kurovski]

27. Kick.

:kick:

[autorank]

28. So Dick is in charge tomorrow while George is having a procedure.

The procedure is a very good one and hopefully people will pay attention. Colon cancer is usually
an unnecessary disease with proper screening, early on.

But geez, Cheney in charge...frightening.

But while that's happening and the White House is ignoring all the polls and doing it's thing, we
have an organization in one of the largest states that's just not ready for prime time. We need
Florida and the Democrats there are ready to rock...but what do we have. It's not a pretty sight.

:kick:

Always a pleasure to run into you.

[Kurovski]

30. Did you say "ram into me"?

Actually, I was supposed to have a colonoscopy about four months ago.

This is all a good reminder.

[Uncle Joe]

29. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread autorank, you do good work.:thumbsup:

[autorank]

31. My favorite Dutch Uncle

Thank you. This Florida situation is a paradigm for party reform - you work for the party, not the
other way around. I remember reading an article after 2004. The Republican media folks were told
no 10% or whatever the automatic charge is for "placing media." The Democrat media consultants, in
that most important election. Here's what Salon had to say:

But have you scrutinized the financial arrangements and consultant contracts of this campaign the
way you would skeptically analyze the balance sheet of your favorite charity? Would you feel ripped off
if you discovered that about 15 percent of everything you donate goes right into the pockets of the
media-consulting firm before a single ad is placed on television? http://tinyurl.com/38drv8

So we out raised them but started 15% behind in the race because someone failed to knock heads and
tell these consultants, "It ain't going to happen fellas, you get a flat fee."

But things will change soon or they won't; if they don't, than they'll change is a massive way a
bit later.

:hi:

[Uncle Joe]

33. The people just need to wake up,

and they will realize, how much power they actually have. I also believe the powers that be, are motivated in large part, to keep the people in a semi-conscious state, just to make it easier to manipulate them.

I totally agree with your last sentence.

Peace to you and have a good weekend.:hi:

[Kurovski]

35. Kick.(nt)

:kick:

[althecat]

36. bow