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Congressman Joe Garcia and the Democratic Party are licking their chops on this issue. It certainly gives Curbelo — who has been hammering on Garcia’s absentee ballot fraud issues from 2012 and the 2010 investigation into Republican primary plantidate — less credibility to speak with.
Read related story: Win or lose, Carlos Curbelo’s hidden biz will haunt him
Still, he’s a media spinner after all. Curbelo actually had the gall to hold a news conference Thursday outside the Miami-Dade elections department to remind voters about the the incidents.
“I invite Mr. Garcia and his campaign to also follow the law,” Curbelo is quoted as sayi
ng, “something that they have struggled with in recent years.”
What he doesn’t mention, of course, is that Garcia has not been implicated and has denied any wrongdoing. Oh, and he discloses everything he is supposed to.
Curbelo really wants Garcia’s campaign troubles to be a highlight of this campaign. Because he’s an insider without any real experience or track record, that’s where he wants voters’ attention. So why on Earth wouldn’t he just disclose the damn list already so that the controversy dies and it stops being an issue? Or, pray tell, cost him votes?
The only reason I can think of is because it would, indeed, expose a conflict of interest. Or two. Or three.
Anybody else running for Congress — or for any office, for that matter — should and would have said, from Day 1, “Hey, you’re right. Gee, that escaped my attention. I should have changed this years ago. I’m going to change it now.” And then change it and file a new disclosure form. That is what we should expect from our electeds or even our political candidates. That is what we should demand from them.
Instead, we get grandstanding and posturing in front of the elections department like he’s some example.
I’m pretty sure it is true that Curbelo is complying with the law. That is exactly the point of the first Political 
Cortadito story that exposed this little loophole he is using. By putting the company in his wife’s name, he doesn’t legally have to disclose his clients. Doesn’t make it right. Isn’t that the same thing Crybaby Curbelo said about Cutler Bay Mayor Ed “Big Mac Daddy” MacDougall not living in the district? Look at the tape from the CBS4 show with Jim DeFede. That is exactly what he said. Because he’s a hypocrite to boot.
Some law enforcement agency — the State Attorney’s Office comes to mind — should investigate. Because he’s done nothing illegal by not disclosing his clients. But he may be doing something illegal by representing them if they benefit from his position on the school board. Subpoenas for his bank records would show where the checks and deposits are coming from. Because it would be really easy for him to take checks from people he helps smooth things over with at the School Board. Because nobody would know.
And now he can do that in Congress, too. If he wants. Because he already said he’s not going to change a thing about the way he does business. And how would we know?
Voters shouldn’t even let him try.
Surprise! Carlos Curbelo won’t disclose his client list added by Ladra on
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[…] Read related story: Surprise! Carlos Curbelo won’t disclose his client list […]
A few days before the election, I was talking to someone who was supporting Curbelos. I told her that I was supporting MacDougall and when I told her his experience, she told me that she wished she knew more about him. I got the same response by someone else when I explained Ed MacDougall’s record. If he knew more about MacDougall, he would have supported him. Both were people around my age or younger. If young people want to get involved in the political or voting system, they need to do more research on the people who are running for office. Just because a candidate is endorsed by this congressman or that former governor, doesn’t mean he’s going to be an instant winner.
Friendly advice for Curbelo.
Carlos, I hope you get to read this. I’m going to give you the advice your parents should have given you. You started your political career on the wrong foot. You know you are no material for Congress. Don’t get me wrong, but do understand that you do not have the qualifications to be a Congressman. You are still young and have a future ahead. Throughout life we have to live with all the decisions we make, whether right or wrong, and they will affect us in the future. We must stick to our principles and realize that honor, honesty and integrity are not just words out of the dictionary, they have to be earned.
Carlos, please wake up, if you haven’t already. Mario, Ileana, Jeb and Mitt are only using you. If they had any honor, honesty and integrity they would have not done this to you or for that matter to the People. If they really cared for you they could have endorsed any of the State Representatives and help you run for State House not Congress. By the way, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think they should have endorsed anyone in the primaries, that’s for the people to decide. But if they would have endorsed someone with the credentials for Congress, it would not have turned out so bad. Carlos, you and I know that none of our State Reps would have agreed to be their puppet. They chose someone they can manipulate for their own interest, not the people’s interest. Shame on them. Politicians like them are the ones that give a bad name to the Party they have swore to represent. They are the ones that have alienated so many Republicans that have left our party. I hope you learned a lesson and not be one of them. Be your own man, earn your way up and don’t sell yourself. If you do, you will be repaying someone for the rest of your life. Good luck.
F@:-)!ing Cuban, the flyer was just trying to show that the 4 Cuban candidates used the word “Cuba” in their adds. Some of them possibly just to get elected. As far as I know the position they are running for is Congressman for the United States of America not Cuba. What’s more as the saying goes “el que grita es al que le pisan los cayos”. The Curbelo camp was the only one that complained and called it racist remark just like what the liberals do when they are losing. In fact, by making this a racist issue the Curbelo camp turned all of the other candidates against him. That was out of line. But I guess they could not find any garbage on MacDougall.
Hey Cookie, breaking news if you were running in Boston 150 years ago when the Irish were fresh off the boat themselves issues pertaining to Ireland would have been front and center. Today in certain parts of the country a candidates position on Israel is also important for constituents. So if your running in parts of South Florida due to a large portion of the electorate being of Cuban origin and it’s geographic proximity, US Issues of foreign policy affecting relations (or lack there of) with the communist nation are obviously going to be significant, to say otherwise as MacDougall did defies logic.
I will more than likely sit this one out.
Danny Terrio either you got a bad case of dance fever or you seriously need to step away from the crack pipe.
Mr. Macdougal opened up the ethnic debate with flyer. I probably wont vote for the ethically (not ethnically) challenged Curbelo but I aint stupid either I know exactly what that flyer was trying to do.
It’s not about Democrats or Republicans gaining office. It’s about getting the best person for the job regardless of party affiliation. That’s what is wrong with politics from our capital to our local town halls, too many idiots voting the party line.
Tim Sanchez,
Like if that is really your name. So we are voting for people based on who can beat the other and not based on qualities such as leadership, position on the issues, honesty, integrity, ethics, etc? PATHETIC!
This is why our Country and Miami-Dade County is in bad and sad state of affairs. No doubt in my mind the best candidate did not come out ahead. Ed MacDougall was the best person, even though I might not agree with 100 percent on some of the things he says, but Ed was the person.
We look at and criticize other countries electoral process, but I might say with all the scheming and cheating going on in Miami-Dade County we are giving third world countries a run for their money.
To Jerry Atrick,
https://politicalcortadito.com/2014/08/20/carlos-curbelo-backers-include-a-loanshark-a-racist-a-felon/
In addition, I have never seen evidence tying Garcia directly to the absentee ballot fraud.
And to Tim Sanchez, I don’t believe for one second Curbelo is the strongest person to face Garcia.
What has Curbelo honestly done in his career other than being a lobbyist and he hasn’t even finished is term on the School Board,
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2014/06/house_gop_frontrunner_carlos_curbelo_has_a_history_of_voting_for_companies_that_give_his_campaigns_c.php
Curbelo is so weak he has others speak for him in ads. He needs a speech coach badly and also to grow a set of balls. You can’t have others fighting your battles all the time and I see him being a stooge for his financial and political backers. In fact, having talked to many of his supporters, they had no clue as to much of his background, even stuff that was innocuous.
Seriously, are we going to elect someone who is adead ringer for Milhouse from the Simpsons (and acts like him, too).
And let me add, those voters down in the Florida Keys got royally sick and tired of the Curbelo charades in their neck of the woods…any wonder Curbelo got trounced…and no Absentee Ballot machine down there unlike Miami-Dade.
Personally, I got sick and tired of Curbelo trying to name Kendale Elementary to Diaz-Balart Elementary, and Curbelo and family live very close to that same school…any wonder,
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/10/kendall-crowd-says-no-to-diaz-balart-elementary.html
Take a look at those comments below that article and they are telling even today.
I for Independent,
Ah that wonderful ‘Cuban’ flyer.
In fact it was Curbelo and his crew who pulled out the ‘race’ card, ““Just like the [political] left, he is attempting to use the politics of race and ethnicity for personal gain,” Curbelo, a Miami-Dade School Board member, said in an email. “I doubt our community will respond favorably to this, but he is certainly leaving an ugly legacy for his children and grandchildren.”
Curbelo said that in an email???? What’s the problem, you can’t open your mouth and talk…did it take you hours to formulate the right words???
Curbelo also made the mistake about MacDougall’s family, who has multiple ethnic backgrounds.
Funny, I never thought of Cuban as race, but yet Curbelo put race in there. He even says repeatedly across his social media, “I am the son of Cuban exiles”.
Well good for you Carlos, are you going to pick up a rifle and invade Cuba and take out Fidel and friends or are you going to just sit their and bitch about it (or rather let your pals bitch about things for him like so many of these Curbleo ads were)?
At least MacDougall didn’t bitch about the Communists but served in Vietnam ripping the Commies to shreds and was also a police officer like Martinez, something I am proud to point out, but where is Curbelo’s combat experience?
In fact, I remember hearing on a radio program that the flyer had been out for some time, and not a single person ever complained to the MacDougall campaign. So magically, the Curbelo campaign circles the word Cuban to use ‘race’ to further their campaign. Pathetic.
Wasn’t it MacDougall who was called for months “Old White Guy”? Even Ladra did so, https://politicalcortadito.com/2014/07/22/congressional-race-heats-up-with-call-on-cuban-credentials/
MacDougall never pulled the race card.
In fact, over the time of this campaign, I began to see supporters of the Martinez and even Palomares-Starbuck campaign turn the finger not against MacDougall, but against the ethics disaster that Carlos Curbelo is, who will try to weasel out of anything.
Now, Curbelo has to face the full force of those 53% of Republicans who voted for someone other than him, and left him with that Romney-esque 47% in addition to all the Independents and Democrats who despise him that much more, some of those who were parents of that Kendale Elementary school.
I will not vote for Garcia, though I might abstain. I am very dissapointed with GOP hierarchy taking sides in primaries. They are eating their own and alienating a sizeable part of their base for the general.
All those endorsements may or may not have made a difference in the primary but it looks like it might very well affect the outcome of the General Election.
Ed though I will defend your right to speak your mind (Im no fan of poltical correctness) I will also remind you that your singling out the Cuban heritage or attention to issues relating to Cuba as a negative trait of your opponents was ill advised. It would be similar to pointing out Irish heritage of candidates in Boston and criticizing their obsesion with St.Patricks Day or Green beer.
I smell a lot of GOP voters skipping this one. George Washington was right partisan politics will destroy this country.
I am with you on not voting for Garcia. I’m going to write in Ed’s name provided he stops the Democrat talk. I understand that writing in his name might shift this to Garcia, but if Curbelo gets elected he’ll be like toe fungus. You won’t be able to get rid of him.
YOU PEOPLE JUST DON’T READ.
Take a careful look again at MacDougall’s words. He’s not telling you to vote for Garcia, he’s telling Curbelo better release that client list or else and he is trying to warn everyone about this dangerous clown.
Garcia is not a class act himself, but as MacDougall says, Garcia is the LEAST corrupt of the two, and that’s not saying much about Garcia either.
I know many Republicans, at this point, who simply will not vote for anyone in this race and will fill out the rest of the races such as Governor, Property Appraiser and the Medical Marijuana initiative. They are actually sickened by both choices for Congressman in their district.
Many Republicans I have talked are that pissed off at the Miami-Dade Republican Party leadership for failing to prevent the elected members of government in their area (Ros-Lehtninen and Diaz-Balart especially) from endorsing someone in a primary, something the REC said they would not do until AFTER the primary election.
Many of us will never ever again give a dime to the national RNC for the same reason, calling Curbelo a Young Gun. That’s called pissing on the people. You just couldn’t wait until after the primary and had to throw good people like MacDougall and Martinez right under the bus by doing so.
I also want to give kudos to Senator Rubio and also Governor Scott for staying out of this mess. They have nothing to gain, and everything to lose, by going anywhere near Curbelo. Just stay out of it.
I’m considering voting write-in Ed MacDougall and would encourage everyone else that is unhappy with both candidates to do the same. You need to make sure you spell his name correctly or it won’t count.
Mike, worse than the Balarts, Ileana, and Jeb endorsing a candidate in the primaries is the fact he is the least qualified. Why would they cheat the people of a competent candidate?
Mr.MacDougall making “threats” to change parties and vote for Garcia, so much for a “rock solid” Republican, do I see a Charlie Crist in the making, losing an election magically changes your viewpoints? Anyhow, Curbelo won the GOP primary because he is obviously has the best chance at beating Joe Garcia unlike the other batch of codgers who ran in the primary, as if they were even known outside of their homes. But just for the record, being a Castro apologist, a puppet of Nancy Pelosi, having a campaign manager involved in electoral fraud, aka Joe Garcia one of the most corrupt congressmen in Washington is 1000x worse than not disclosing legal documents that belong to his wife especially when it’s in his legal right. What happened to constitutional rights? Love you though Ladra, even if we may not agree on this one, you sure do provide a clear alternative to the boring, one-sided English language journalism in this town!
Ed,
I would like to once again thank you, Joe Martinez and Mr. Lorenzo Starbuck for running tough and honest campaigns. Please continue with what you are doing because it is the people that should have a voice in choosing the people to represent them, and not some party executive committee. I will not be surprised if behind closed doors the REC are deeply worried because over 15,000 people in this district rejected their “selected” candidates. They should also be concerned because if this Capital Gains issue turns out to be a scandal and Curbelo loses in Nov., the REC will have a lot of explaining to do on why their hand-picked candidate lost a supposedly easy election. Curbelo winning by only 47% is also a sure sign that the power-grab that the Diaz-Balarts, Illeana and anyone related to Jebbie is beginning to weaken.
Got-a-Point,
I respect your opinion and I would die for your right to it. All I am saying is, at least Marco Rubio respected the people enough to stay out of the peoples choice. I am guessing he felt some pressure to join in the chorus for Curbelo. Even Holly caved to the pressure, and I like her. It is only my opinion that the establishment, dems or republicans, respect the people. If we together, cannot expect honesty from our elected officials, what is our Country to be?
Seriously? You are voting for Joe Garcia?
Here he is with Otis Wallace and Steve Bateman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeuAqNx4p6I
Here he is in an absentee ballot scandal run by his chief of staff.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-rep-joe-garcias-top-staffers-reportedly-implicated-in-2012-ballot-fraud/
Then he accepts money from a Castro sympathizer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyDJVSr3T5M
Then his famous communism works quote.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQA_AM3EO88
Do not be idiots, this congressman is a joke. Vote him out.
I will be voting Democrat and asking those in my inner circle to do the same. This guy is a second in coming of David Rivera. Ed MacDougall you are wrong! Anybody who has David Rivera in his inner circle is corrupt to me. Marco Rubio is a corrupt son-of-a bitch! You tell me where has his money come from! He has never had an honest job in his life. Mit Romney for President!
I think the Republican Party should do some investigation. We don’t need more scandals. We need to keep the House and regain the Senate. We need to get rid of Garcia and the way it looks like, many Republicans are going to vote against Curbelo.
Mr. MacDougal your are a great American with principles and integrity. We need a leader like you. Please show us the way.
When I joined a company, I had to sign a document asserting I had no conflicts of interest with the company I was about to work for. I can imagine that as a Mayor (MacDougall), Commissioner (Martinez), Attorney (Palomares-Starbuck) or Congressman (Rivera), they are held to even higher standards.
Miami-Dade County School Board Member Carlos Curbelo has to be held to a higher standard than the one I signed when I joined a company. He serves at the will of the people and is supposed to, in theory, be entrusted with making decisions based on what the people want.
HE NEEDS TO DISCLOSE ALL OF HIS CLIENTS.
For example, who is to say that one of his clients is not a friend of Fidel Castro’s Cuba? I would have a real problem if we voted for someone who deals with such scum, as many people have fled from Communism in Cuba.
I have had a couple of offers to go on RADIO! Let’s just see who has the loudest voice.
Let’s go America!
…so I am losing interest in this race. Its like when the expected home team favorite is thrust from the playoffs because of out and out cheating. I get that politics is hardball….but there was a time when it was ethical. It wasn’t in this case. When political insiders and strategists can guide a weak candidate to victory through underhandedness it is a sad day for the people who have been manipulated.
I do remember when Curbelo said to Defede someone should make a complaint. This sounded like a “dare” to me. A complaint SHOULD be made to the Inspector General of Miami Dade County who also has jurisdiction over the School Board and therefore Curbelo. Although the media should continue to harp for disclosure, the complaint should be carefully written so as to review his school board voting pattern to determine which votes were directly or indirectly to the benefit of clients or friends for which he should have recused himself.
It seems to me his taking the early position he did accusing Garcia of wrongdoing is just utilization of the old adage: “The best defense is a good offense” I think Garcia gets stronger as Curbelo gets weaker.
On a final note; congrats to MacDougall and to Martinez for running a successful and clean campaign. It was obvious to me, these two were honorable men who appreciated the experience of each other.
ED… you are right I am A republican also and will vote any day of the week for Garcia, the Best American Did not win. It should have Been Joe Martinez or Ed Mcdougall!
I have always been a rock solid Republican. But I believe America is first and I will support the least corrupt of the two. I will ask all those who supported me to vote for Garcia if Curbelo does not disclose his clients. As hard as that is, I owe it to my Country, not Mario, Mitt, Ileana, or Jeb. I will become their worst nightmare. Shame on the Republican committees for letting this happen without voicing their concern. They had the power to stop this and did not. It makes me want to become a Democrat. It is no wonder so many are leaving our Republican Party.
BTW, thank you Marco, you stayed out of the primary and let the people decide. Kudos to you! I am supporting you for president. Please do not let Jeb Bush run this Nation.
I am writing in your name, Ed, just so you know. I could not ever vote for Garcia. I realize that he might get in if enough folks like me do that, but I know we might end up with a stronger candidate in 16 and the party working together as a result.
I am not staying home. I am voting in the General. I want to make sure Crist does not get in. I am voting for Gov Scott and he needs us to show up at the polls.
Power is taken, not given. We sent a Mitt message. Now we need to send a Curbelo message. Its doable.
No more Democrat talk, please. We need you now more than ever and we need you working for Scott. Let’s get to work.