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Rivera is pretty charismatic and downright fun when he is in his element. And he was definitely in his element.
More photos on Facebook’s Political Cortadito page.
But, like an insurance policy, the former Congressman took Cuban ex-political prisoner Armando Valladares. It is hard to 
lash out at the former Congressman when he is standing next to the Cuban poet and human rights activist who was imprisoned for 22 years for daring to protest the repressive, Communist Castro regime. But Rivera didn’t really need him. Not here.
This was not the valley of the shadow of death. This was a very friendly crowd. These are the people who have voted for David Rivera — first as a state rep then as a congressman — all their lives. This is his base. They love him no matter what.
“I don’t believe any of those lies that they attack him with,” Martinez told Ladra after I asked her if she was worried about any of the allegations.
“Those are the communists who attack him because they know he loves and fights for liberty,” said Santiago Llanes.
That was a running theme, the “communist attacks.”
“Or he is elected o me voy en balsa,” said Tania Garcia, threatening to leave on a raft, who feels he represents her even though she doesn’t live in his district. “He is my congressman,” Garcia said, adding that she will volunteer for him, again.
“All of that is invented. It’s all air,” said Dennis Contreras, 51, of the allegations. “My vote is for him because he is such a nice guy. He is real. He is natural with me, with everyone. He’s a people person.”
At times, Rivera had to use both palms to shake the eagerly outstretched hands of those who flocked to him. He was stopped every few feet and a volunteer repeatedly took photos with multiple cell phones that were 
handed to her by giddy constituents.
Ladra is not kidding about the rock star status. Only Willy Chirino was greeted more enthusiastically by more adoring fans. Maybe.
Granted, this Cuba Nostalgia audience is not the whole bellwethery district. But it’s an important demographic nonetheless. This is the voter in the August primary: The Cuban American Republican, 60 and over, who always votes no matter whether it is a presidential year or not.
One woman offered to buy Rivera un cafecito — even though the coffee was free. Guillermo Lledra told him that there were four votes for Rivera in his house. And, yes, he lives in the district.
“This is representative of the most patriotic, freedom-loving, civic-minded people of all communities in America, people who know what it means to lose Democracy and will always participate because they know what it means to protect and preserve it,” Rivera said. “I’
m here out of respect for generations of people who represent the greatest values this country knows.”
Rivera is much better with people however that he is with the press. Outside, he was confronted by Erika Carrillo of America Teve and Enrique Flor of El Nuevo Herald. Rivera is a pro. He dodged questions for more than half an hour, repeating what seems to be a rehearsed soundbite in Spanish, a message he uses so often that we journalists joked about knowing it by heart.
Without checking my notes or the video, it goes something like “I will not address the slander and lies that are spread by the Miami Herald. I will only talk about the issues and the lack of leadership in this district with a minority party member who embraces the failed economic policies of the administration.” Yeah. Pretty much. I don’t have to check.
And he certainly may not have to address the scandalous and serious allegations. Not for the primary, anyway, judging by the reception of his fans and the way he connected to voters on Sunday.
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David Rivera has no past, only a future, at Cuba Nostalgia added by Ladra on
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