Post by GSC Admin on Jun 7, 2004 8:00:15 GMT -5
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Graham defends Penelas against Gore
U.S. Sen. Bob Graham praised Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas' Democratic credentials in response to harsh criticism from former Vice President Al Gore.
BY BETH REINHARD
breinhard@herald.com
Supporters of Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas roared to his defense Sunday after former Vice President Al Gore called him ''the single most treacherous and dishonest person I dealt with'' during the contested 2000 presidential campaign.
The most powerful comeback came from Florida's top Democrat, U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, whose seat Penelas is seeking.
''People in Florida who know Alex Penelas know he is a quality person and has been a Democrat under difficult circumstances,'' Graham said in a telephone interview with The Herald that was facilitated by the Penelas campaign. ``It is not easy in Miami-Dade County to be a vocal Democrat as a Cuban American.
''He's been very helpful to many Democrats, including Bob Graham, in the past, and I am proud to call him a friend and supporter,'' Graham said.
Graham did not directly address the substance of Gore's remarks, which were e-mailed by a spokesman Saturday in response to a Herald inquiry about Penelas' role in the 2000 campaign.
Gore supporters say Penelas broke a promise to rally the Hispanic community in the crucial homestretch. National fundraisers solicited money for Penelas, who faced his own reelection in September 2000, so he could avoid a runoff and help the national ticket.
The day after Gore issued the reproach turned into a contest of Democratic firepower between Penelas and U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch, a Senate rival who has accused him of abandoning Gore in 2000. For every high-profile Democrat the Penelas campaign cited as a supporter, Deutsch's staff referred to another party leader who would criticize the mayor.
But the harsh words from Gore himself are likely to tarnish the mayor's credibility with party loyalists who typically dominate primary elections. Penelas' leading rivals in the Aug. 31 Democratic primary are Deutsch and former Florida Education Commissioner Betty Castor.
''I think this makes Alex Penelas run third,'' said U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings of Miramar, who is supporting Deutsch. ``If what goes around comes around, Alex Penelas is looking it in the face.''
Asked about the potential impact of Gore's reproach, Bill McBride, the Democratic nominee for governor in 2002, said, ``I think Vice President Gore is very well respected, so this is not helpful to Alex Penelas by any means.''
But Graham subtly criticized Gore for issuing the statement. ''I think it would be desirable to focus on the real goal, which is to see a Democrat in this seat,'' he said.
Some Penelas allies went further, arguing that Gore's strident remarks may backfire and generate sympathy for the mayor.
`SHOCKING'
''For that to come from a vice president of the United States is shocking,'' said U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, who has endorsed Penelas. ``If it was intended to bury Alex Penelas, I think people will think it was over the top.''
Penelas said Gore has refused overtures to discuss the events of 2000. The mayor was taken off guard by the statement.
''I can't help but think of Joe Lieberman and how he must have felt when he found out through the press that Al Gore was endorsing Howard Dean instead of him,'' Penelas said, referring to the endorsement during the presidential primary season. ``I think this will further solidify the people who are with me.''
Penelas and Meek campaigned statewide together in 2002 for constitutional amendments to lower class sizes and guarantee public pre-kindergarten. He has also helped raise millions of dollars for Democrats in and outside Florida, including Gore when he ran with Bill Clinton in 1996 and when he was the top of the ticket in 2000.
But Gore and Penelas had a falling out after 5-year-old Elián González was rescued at sea on Thanksgiving Day 1999.
Many from Penelas' political base, the heavily Republican, Cuban-American community, were enraged when federal agents raided the Little Havana home where Elián was staying with relatives and sent him back to his father in Cuba in 2000.
A NO-SHOW
Gore supporters knew that strong emotions among Cuban exiles would make it difficult for Penelas to tout the vice president's campaign until he won his own race. But on Oct. 18, one day after his swearing in, Penelas didn't show up at a rally aimed at boosting Hispanic turnout. Later that day, he and his wife went to Spain for 12 days on a trip that was part county business, part vacation.
Deutsch has been blaming Penelas for Gore's loss for a full year. The vice president's statement is vindication.
''It is disingenuous of Alex Penelas to take the position that he did all that he could for the Democratic Party,'' Hastings said. ``I think he should be chastised for that. Florida was ground zero. We lost by 537 votes, and if Alex Penelas had been on the ground in Miami-Dade, it would have made a difference.''
The vice president said in his statement: ``Not all who claim to have been supportive and loyal truly were.''
He also heaped praise upon Deutsch, a big supporter in the media and his campaign treasury. Deutsch was an outspoken Gore ally at the Broward and Miami-Dade recounts, and he donated $250,000 from his congressional account, one of the largest contributions of its kind to a national campaign.
Graham defends Penelas against Gore
U.S. Sen. Bob Graham praised Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas' Democratic credentials in response to harsh criticism from former Vice President Al Gore.
BY BETH REINHARD
breinhard@herald.com
Supporters of Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas roared to his defense Sunday after former Vice President Al Gore called him ''the single most treacherous and dishonest person I dealt with'' during the contested 2000 presidential campaign.
The most powerful comeback came from Florida's top Democrat, U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, whose seat Penelas is seeking.
''People in Florida who know Alex Penelas know he is a quality person and has been a Democrat under difficult circumstances,'' Graham said in a telephone interview with The Herald that was facilitated by the Penelas campaign. ``It is not easy in Miami-Dade County to be a vocal Democrat as a Cuban American.
''He's been very helpful to many Democrats, including Bob Graham, in the past, and I am proud to call him a friend and supporter,'' Graham said.
Graham did not directly address the substance of Gore's remarks, which were e-mailed by a spokesman Saturday in response to a Herald inquiry about Penelas' role in the 2000 campaign.
Gore supporters say Penelas broke a promise to rally the Hispanic community in the crucial homestretch. National fundraisers solicited money for Penelas, who faced his own reelection in September 2000, so he could avoid a runoff and help the national ticket.
The day after Gore issued the reproach turned into a contest of Democratic firepower between Penelas and U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch, a Senate rival who has accused him of abandoning Gore in 2000. For every high-profile Democrat the Penelas campaign cited as a supporter, Deutsch's staff referred to another party leader who would criticize the mayor.
But the harsh words from Gore himself are likely to tarnish the mayor's credibility with party loyalists who typically dominate primary elections. Penelas' leading rivals in the Aug. 31 Democratic primary are Deutsch and former Florida Education Commissioner Betty Castor.
''I think this makes Alex Penelas run third,'' said U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings of Miramar, who is supporting Deutsch. ``If what goes around comes around, Alex Penelas is looking it in the face.''
Asked about the potential impact of Gore's reproach, Bill McBride, the Democratic nominee for governor in 2002, said, ``I think Vice President Gore is very well respected, so this is not helpful to Alex Penelas by any means.''
But Graham subtly criticized Gore for issuing the statement. ''I think it would be desirable to focus on the real goal, which is to see a Democrat in this seat,'' he said.
Some Penelas allies went further, arguing that Gore's strident remarks may backfire and generate sympathy for the mayor.
`SHOCKING'
''For that to come from a vice president of the United States is shocking,'' said U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, who has endorsed Penelas. ``If it was intended to bury Alex Penelas, I think people will think it was over the top.''
Penelas said Gore has refused overtures to discuss the events of 2000. The mayor was taken off guard by the statement.
''I can't help but think of Joe Lieberman and how he must have felt when he found out through the press that Al Gore was endorsing Howard Dean instead of him,'' Penelas said, referring to the endorsement during the presidential primary season. ``I think this will further solidify the people who are with me.''
Penelas and Meek campaigned statewide together in 2002 for constitutional amendments to lower class sizes and guarantee public pre-kindergarten. He has also helped raise millions of dollars for Democrats in and outside Florida, including Gore when he ran with Bill Clinton in 1996 and when he was the top of the ticket in 2000.
But Gore and Penelas had a falling out after 5-year-old Elián González was rescued at sea on Thanksgiving Day 1999.
Many from Penelas' political base, the heavily Republican, Cuban-American community, were enraged when federal agents raided the Little Havana home where Elián was staying with relatives and sent him back to his father in Cuba in 2000.
A NO-SHOW
Gore supporters knew that strong emotions among Cuban exiles would make it difficult for Penelas to tout the vice president's campaign until he won his own race. But on Oct. 18, one day after his swearing in, Penelas didn't show up at a rally aimed at boosting Hispanic turnout. Later that day, he and his wife went to Spain for 12 days on a trip that was part county business, part vacation.
Deutsch has been blaming Penelas for Gore's loss for a full year. The vice president's statement is vindication.
''It is disingenuous of Alex Penelas to take the position that he did all that he could for the Democratic Party,'' Hastings said. ``I think he should be chastised for that. Florida was ground zero. We lost by 537 votes, and if Alex Penelas had been on the ground in Miami-Dade, it would have made a difference.''
The vice president said in his statement: ``Not all who claim to have been supportive and loyal truly were.''
He also heaped praise upon Deutsch, a big supporter in the media and his campaign treasury. Deutsch was an outspoken Gore ally at the Broward and Miami-Dade recounts, and he donated $250,000 from his congressional account, one of the largest contributions of its kind to a national campaign.