Is Debbie Wasserman Schultz Maneuvering To Get Charlie Crist Into The Senate?

Saturday, Florida Democrats had their big Jefferson-Jackson fundraiser at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood (the Hollywood in political boss Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Florida congressional district, not the actual Hollywood). The haul was reported to be around $850,000 and the theme was defeating Rick Scott next year when he tries for a second term as governor. Wasserman Schultz, however, used the conclave to continue trying to persuade Democrats that lifelong Republican Charlie Crist is not only a Democrat but has always been a Democrat. If she ever, by the grace of God, is defeated, she can certainly get a job at the Ministry of Truth.

Wasserman Schultz is pushing Crist for the gubernatorial nomination on actual Democrats, although the latest rumors is that her cabal is trying to get Bill Nelson to run for governor and then appoint Crist to his empty Senate seat. His non-denial denial-- “I have no plans to run for governor. I have no intention of running for governor"-- is less than convincing.

“We welcome anyone who decides that their views and their values line up with the Democratic Party,” she said, before running through a list of actions Crist took as governor that she said demonstrated his true colors: extending voting hours because of long lines in the 2008 presidential election, making it easier for felons who have served their time to get their civil rights restored and getting rid of touch screen voting and implementing paper ballots.

“There are a lot of examples that Charlie Crist has in his record as a Republican that I think he probably decided that he lined up more with our party’s values than theirs and we welcome that.

“We are not, unlike the Republicans, a party that requires a rigid adherence to extreme dogma. We are a big tent. The true definition of a big tent. So we have blue dogs and we have yellow dogs. We have more progressive members and we have conservative Democrats. We all come together around core values and we support a core agenda.”

Wasserman Schultz, as we mentioned Sunday, blocked gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich from speaking and has San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro give the keynote address. He gave her a Spurs jersey with the initials "DWS." Meanwhile Crist showed up claiming he was there so he could “meet some of the nicest people I’ve ever met: Florida Democrats. I’m just listening and enjoying the opportunity… Just listening to people and hearing what they have to say.” He was accompanied by veteran Democratic strategist, Ashley Walker, who ran President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in Florida.

Nan Rich, the only Democratic candidate for governor who is officially in the race, has been traveling the state for the past year.

She’s made more than 200 campaign stops, something she said would pay off in next year’s primary and general election. “I believe strongly very strongly in grassroots activism. I come from community activism. It re-elected Barack Obama and will elect the next governor of the state,” she told a gathering of Democratic state representatives.

Rich said she’s finding women are ready for the state’s first female governor, to which state Rep. Reggie Fullwood, D-Jacksonville, yelled out, “Some men are too.”

In a comment aimed at likely gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist-- who was a Republican when he was governor before and is now a Democrat-- Rich described herself as “a lifelong Democrat. I have certain values and priorities and you all know what they are because you all share them. The truth is so many people around this state share them.”

Rich brought her message to small groups meeting throughout the day, including a bout 60 people gathered for the meeting of state legislators and about 100 people at the state Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Caucus.

But she was denied a speaking slot at the big dinner, where more than 1,200 people are expected. The state Democratic Party leadership said it’s to streamline the program after complaints the dinner usually lasts too long; Rich supporters think the party leaders are trying to grease the skids for Crist.

Rich has received a publicity bonanza in recent weeks over the state party’s decision.

“This is kind of a blessing in disguise because the media attention... is incredible,” she said. Reporters who didn’t give her campaign any attention “now all of a sudden they’re calling and wanting to know what I have to say.”

Republicans have had a field day accusing Democrats of silencing one of their own. Their “Free Nan Rich” campaign includes mailers and an automated Robocall to Democrats, and a drumbeat of press release taunting the Democratic Party leadership.

Rich said she’s been getting good consideration from grassroots party activists. She said 300 people she’s met from her year of campaigning attended a Friday night reception.

...Randy Fleisher, president of an unofficial Democratic group called the Davie Dem Club, was sporting a “Nan” sticker.

He said Rich has “great credentials.”

He said he’s frustrated that some in the party leadership appear to be eager for a Crist candidacy.

“The party hierarchy is looking for a messiah to come in and win Florida.

“It doesn’t make any sense for me that the Democratic Party is waiting for Charlie Crist. I remember Chain Gang Charlie,” he said. “He’s a charmer, but that’s not what I want in a governor. I want somebody who’s right on the issues, and has been there since the beginning. Not somebody who is a wily weather vane. His big trick is spinning in the wind.”

When Wasserman Schultz talks about "a big tent," filled with Blue Dogs and Yellow Dogs, she doesn't mention that she herself is one of the only Democrats in a party leadership position to have joined a partisan caucus. She's one of the leaders of the corporately-owned New Dems, a conservative bunch of Wall Street careerists who are among the most corrupt Members of Congress, in either party. If Randy Fleisher ever tries to run for office, he may never have a direct confrontation with Wasserman Schultz but she'll make sure there's no room for him in her sickening version of the Big Tent.