Posted on 06/08/2004 3:09:45 AM PDT by kattracks
MIAMI (AP) — Florida's two Democratic senators defended U.S. Senate candidate Alex Penelas on Monday, a day after Al Gore's published comments calling Penelas "the single most treacherous and dishonest person I dealt with" during the 2000 election.Sen. Bill Nelson questioned Gore's decision to inject himself into the race, saying it hurts the party's ability to keep retiring Sen. Bob Graham's seat and threatens a key state for presidential candidate John Kerry. Graham called Penelas, the mayor of Miami-Dade County, "a good Democrat."
Both Graham and Nelson have said they will not endorse a candidate in the Democratic primary but that they felt compelled to come to Penelas' defense in light of Gore's remarks.
"This slash-and-burn politics has gotten us to the point that it is causing gridlock in America," Nelson said.
Several Democrats spoke on Penelas' behalf after Gore issued a statement to The Miami Herald published on Sunday praising one of Penelas' two main rivals, Rep. Peter Deutsch.
The statement added: "One of the other candidates in this race became in 2000 the single most treacherous and dishonest person I dealt with during the campaign anywhere in America." A Gore aide confirmed he was not referring to Betty Castor, who has led in recent polls.
A spokeswoman for Gore declined comment Monday on Graham and Nelson's reaction.
Some Democrats criticized Penelas for failing to actively support Gore during the final months of the 2000 election. George W. Bush won the White House after winning Florida by a mere 537 votes following a 36-day recount in some counties that was stopped by the U.S. Supreme Court.
"The truth is, Alex Penelas hurt us in the 2000 election," said Mitchell Berger, a Fort Lauderdale attorney and top fund-raiser for Gore.
Pelelas attacked Gore and Deutsch, accusing them of using "the politics of yesterday — slash and burn."
In response, Deutsch released a statement saying the dispute is not about politcs.
"Vice President Gore's words speak for themselves. And if those words help put Mr. Penelas into clearer focus for some voters, I would consider that an important development."
Leni
Yeah, it's like a bunch of hoodlums who rob a bank and then shoot each other for the money.
Funny, I could swear there were several recounts that actually finished.
Florida Democrats panicked. Film at 11.
Nothing surprising here.
Isn't "the single most treacherous and dishonest person" award given to that Democrat who most closely emulates Clinton?
Of course Florida's two Dim senators, and all other Dims should be celebrating this.
That's pretty bad, considering he dealt with W.J. Clinton, his own bad self...
Actually, they finished in the counties Bush had won by large margins. In counties Gore won, they decided to count the votes over and over and over and over again until they got the result they wanted. Fortunately, the US Supreme Court read the Constitution..
I am getting reaaly anoyed with this gramatic game playing of the AP by using the word democrat-IC. As if republicans are UNdemocratic. They should have said "democrat party" senators.
My nitpick, to point out the uneducated nature and gramatic incompetence of journalists. Sloppy AP gramar to go with sloppy AP journalism.
"the single most treacherous and dishonest person I dealt with"
Gore has dealt with Bubba, so coming from him this is high praise indeed.
I thought Gore would bestow that honor on Bush or the supreme court. To bestow it on a fellow democrat shows the long knives are out, both against there enemies and their own comrades.
I find it curious that Penelas doesn't mention his party affiliation or his experience as Miami-Dade major in his tv commercials. The GOP candidates have no problem claiming that they are proud conservative Republican cabinet members, Congressmen or state speakers. Shouldn't Penelas be pround that he's a liberal democrat from Miami?
On second thought, maybe he shouldn't.
I am PRAYING that Algore will be a speaker at the Democrat Convention next month. Any word on this yet? If Big Al Sharpton is allowed to speak, I don't know how they can deny that opportunity to Crazy Al. After all, according to Democrat delusional mantra, Crazy Al was elected president in 2000.
Algore the Bitter...
I love the smell of fratricide in the morning. It smells like...victory!
Al Gore the ameba, devouring everything in his path. He should write a new book: "Pseudopods in the Unbalanced."
sounds pretty logical to me. The mayor doesn't give Gore the election, so Gore gets his revenge. Simple. Effective. Let the demonrats all have a gun, and put them in a stadium. Let them shoot each other.
Good point and the link doesn't work to get to the story. It's something that should be pointed out to the writer.
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