Today marks the first debate in Florida’s 26th Congressional District and the first joint appearance since Carlos Curbelo was caught on tape in Washington calling Medicare and Social Security a “Ponzi scheme.”
But Curbelo’s insulting comments about seniors’ vital, earned benefits is only one example of how he’s putting his own political ambitions and the interests of his Tea Party political allies over South Floridians.
Ahead of today’s debate, here are the top five issues that are dragging Curbelo’s campaign down:
- Miami Herald: Curbelo caught on video calling Medicare and Social Security a “Ponzi scheme” in Washington. “Taking a page from Rick Perry, Miami congressional candidate Carlos Curbelo called Medicare and Social Security ‘a Ponzi scheme’ that needs extensive reforms in order to remain sustainable.” [Miami Herald, 9/19/14]
- On The Bill Becker Radio Show, Curbelo doubled down on his offensive comments, stating: “Ponzi Scheme is a Figure of Speech.” [The Bill Becker Radio Show, 9/22/14]
- Miami Herald: Curbelo still refusing to disclose lobbying clients and potential conflict with his work on the School Board. “Nothing has dogged Miami Republican congressional candidate Carlos Curbelo on the campaign trail more than his refusal to disclose the clients of his media and public relations firm, Capitol Gains. The company isn’t registered in his name […] But Curbelo listed himself as the company’s president, owner or principal in various federal campaign contributions he made in 2013.” [Miami Herald, 8/29/14]
- Miami New Times: “Carlos Curbelo Has a History of Approving Contracts For Campaign Donors.” “Between 2010 and 2013 Curbelo, while representing District 7 on the board, voted roughly a dozen times to award school board contracts to companies that had donated a total of $25,450 to his well-funded 2010 school board campaign.” [Miami New Times, 7/12/14]
- On the School Board, Curbelo Supported Cutting Hundreds of Education Jobs and Slashing Wages for workers. [Sun Sentinel, 7/27/11; Miami Herald, 4/14/11]
“Carlos Curbelo is putting himself, his Tea Party political allies and his paying clients over South Florida families,” said David Bergstein of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Whether Curbelo is insulting seniors by attacking Medicare and Social Security, slashing education jobs and wages, or funneling school board contracts to his campaign donors, Curbelo keeps proving that he’s only looking out for his own political agenda – which is exactly why South Floridians can’t trust Curbelo in Washington.”