Campaign Lessons from Gangster Movies

There are many politicians in this state who disgust me. Allen West's hyperbolic rhetoric is grating. Rick Scott's abrasive disregard for opponents thoughts or rights is demoralizing. But there is simply no greater embarrassment to Florida voters than U.S. Rep David Rivera, R-Miami.

The most recent dumbass move from a man who should long ago have been thrown in jail is a tail of such brazen law-breaking and attempted bribery it sounds more like an old gangster movie than a genuine political campaign by an incumbent Congressman. From the Miami Herald:

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Interviews with campaign sources, invoices, campaign records and other documents show that Rivera personally and frequently called Rapid Mail about Sternad’s mailers. During one call, Rivera directed an employee to walk outside, check the office mailbox for an envelope containing payment for one mailer., the sources said.

The envelope was stuffed with cash — $7,800.

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The Sternard referenced was "Democrat" Justin Lamar Sternad, who was running against Joe Garcia for the Democratic nomination. Thankfully, Garcia won the primary. Long-time readers of this blog know I was a big fan of his two years ago, and I remain so today.

Sternad was an obvious plant using Republican money sent to Republican campaign firms with a message based on Republican attacks. Rivera clearly wanted Sternad to be his opponent. While unseemly, this tactic isn't new in politics, and trying to choose his own Democratic opponent is hardly a law bar for a man who once ran a truck full of his opponent's campaign literature off the road in the middle of the night.

But the tactics Rivera used here are in many ways the most brazen and filthy politics he has employed yet. The Herald investigation shows he was delivering envelopes filled with thousands of dollars to help find Sternard's campaign off the books. In a state so proud of government in the Sunshine, it should be no surprise this is not legal.

Rivera is a thus and he is running his campaign like a thug. And there is a place for thugs. Last March, I boldly predicted Rivera's legal troubles would get him out of the House and into the big house.

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Truth is, it seems unlikely right now that Rivera will make it through his first term without being forced to resign.

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Things haven't panned out quite as I hoped in that regard, but they may yet. The man under federal investigation before he could even be sworn in remains an embarrassment to his party and Congress in general. But regardless of whether the law can finally get to him based on these most recent accusations, it is critical voters take care of the man this November and vote him out of public office.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/21/2962351/campaign-vendors-say-republican.html#storylink=cpy