Martinez vs. Diaz-Balart – and it hasn’t even started…
Last night in Miami Spanish language television U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart slandered former Hialeah Mayor Raul L. Martinez by calling him corrupt. Diaz-Balart made reference to the legal troubles Mayor Martinez faced in the late 1980s and early 1990s when he was indicted for corruption. The U.S. attorney in charge at the time was Dexter Lehtinen, husband of then State Senator Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. After years of fighting the charges and appealing court decisions, Martinez ultimately prevailed in court. While he was busy defending himself, though, Ros-Lehtinen became the first Cuban American elected to Congress.Word on the street has it that the popular Martinez will challenge Diaz-Balart in 2008 for a congressional seat he has held since 1992. Reacting to a story that appeared in yesterday’s Miami Herald where I was quoted as saying that both Lincoln and his brother Mario would be facing viable opposition in 2008, Diaz-Balart went off like a dropped fire-hose spewing vile at Martinez.
Diaz-Balart is a lawyer. When interviewed after the Diaz-Balart attacks, Martinez said that Diaz-Balart should know better than to accuse him of something of which he was exonerated. Martinez also found it interesting that Lincoln would attack him on this issue and the fact that the former mayor stands against the cruel and unpopular policy of Cuban family separation espoused by the Diaz-Balart brothers in Congress and restricted even more in 2004 by the Bush Administration. Martinez said that what Diaz-Balart should be discussing are problems faced by many Americans, including his own constituents — lack of health care, higher taxes, the war, the insurance crisis, and others. Martinez went on to suggest that the right thing would be for the two to come together before the TV cameras and debate the issues mano a mano.
Finally, Martinez wondered why Diaz-Balart would attack him in such a manner when he hasn’t even declared his intentions to run for the District 21 congressional seat…
For today, I will leave it like this: if this is a preview of what this campaign will look like, I’m already looking for my balcony seat. The fact is that Diaz-Balart, who preaches the virtues of representative democracy, does not seem to like the idea of being challenged. At all times, he gives the impression that whatever political charge he has belongs to him and how dare anyone try to take it from him.
Raul Martinez is an aggressive and exhaustive political campaigner. Before Raul has even stepped up to the starting gates, Lincoln Diaz-Balart already seems to be fidgeting, nervous with the prospects of what may be on the horizon.
I will keep you abreast of developments as I see and hear about them.
Stay tuned.
Alvaro F. Fernandez
1/10/2008
My comment , we need change I do hope that Mr Diaz Balart ,his brother and Ms Ileana can be challenged with valid candidates in the 3 districts and Mr Raul Martinez is a very good one and sure other Cuban Americans or not will come up to challenge the other 2 .
We used to have a very good Congresman on our District .: Mr Dante Fascell.
What a difference !!!
You mention Dante Fascell. I remember the days when we had Fascell, Claude Pepper and Bill Lehman. What a trio and what power they wielded in favor of south Florida during those days. Thanks for your comment.
Alvaro
Not to mention diaz-balart will be facing a primary challenge within his own party from constitutionalist “ron paul” republican from miami dean santoro… diaz-balart is in for an interesting 2008….
As a Cuban American born in Cuba who USED to be a Rep I intend to vote AGAINST every useless worthless parasite incumbent next election and few after that I want EVERY do nothing organized crime Rep who has fleeced us for years to become a memory.
I hope more Cubans open their eyes and say “I had enough of inept crooks who do NOTHING but give speeches name parks after themselves and plant a tree in a local school”
If you enjoy watching elderly wait hours for a bus , being ripped off with insane property taxes than continue to vote for the do nothing Rep party.
Save Miami save yourself vote out EVERY incumbent .