King Nine Lives Rivera shows face at convention

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In the days leading up to the Republican National Convention this week in Tampa, las malas lenguas were saying in Miami that U.S. Congressman King David “Nine Lives” Rivera would not show up to the political powwow after the news last week that he was embroiled in a federal elections commission investigation into whether or not he secretly helped a Democratic candidate against his nemesis, former Public Service Commission Chairman Joe Garcia, who won handily and will face Rivera in November for what promises to be a repeat performance.

But he’s heeeeeeere.

Rivera did show up and told Ladra he had no reason not to. He is a delegate, having won the committeeman seat in District 5 of Miami-Dade, where he won with 77 percent of the vote.

Rivera ran into School Board Member Renier Diaz de la Portilla at the lobby of the Innesbrook hotel where most of the Florida delegation is staying, about 45 minutes away from the Tampa Bay Times Forum where the convention is, as punishment for having voted for an early primary. Baby DLP won the county’s state committeeman seat with 36 percent of the vote. Manny Diaz, Jr., who won the state rep seat in district 103 against Diaz de la Portilla — through voter fraud that included, but was not limited to, absentee ballots, got 22 percent.

Also in the group: Miami-Dade Republican Party Executive Director Yulexis Argota and Rivera aide Javi Correoso.

“This week begins the process of taking America back from the abyss of economic disaster where Obama’s failed policies have taken us,” Rivera told Ladra. “Any American who cares about restoring America’s economic stature would want to be a part of process.”

What about the investigation and the questions? Don’t you have things to do, I asked.

Rivera shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t believe everything you read,” he said.