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Stephen Bittel: Not-So-Closeted Racist?

June 19, 2017 - 10:30am

You can fool some of the people all of the time.

You can fool all of the people some of the time.

You can't fool all of the people all of the time.

Stephen Bittel isn't fooling the majority of black folks right now.

Mind you, there might be one or two who will try to rush to his defense, although right now I doubt it.

For the most part, though, he showed his hand this past Saturday at Leadership Blue.

After state legislators were angry because of a mixup in the program leading up to former Vice President Joe Biden's speech, Bittel laid the blame squarely at the feet of the black legislators, calling them children.

All of the legislators, black and white, were angry about the mixup, but it was only the black ones that incurred Bittel's wrath.

Gee, I wonder why.

According to the Miami Herald:

After the dinner, Sen. Lauren Book of Plantation, who is white, asked Bittel about the snub -- prompting Bittel’s outburst blaming African-American legislators for complaining, even though Cruz, who is Hispanic, and others were also angry.

“He said, ‘They’re like children, these black lawmakers. They just don’t get it,’ ”Braynon said, relaying what Book told him. “ ‘I raised more money in this amount of time than they ever could.’”

Read the stories written by the folks who were there -- in The Miami Herald or and in Politico.com.

Wow!

Really?  Give folks time and they eventually let you know how they feel.

Bittel, because Sen. Lauren Book shared his words with Sen. Oscar Braynon, did apologize.

How many of you actually believe he means that apology?

I sure as hell do not. 

The only thing he is sorry about is that he got caught.

It is abundantly clear that he has no respect for the black legislators, and that is why he singled them out.

He has no respect for the FDP black treasurer, and that is why he was trying to figure out a way to get around having her sign off on financial documents.

The only black people he tolerates are those he can control.

Rep. Shevrin Jones says black legislators need to be brought to the table. He says that they are only used at election time.

Hmmm....

Does that sound familiar?

Where have we heard that before?

Could it have possibly been in a Sunshine State News column written by none other than yours truly?

You see, what I write here is being said to me by black people all over this state.

It's being said to me by black elected Democrats.

It is nothing new.

The only people you will see trying to dispute it are white democrats.

They want black Democrats to be quiet and toe their party line.

All the while their racism will rear its head, just like Stephen Bittel's did at Leadership Blue.

What are they going to do now, call the entire black elected delegation Republican plants?

Good luck with that!

 

Leslie Wimes, a Sunshine State News columnist, is founder and president of Women on the Move and the Democratic African American Women Caucus, www.daawc.com. Follow Leslie on Twitter: @womenonthemove1


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Comments

Must be "racist" because only blacks can be childish, right Leslie? You are such a moron. And perhaps racist yourself?

Hell, according to these fools, everybody is a racist... just disagree with the DBC...

I am not one to come by and pour gasoline on a building already on "fire", I am a true blue democrat, I live in the Florida Panhandle, and I was proud to serve the Florida Democratic , as Director of Party Affairs, when we emerge to victory in 2008 and 2012. How did we do that? We stayed focused! I worked for the FDP six years at headquarters, and as a field organizer all over this state for four years prior. M I was afforded many opportunities working for the Florida Democratic Party. Today I am today a 100% service-disabled veteran; who wants to see the Party emerge. We are missing many opportunities by become a circular firing squadron, and turning against one another. To win, you have to have a championship heart. The team has to be unified around a central message, this is a great opportunity to form focus groups around the state, and study the history of the Democratic Party. Look at the playbook, and of our recent few victories, and review what we did right to get back on track! Good leaders empower others, I served under and worked around many great Democratic Leaders leaders around this state. When you are chosen to lead, you have to decide, what do I want my legacy to be? Do I want to be a transformative leader? How can I take my assigned leadership role and take this organization to the next level and empower others. As Incoming House Minority Leader Kionne McGhee said, "let's use this as a teachable moment." Everyone in this big tent party has an important role to play. Let's unify, embrace and celebrate our diversity. Let's stop discounting the value of our team members. More over, do not "speak ill" of your fellow democrats. Finally, attitude determines altitude. God Bless you all, of you, and onward to VICTORY!

There's a price to be paid for 'protection ' by collective egalitarians. Pony up!

Good job Wimes, keep punching holes in a sinking ship! HA!

Leslie WImes will do anything to divide the democratic party so her republican bosses can continue conquering. She will say anything regardless of truth. Heck, She throws around this "racist" charge so often, no one listens anymore. Leslie is the little girl who kept crying wolf, for cash payments of course. Leslie, you are a sick human being, and, candidly, you are the racist.

Racism knows no political party and isn't limited to one race. I love your writing style Leslie. Keep on keeping it real.

This is a confusing article because at the very heart of the article you never say exactly what all the Demicratic legislators are actually upset about that caused your "racism" charge other than the FDP Treasurer would not sign some papers? Is that what this is all about? And for that Bittel is a racist? Really???

Some background reading for you Concerned Floridian: http://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2017/06/18/fla-democrats-erupt-as-bittel-apologies-for-racially-tinged-comments-112863

Leslie, I enjoy your columns and find them informative. But, please work a little on your writing style. Every sentence does not deserve it's own paragraph. By the way, the fooling people saying is: you can fool all of the people some of the time, and you can fool some of the all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

This is exactly how I feel. This writing style is abhorrent and I found this an absolute pain to read, especially on an iPhone.

I enjoy Leslie's writing as well. In fact, I enjoy it so much so, I'm going to tell you that you really ought to find some other reason to cry. Bottom line, Bittel is a racist and there are quite a few of those in the Democratic Party. We need Leslie to keep calling them out. However she chooses to do so. She can write one word at a time if she feels like it, as long as her point is made.

Funny how the narrative always depicts Republicans as racist but time and again fact and reality overrule narrative and prove that Democrats are the real racists.

White Male Privilege, its mother is the DNC...

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