In a fun Friday segment of The Rachel Maddow Show, Maddow examined an increasingly interesting Congressional race in Florida where Republican Rep. David Rivera had been favored to win, but thanks to a recent campaign/personal spending scandal, polls show he'll likely lose his seat to Democratic opponent Joe Garcia.
She explained the turnaround:
“Something kind of weird happened in South Florida when it came time for the Democrats to pick somebody in their primary to run against Congressman David Rivera. There was the candidate who everybody expected, who had run against David Rivera in the past, Joe Garcia – but then in addition to Joe Garcia there was another candidate in the primary, kind of out of the blue, [Justin Lamar Sternad], who reported almost no fundraising and had only a little over a hundred bucks in the bank. But he still managed to somehow put out really professionally done, professionally micro-targeted, high-end, well-researched campaign mailers, lots of different ones, to the tune of thousands of thousands of dollars in campaign spending.”
Where was all that 'For Justin Lamar' money coming from? Basically, Rep. Rivera spent tens of thousands of his own money to create a fake Democratic candidate, a candidate he would have rather run against than Joe Garcia. If these allegations of funding the Democrat’s failed primary bid are true, Rivera will face criminal conspiracy charges. Speaker of the House John Boehner reportedly advised Rivera to drop out of the race, and Republicans fear the negative attention won't do Mitt Romney any favors with Florida voters.
Interestingly, Ana Sol Alliegro, Sternad’s former fake campaign manager and Rivera’s close friend, who is wanted for questioning in the case, went missing earlier this month after the FBI raided her apartment. Miami bloggers speculate she’s either trying to leave the country or trying to cut a deal with the FBI to avoid doing time. The self-described “Republican bad girl” has a lively past as well, including stories about shoplifting charges, pulling a gun on an ex-husband, and an 83-day marriage to former Miami mayor Joe Carollo.
One last twist: Rivera is also said to be Marco Rubio’s “closest friend in politics,” according to The New Republic, and in their 20 years of friendship Rivera has been “instrumental in Rubio’s rapid rise from Miami commissioner to U.S. senator.” However, pundits have speculated that Rubio’s ties to Rivera may well have cost him a shot at the vice presidential nomination.
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Send him to Michigan. We've got two here now, Rep Roy Schmidt, R and Jase Bloger, R Speaker of the House are both still sitting. Our Attorney General Bill Schuette, R is still sitting and our SOS Ruth Johnson, R, hasn't been able to find anything wrong even though bribery was offered to entice a phony candidate to keep his mouth shut. And we've been on show your ID for years now. You would be amazed how many "narrow victories" we have on tax issues and political seats.
This is very believable, its The Reperbs that cheat, OMG who knew? and I live in this state. I also beleive our Gov is involved too. Its time for a recall vote
Have you noticed your Governor's eyes? He has a very scary look. What is wrong with the politics in Florida?
then there is this one
Democrat Candidate Committed Voter Fraud By Voting In Both Maryland And Florida
Still doesn't trump what Romney did as MA Guv. -- Utah residence, anyone?
what another crooked Rethug, trying to steal an election. Why doesn't this surprise me.
....isn't this what Sen. DeMint did in his re-election?.....it can only explain....why Green?
Who let the Dogs out?? Where's Clinton ,the Big Dog?? Ask Bitme why did he have the EPA entombe his fellow Coal-Miners [1200 of them] in the mines. He'll be welcomed back in Scanton for sure!!
We need to STOP this CORRUPTION in FLORIDA! We are SICK and TIRED of ending up in the News !VOTE THE REPUBLICANS OUT!SCOTT did absolutly nothing but BANKRUPT FLORIDA! It would not be suprising to KNOW HE GOT HIS SEAT under corrupt CIRCUMSTANCES!
That would be Florida for ya. The state most in the news for violence, corruption and loony Republicans running the state. Crazy juries, wacko judges (oh, forgot, those are in Arizona, too), people shooting at random and claiming they were beat up. Gee, who would want to visit there, let alone LIVE there?
Florida is Big Cuba, American style a total criminal interprize,and Marco is one of the big fish.
There is corruption in politics, for sure, but the Self Righteous republicans seem to be at the top of the list for "unethical practices". Wow, I have been a dem all my life and now I know I am NEVER about to change!
I say, clean out the House, and start all over again. Some have been in too long. It should be a public service not a career and the taxpayers (us) should NOT have to continue to pay them and pay for their insurance after they retire. They should have to live on Social Security and Medicare insurance. Then, and maybe then, changes will be made in that department.
Believe me, it is not just Florida who has a corrupt government! Where there are Republicans..................