December 03, 2008

Family matters

I wanted to take a minute to discuss an issue that very few of you are probably aware of. Next week the Republican Party of Miami-Dade county will pick a new chairman. This isn't an open election, only the members of the committee can vote (about 120 people in total).

The two candidates that are up for the post are David Rivera and Carlos Curbelo. Both are well-liked Republicans and I think either of them would do a fine job. I don't know Rivera personally. I do know Curbelo and like him very much. That's why I'm offering my personal endorsement (not that it counts for anything) to Curbelo.

There's been some nasty stuff being said out there about this intra-party election and none of it is being said by the candidates, nor do I think it's being instigated by the candidates but it's out there.

I believe that intra-party elections should not be about personal attacks and unfair attempts to discredit people. They should be about a healthy exchange of proposals and ideas for the party’s future.

Curbelo effectively led the reelection efforts of Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart who beat back strong challenges funded by the Democrats on a national level. We were able to witness Curbelo’s dedication and tenacity and and are very thankful to him for it. By keeping those two seats in Republican hands our community sent a clear signal to the President-elect that we do not want the United States to make unilateral concessions to the castro regime (regardless of what any analysts or pundits or pollsters say). I can tell you Carlos Curbelo was an important part of that shared victory that was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise dreary day for Republicans around the country.

Again, I think either candidate would be great for the party.

I don't think the committee members who will be voting will be swayed by people who endorsed Luca Brasi Raul Martinez this past year and are now attacking Curbelo's character unfairly. Electing Raul Martinez would have been a horrific embarrassment for our community and a major setback to the agendas of Cuban-Americans and Cuban-American Republicans.

Posted by Henry Louis Gomez at December 3, 2008 11:25 PM

Comments

holy crap! I agree with HLG. I have had personal dealings with Rivera in the past and found him to be a decent tactician, good at the nuts and bolts but totally void of any personal guiding principle.

Posted by: theCardinal [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 4, 2008 07:12 AM

Rivero's handling of his two Cuba bills in the FL legislature has been less than impressive, IMO. Also, I get the impression that he would be too tied up with his "day job" to concentrate his efforts on this important position. Curbelo seems like the best choice.

Posted by: Robert [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 4, 2008 07:22 AM

Interesting that HLG would attack the versailles beat. Everything Cheo posted is backed up by facts. See for yourself http://versaillesbeat.blogspot.com/

Posted by: El Tabacalero [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 4, 2008 09:38 AM

Funny, I didn't think I was attacking anyone. Only defending.

Posted by: Henry Louis Gomez [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 4, 2008 11:13 AM

with all the issues that the state has I did find Rivero's Cuba bills to be nothing but grandstanding for his local audience and very unbecoming of a supposed leader. Leave that to our Congressional delegation. We have real issues within the state - leave the foreign policy to the federal government.

Posted by: theCardinal [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 4, 2008 02:38 PM


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