Biden endorses Soto over Grayson in Florida congressional primary

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Former Vice President Joe Biden is endorsing Rep. Darren Michael Soto as he fends off a primary challenge from his predecessor, Alan Grayson, in a sign that the Democratic establishment wants to keep the firebrand former congressman off the November ballot.

Biden steered clear of mentioning Grayson by name in issuing his endorsement — his first in a contested Florida Democratic race — and instead played up Soto’s blue-collar roots in Florida’s 9th Congressional District.

"Darren grew up in a neighborhood like I did, where a job was about a lot more than a paycheck,” Biden said in a written statement. “He knows that to have a strong economy we must strengthen and grow the middle class and that is why I am a proud to support Darren Soto, a proven progressive, for re-election."

Biden also called Soto “a highly effective legislator who keeps his head down, works hard, and delivers for his constituents. Central Floridians couldn't have a better person representing them in Congress.”

Read more: https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2018/05/29/biden-endorses-soto-over-grayson-in-florida-congressional-primary-439387

[Perseus]

1. We need Grayson

yes, he is explosive, but I feel he counteracts a lot of the vitriol from the republicans and tells is like it is, isn't that what the voters want? someone who 'tells it like it is'?

He doesn't mince on words and does not force himself to be "Politically Correct", which to me, "Politically Correct" is bull...

Untruths, misinformation, distortion of the truth, etc...that is what people say when they don't have the guts to utter the word "lies"...Grayson doesn't have that problem.

[brooklynite]

5. Are you aware he's running against an incumbent Democrat?

As for not being politically correct, I see the job as being more than making speeches that liberals like. What has his bluntness achieved in the way of policy accomplishments?

[yurbud]

6. I don't care what someone's background is--just what they will fight for.

[mcar]

8. No we don't

Grayson is primarying a sitting Democrat. For that, and many other reasons, he should get no support from Democrats.

Your take on "politically correct" is...interesting.

[karynnj]

10. No we don't

I know he plays to the far left .. but he he sometimes did so with techniques that the RW uses. Using a quote of part of a sentence, where the full sentence means something very different is right out of the right wing playbook -- and doing it - knowing that the response of his opponent showing the full sentence - cost him an election!

So, NO, I do not give him credit for truth.

Just because he is blunt and not politically correct does not make him an honest man.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

11. No, we don't. He's an abusive asshole and needs to stay gone. nt

[George II]

13. He's got WAY too much baggage.

[phleshdef]

16. Yea like we need an STD.

Grayson is a lunatic

[Gothmog]

27. No, Grayson is running against an incumbent Democrat

[yardwork]

37. Grayson beat his wife.

[7962]

2. Thank you, VP Biden. Grayson is a shithole & would be beaten. nt

[Perseus]

3. Please explain why you think he is a shithole.

Maybe I have missed on his past performances, but that is not the concept I have of him.

[Lithos]

7. #metoo

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/07/alan-grayson-domestic-abuse-scandal

[kooth]

18. Nothing ever proven though ...

Again, we bite off our nose to spite our face. His divorce was messy and the press in Florida made it sound much worse than it was. Grayson did a lot of good in the House; he did a lot for Obama-care!

Come on people, we need fighters: Isn't that what we have been screaming for years?

[obamanut2012]

24. lolz

As I said, he had DV apologists then on DU, and has them now.

[GulfCoast66]

25. Supporting a very flawed, unelectable candidate in the primary,

Because he is mean to Republicans and yells and stuff against a perfectly fine sitting democrat congressman...that Kooth, is biting off our nose to spite our face.

The very definition of the term.

[7962]

9. Where to start? He's threatened reporters, had ongoing abuse claims,

And I any lost respect for him when he ran false, edited ads against his opponent yrs back & refused to pull the ads when he was called on it. Busted by Anderson Cooper:

Who wants a Democrat version of Donald Trump?

[obamanut2012]

23. THis - although people will excuse him for this now

Just as they did on here when this all broke.

I'm in FL -- we do not need that abuser playing spoiler or being elected.

[mcar]

4. Good

Grayson needs to go away.

[dembotoz]

12. Not my district but Grayson in heart beat

Or are we back to silence is golden Dems.

[7962]

14. See Post #5

[dembotoz]

19. So?

[7962]

20. So? So how about backing a sitting Democrat over a lying wife beater?

[dembotoz]

34. So in Chicago is this Congress person lipinski?

Think that is his name..
Vote with gop on all...
And he doesn't deserve to be primaried?
The evil sheriff Clarke in Milwaukee ran as a dem, and he didn't deserve to be primaried?

Really!?

[7962]

35. So the current Dem congressman in Fla. votes with the GOP? Haven't heard that.

But by all means, run Grayson. And then everyone here will be bitching about losing a seat in Nov.
Grayson has the couth of Trump & I dont see supporting people like that when the seat is ALREADY held by the party

[dembotoz]

36. I live in Milwaukee area, go to a dem event and profess admiration for dem Clarke

Some folks who run as Dems should not.
Because of Clarke I avoid never primary a sitting dem
Generally I agree, but never is a long time

[Dr Hobbitstein]

15. I'll take silence over wife beater. nt

[Honeycombe8]

17. Who is most likely to win? That's who the Dem Party needs. nt

[GulfCoast66]

26. Well, since his opponent has already won

And is a sitting congressman and Grayson has lost...pretty easy calculation.

[Honeycombe8]

29. If the election's happened already, why is Biden endorsing someone? nt

[GulfCoast66]

31. Because that someone is a secure democratic congressman

We already have the seat.

But as Grayson’s exwife will tell you, everything is always about him.

His running puts a secure democratic seat at risk. He has proven to be unelectable.

As a party elder Biden has a responsibility to let our party members know that voting for Grayson would be a mistake.

Oh and I should mention that Soto is a Hispanic congressman which helped him in the general election.

But oh yeah, as we are often told, race is not the issue it’s all about economic uncertainty

[Honeycombe8]

32. I see. Thank you.

The person said that the other guy had already won. So I was confused. Won? Why would Biden endorse someone, if there's already been a primary?

But he didn't mean it literally, I guess. The one Biden endorsed is a shoe-in to win, I suppose is what he meant.

So good if the one likely to win in the election against a Republican, is the one who wins to be the Dem candidate. Phew.

Hope I don't sound ignorant...but there's so much going on these days. Stories and elections and primaries and scandals every day!

[still_one]

21. Grayson is unhinged, but of course politico tries to paint this as the "Democratic establishment",

with their typical inflection to push a divisionary theme against Democrats

[obamanut2012]

22. Good -- Grayson sucks

The amount of apologists on DU over what he did to his wife was sickening, and I am sure some will answer this post, but I ain't biting.

[Honeycombe8]

33. What did he do to his wife? nt

[Gothmog]

28. Yeah for Uncle Joe

[oasis]

30. Joe remains informed and involved. It's a pretty good bet his

staff is as politically savvy as ever.