Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chairwoman and Florida Democratic Party Vice Chair Annette Taddeo — whose name has recently been floated as a possible LG on the Democratic ticket — seemed to indicate Monday that she was not sure the top billing would belong to former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who can’t make up his mind what party he is in and after a
short stint as an Independent is now a Democratic candidate for his old seat.
It was during a media conference call to bash Gov. Rick Scott‘s so-called “Victory Tour” campaign that began this week in Jacksonville and Sanford. When Taddeo expressed a little skepticism on Scott’s sincerity regarding the in-state tuition bill that passed for children of undocumented immigrants — a measure she said Scott used to “pander” to Hispanic votes — a reporter from the Palm Beach Post asked her if she had the same skepticism with Crist, who as a Republican (remember that?) did not support the immigration reform step.
“We have to get through our primary first to see who our nominee is,” Taddeo said. “But I most certainly know where the Democratic party stood for more than a decade.”
Think maybe she’s voting for former Florida Sen. Nan Rich?
The reporter tried the question again. “What about Charlie Crist personally? He opposed it as governor. Do you trust him now, that he is sincere in this position?”
“I am very glad that he is supporting it now and I do trust him,” Taddeo said. “I trust that he has been able to come to the Democratic side and has supported a lot of things, like Obamacare.”
Taddeo and Vice-Chairs Justin Spiller held the conference call with the press to say that this year’s legislative session was actually ripe with failures to expand opportunity for Florida’s middle class families.
“Rick Scott’s victories in Florida this year are as phony as his TV ads,” Spiller said, adding that the governor particularly failed to expand healthcare access to an estimated 40,000 uninsured veterans in the state.
“I continue not to understand how Rick Scott can look servicemen in the eye,” Spiller said, adding that the governor “will do or say anything to get elected.”
“For Rick Scott to go on a victory tour, is just insulting for those of us left behind,” Spiller said.
Said Taddeo: “This is a campaign tour to cover up Scott’s record of failure.”
The governor will need to answer to women voters about “why he sat silently by as his republic legislature ignored the chance to guarantee equal pay for equal work,” Taddeo said. “Republicans refused to even hear the bill.
“Telling our daughters that no matter how hard they work, they won’t make as much as their brothers is not a victory.”
She also said that while Scott touts the session as a victory for education, funding has reverted to 2007 levels while there were “huge giveaways to private, for-profit charter schools.”
Said Taddeo: “Bills to expand opportunity did not even get a vote this session. While special interest got special treatment.”
Ladra asked if there was anything the legislature got right this year. Taddeo cited the in-state tuition bill.
“The dreamers bill was definitely a victory for all of us fighting this for over a decade. But I don’t think its a victory for Rick Scott. Where was he four years ago? He is just pandering to win re election. He knows he has to win Florida’s Hispanic community.”
She’s overstated the importance of the Latino vote in Florida before. Last month, PolitiFact Florida reported that Taddeo said that 20 percent of the Sunshine State’s electorate are Hispanic when it is closer to 14 percent.
Asked what Crist was doing to court that Hispanic vote, Taddeo — who is the highest ranking Latina in the state party — claimed ignorance.
“I think you’re going to have to ask Charlie that question,” she said.
Is it me or does she sound like she is not on the Crist bandwagon?
Dems’ Annette Taddeo not sure about Charlie Crist ticket added by Ladra on
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