Joe Garcia Declares His Candidacy In Florida's 25th CD

The first time DWT ever mentioned Miami Democrat Joe Garcia was almost exactly two years ago, when we were wondering why Florida Democratic power-monger Debbie Wasserman Schultz was arrogantly refusing to back him in a race against one of her Republican cronies, Mario Diaz-Balart. Eventually Wasserman Schultz, having been savaged by netroots and grassroots progressives, was beaten down and forced to back off her preposterous pronouncements. Although her initial bad-faith efforts probably doomed Joe's campaign, he did extraordinarily well-- better than any other Florida congressional candidate other than Alan Grayson and Suzanne Kosmas, and this year Wasserman Schultz was part of the DCCC team that begged Joe to run again, sensing a clear path to victory now that Mario has abandoned the district for an easier race in his brother Lincoln's old constituency (since Lincoln has decided he's the rightful president of Cuba... don't ask).

Blue America backed Joe in 2008 because of his progressive stands on behalf of ordinary working Americans. He campaigned as the candidate of change, and this morning he announced he's leaving his job as the Energy Department’s Director of the Office of Economic Impact to run for Congress again, this time for the open seat in his district.

"We need leaders that will take a stand to do what’s right," he announced a few moments ago in his living room. "My wife and I have a young daughter, and we see what’s happening in our community. We can’t send to Washington the same Tallahassee politicians that raised taxes by $2 billion in the middle of a recession; ignored Jackson Memorial Hospital, now on the brink of closing; and just passed an anti-teacher law that will hurt schools and families. Our children deserve every opportunity previous generations had-- that’s why I’m running for Congress...

"We’ll create jobs and get our economy back on track by giving real tax breaks to middle class families and small businesses that are struggling to make ends meet. We must also invest in our greatest natural treasure-- our children-- by strengthening our schools and working with teachers and students, not against them. And I will fight every day so that people who work for a living can take their kids to a doctor and can’t be denied insurance because of preexisting conditions-- this begins by saving Jackson Memorial Hospital.”

This time Wasserman Schultz, still a major force at the DCCC, has vowed to help him from day one and is expected to make up for her inexcusably bad behavior in 2008. We'll be watching closely. Joe is very much the same strong advocate for regular American families.

I believe the way to strengthen our economy is by rewarding hard work and creativity that moves America forward. This begins by keeping taxes low for middle class families and small businesses and keeping families in their homes. It means investing in America again: in small businesses and new industries that put people to work; in public education, technical schools, and affordable college tuition so American workers can compete in the global economy; and in new energy sources that reduce the price of gas, create millions of jobs, and free us from our dependence on oil from dictators like Hugo Chavez and the Middle East.

I believe that people who work for a living should have access to a quality family doctor, and that nobody’s parent or child should ever be denied insurance because of a pre-existing condition. And our senior citizens should never have to choose between buying medicine and paying for groceries.

I have a young daughter, and my brother and his wife are teachers, so I understand firsthand just how important it is that our children receive a world-class education that prepares them for the jobs of the 21st century. This begins by passing a middle-class tax cut that makes college more affordable for families and students. The anti-teacher bill that Tallahassee politicians just passed is a step in the wrong direction. We should be working with our teachers and students, not punishing them. In Congress I’ll fight to fully fund our schools and colleges, because teachers should never be asked to pay for their students' school supplies, and Miami-Dade College should never have to turn away students that want to learn so they can find good jobs...

I’m committed to reducing the deficit so that future generations of Americans do not end up paying the price. My office will lead by example and post any funding request directly on our website. We must crack down on wasteful government spending, because leaders should manage tax-payer dollars with the same prudence that a responsible parent would manage his family’s budget.

Meanwhile, next week the most corrupt of the Republican corporate shills, Boehner, Sessions, and Cantor, along with lunatic fringe obstructionist Mike Pence, are hosting an Inside the Beltway lobbyist event for David Rivera, the hand-picked GOP establishment candidate in the race. This is meant not just to help Rivera raise money from right-wing corporate interests but also to signal to Florida state Senate Majority Leader Alex Diaz de la Portilla, a more popular potential candidate, that he is unwelcome in the race.