Candidates running in South Florida continue to try to link each other to U.S. House leaders as one of the most competitive congressional races in the Sunshine State continues to take shape.
U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo’s, R-Fla., team tied former Miami Dade Democratic Party Chairwoman Annette Taddeo to U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Thursday
“We need a Congress committed to real, conservative solutions,” insisted Nicole Rapanos from the Curbelo campaign in an email to supporters on Thursday. “D.C. Democrats like Nancy Pelosi are going to bat for Annette Taddeo, in hopes of electing another liberal partisan to represent our swing district.”
Rapanos warned of “liberal attacks being launched against Carlos" who she claimed was fighting for “conservative principles in South Florida.”
But Taddeo’s team hit Curbelo for backing U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., who was elected to his new post on Thursday.
“Curbelo has deserted his constituents -- it's an outrage,” Taddeo said on Thursday after Curbelo backed Ryan. “The Republicans in the House have completely abandoned us and to have our own congressman cheerleading for a speaker who promised his extreme colleagues that he would block immigration reform shows just how out of step Curbelo is for this district.”
Taddeo also tried to link Curbelo to the House Freedom Caucus, of which he is not a member, which backed U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Fla., over Ryan at a caucus earlier in the week even as most of its members fell behind Ryan when the vote came to the House floor on Thursday.
“The Freedom Caucus is clearly calling the shots in Washington, with Curbelo and Ryan falling willingly behind,” Taddeo insisted. “A few dozen of the most conservative members of Congress shouldn’t be dictating immigration policy for the entire House of Representatives, especially when it is such an important issue that we must address. We know that there are almost certainly enough votes to pass immigration reform, so why is Curbelo fighting for the extreme wing of his party instead of the people of Florida?”
Beltway liberals backing Taddeo went on the same line of attack on Thursday.
“Rep. Curbelo’s decision to vote for Paul Ryan as speaker of the House solidifies his commitment to the extreme Republican agenda,” said Rachel Thomas, a spokeswoman for liberal PAC Emily‘s List. “By voting for Ryan, who promised the extreme wing of his party that he wouldn’t touch immigration reform if elected speaker, Curbelo has yet again abandoned the people of South Florida. With Ryan at the helm, this Congress will continue its genuinely outrageous priorities, will try to break up immigrant families, and will push policies that are dangerous to women and families. Florida deserves better than Rep. Curbelo and Speaker Ryan’s extreme anti-immigrant agenda—that’s why Emily’s List has made Curbelo a top target for 2016.”
Cureblo was not apologetic for backing Ryan for speaker on Thursday.
"Today Speaker Ryan proposed reforms to the House that will allow all members to more effectively represent their communities and he articulated a bold vision for a more prosperous future for all Americans - especially the least fortunate,” Curbelo said. “I congratulate him and his family and look forward to serving under his leadership."
Curbelo also took to Twitter to praise Ryan on Thursday night. “Confident that Speaker Ryan's bold vision will help to create a more prosperous future for all Americans,” the South Florida congressman insisted.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
