Gubernatorial Candidate places foot squarely in mouth.

Davis says state Capitol under GOP is like Castro's Cuba
BRENDAN FARRINGTON

Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis compared the way Republicans run Florida to the way Fidel Castro runs Cuba as the state party rallied supporters Tuesday for the upcoming election.

State workers are afraid of retribution if they say what they really think about how the state is run, said Davis, a congressman from Tampa.

"I had a state worker put his arm around my shoulder, he looked around the room to make sure nobody was looking at him, and said 'Jim, I'm for you.' What kind of country is that? I've had the same conversations with other people - in Havana," Davis said at the Florida Democratic Party's unity luncheon.

Later, he added, "There are people I run into every time I'm here (in Tallahassee) who are afraid to express criticism of their own government and to have their voice heard. That is not Democracy. That is not a healthy environment."

The Republican Party of Florida criticized the comment.

"It's entirely irresponsible and unbelievable that someone who pretends to be a serious candidate for statewide office would compare Florida to a communist regime," said Andy Palmer, the state party's executive director. "The fact that the state continues to grow by over 400,000 people a year is evidence that this is a great place to live."

Sen. Bill Nelson, the party's only statewide elected official, criticized the way Republicans have used their leadership in Washington and Tallahassee.

"This is a dog-eat-dog two party state where the other party has figured out how to cut all the corners in order to just completely run over the minority party. It is time for us to change that," said Nelson, who will likely face Republican U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris as he seeks a second term this year.

Nelson said that the public is hungry for professionalism and courtesy.

"For this democratic constitutional government to work, you've got to have an ability to get along, to reach out and build consensus in order to govern a country that is as broad and is as diverse as our country is," Nelson said.

State Sen. Rod Smith, who is the other major Democrat running for governor, criticized Republican policies on education, Medicaid, stem cell research and more.

"We are going to have a unified Democratic Party in the fall because it means so much. There is a difference in our parties," Smith said. "The poor, the sick and ... the families of this state need our help."

The luncheon raised $100,000 for the Florida Democratic Party. Nelson and party Chairman Karen Thurman suggested the idea as a way of showing their top candidates standing together for the good of the party.

Republican Gov. Jeb Bush can't seek re-election because of term limits. Republicans hoping to replace him include Attorney General Charlie Crist and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.

Gallagher issued a statement about Davis' remarks after reading them.

"Anyone who understands the true nature of Fidel Castro's brutality would know better than to make the remarks Jim Davis made today," he said. "Fidel Castro is a murderer, responsible for the imprisonment, torture and execution of thousands of his own people, and thousands of Cuban-Americans across Florida have suffered greatly due to his brutal dictatorship."

After the Republican criticism, Davis later released a statement to clarify his remarks.

"I would never and have never compared any of our democratically elected leaders to Fidel Castro," Davis said. "But let me be clear. There is a climate of intimidation in Tallahassee. That's not good for democracy. That's not good for Florida's families. And that's no way to run state government."

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Well Mr. Davis, if you don't like the way the state is run then try to win a few elections every now and then. Democracy means sometimes you lose and you have to accept the fact that you don't have the power. That doesn't mean you stop advocating for your issues and your constituents but your attitude that of a sore loser.

I sent this jackass an email at his campaign web site. It was loaded with 4-letter bombs.