And she wants to be supervisor of elections
It was one of Miami’s typical ugly election time displays: A group of campaign workers and activists heckling a candidate with the word “socialista” in front of an early voting locale. Except this time, the “angry mob” included State Rep. Alina Garcia, who is running for Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections.
Shudder.
That’s right. The Republican candidate for this newly electable constitutional seat to run the elections in one of the largest counties in the country was chanting “Debbie socialista” at former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who is running against Republican Sen. Rick Scott, as the Democrat stood almost dumbfounded by what was happening at the Hammocks Regional Library Sunday. The incident was caught on cell phone video that has made a few rounds on social media.
Read related: For Miami-Dade Elections Supervisor, GOP’s Alina Garcia leads fundraising
At one point in the video, Garcia puts her hand on Mucarsel-Powell’s shoulder. Gingerly-like, like she was a friend. “Don’t touch me,” Mucarsel-Powell says.
It’s not bad enough that Garcia doesn’t think Joe Biden won the election fair and square in 2020. It’s not bad enough that she worked for political scumbags like the racist former Sen. Frank Artiles — who is on trial for his role in putting up planted fake candidate in a state senate race – sleazy Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo, who abuses his public office for political vendettas, and Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo, who has been linked to absentee ballot fraud.
In fact, wasn’t Garcia once one of former Congressman David Rivera’s boleteras?
Now, she adds this mini hate rally to her conspicuous resume.
But, Garcia says, Mucarsel-Powell was basically asking for it.
“DMP came to agitate and shut down a press conference we were having,” Garcia texted Ladra late Monday. “Everyone started chanting ‘Debbie socialista.’ DMP and her group all used communist tactics to intimidate Scott supporters.”
First, not everyone is running for supervisor of elections. Second, Garcia would not be more specific about the “communist tactics” she meant.
Read related: In final stretch, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell has 3 new TV ads vs Rick Scott
She told Ladra that she was among some community leaders who. had organized a press conference to support Scott’s re-election. “Unfortunately, one of the opponents showed up with a group of agitators to provoke and disrupt our event,” Garcia texted, in what looks like a prepared statement. “As she approached me, it was clear her intention was to create a scene for media attention.
“A clear sign of desperation.”
Really? What does Mucarsel-Powell have to be desperate about? She’s been touring the state, meeting with supporters and labor leaders, activists and students to get her message out, getting a great deal of immediate gratification from the encounters. She’s got the Democrats backing and a billion dollar ad campaign. And polls have her within reach of the incumbent, a former governor. Even if she doesn’t win, and she could, she has certainly given Slick Rick a run for his money.
These are good days for DMP.
Maybe not so much for Scott, who probably can’t believe he has found himself in this defensive position. Have you seen the silly TV ad where his grandchildren pretend to push him in the pool? A clear sign of desperation.
In any case, Ladra asked Garcia if she thought heckling a candidate she doesn’t agree with in such an aggressive manner was maybe disqualifying for someone aspiring to run the elections in Miami-Dade. She wouldn’t, or couldn’t answer.
Mucarsel-Powell is sorta used to it. Which is sad.
“This is the second time of me running in Miami that I’ve experienced un acto de repudio,” she told Ladra. An acto de repudio is a term used by the Cuban regime to refer to violent acts of humiliation toward any critics of the government.
Yeah, that’s about right.
Former State Rep. JC Planas, the Democrat running for Supervisor of Elections, issued a statement Monday to blast Garcia’s actions at the Hammocks library.
“The recent video of Alina Garcia putting her hands on and swarming U.S. Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell with a crowd of chanting people is deeply disturbing,” Planas posed on his social media. “This behavior is alarming and wildly inappropriate coming from someone who is running to conduct elections for all of Miami-Dade County.”
Planas said he has run into plenty of candidates during early voting — even some Republicans. “And I have greeted them warmly, in order to convey to all that I intend to be the supervisor of elections for all.
“While we know that there may be healthy debate at the polls, intimidation, harassment and physical contact of any kind is never okay,” Planas posted. “This behavior is disqualifying for a supervisor of elections candidate, who is supposed to be fair and impartial.”
Ya think?
Alina Garcia joins ‘angry mob’ to heckle Democrat candidate at early voting added by Ladra on
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