Category Archives: Politics: FL-18

Well, it's about time! EMILY'S LIST has gotten off the the fence and endorsed Annette Taddeo for Congress in FL-18.

Yes, I can see why in the abstract it might be hard for a feminist group to come out against a senior woman in the House. But in this case, given just how bad Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's record is on women's issues, it should have been easy.

Here's the key part of the EMILY'S LIST's announcement:

Annette Taddeo, Florida’s 18th Congressional District
A small business owner and a community leader, Annette Taddeo is running for Congress because she believes South Florida needs a new beginning. As founder and CEO of LanguageSpeak, Taddeo has a 15 year track record as a successful businesswoman and was named Businesswoman of the Year by the South Florida Business Journal and one of the top 50 Latina entrepreneurs in the country by Hispanic Magazine. Taddeo is also a strong advocate for women as the chair of the Women’s Enterprise National Council’s Leadership Forum and a National Founding Partner and member of the executive board of WIPP —Women Impacting Public Policy. Taddeo’s priorities reflect the values of the 18th district. She has already raised more than every recent Democratic challenger in this seat combined and the district is seeing historic increases in Democratic voter registration. Annette Taddeo’s leadership, experience, and dedication to her community will make her a valuable voice for the working families she will represent in Congress.

This is a very big deal for the Taddeo campaign — and it means that Debbie Wasserman Schultz is now virtually isolated in her failure to get on the Taddeo bandwagon. Wasserman Schultz Must Support Taddeo. Come on Debbie — time is running out. We're waiting.

Daily Kos: Debbie Wasserman Schultz Still Sandbagging Taddeo.

Which reminds me: I got a robophone poll a couple of days ago which asked who I supported in the Presidential election. Then it asked what I think of Sen. Mel Martinez (I think he's doing a terrible job).

Then the poll asked who'd I'd support in an election between Bob Graham and Martinez. I actually think Graham would be a bit old by then to be my candidate of choice, but I said I'd support him. I suppose they include him as he's sort of the gold standard for calibrating support for Democrats in Florida state politics.

Then it got interesting: the robopollster asked who I'd support in a matchup between Martinez and Wasserman Schultz. Panic. I couldn't of course support Martinez. After the way she's dealt with Taddeo, and south Florida in general, I had no desire to support Wasserman Schultz in a poll. But should I say Martinez as a form of protest? Could I say Martinez?

No, I couldn't. So I copped out and said I was undecided.

At that point the robopoll voice switched (and got much softer), as if I'd triggered something, and I got asked some demographic questions, and it was over.

Attention Debbie Wasserman Schultz: what you are doing is not costless behavior. We are taking notes, and we have long memories. And megaphones. And friends.

While I was away, Annette Taddeo endorsed the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq. (Joe Garcia had endorsed it previously.) It's not a perfect plan, but nothing to do with Iraq is perfect, and this is the basis for as good a solution as we're likely to get.

Also while I was away, Joe Garcia's campaign started a blog they're calling A Cup of Joe. There's an Atom RSS feed. Looks good.

Annette Taddeo joins an elite group of insurgent Democratic candidates endorsed by Blue America: Crooks and Liars: Blue America Welcomes Annette Taddeo.

PS. Live chat with Annette Taddeo today from 2-4pm (East Coast time) at Firedoglake

This is the video I was talking about in my earlier post — the Taddeo campaign found a way to convert it. I think it shows that Taddeo is hitting her stride as a speaker.