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Democratic House candidate Donna Shalala has been the target of criticism this week as her campaign initially planned to stage an event with representative Barbara Lee – who congratulated former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
(AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee)
Florida House Democrat candidate Donna Shalala is under fire after a Congressional woman who praised Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was apparently invited to campaign with her.
Shalala is the Democratic congressional candidate in the 27th district of Florida – a region composed largely of Hispanic residents. Despite the recognition of her name, Shalala faced a tight race in a district that Hillary Clinton had won by a 20-point lead over President Trump in 2016.
And the event planned for his campaign with Rep. Barbara Lee, who called Castro a smart man and encouraged people to "cry out" after her death, does not help.
About 40 people demonstrated at the Shalala demonstration in Coral Gables with minority leader Nancy Pelosi House on Wednesday, the Miami Herald reported.
Frank de Varona, a protester, told the Herald that he was "angry" and "furious" after learning about the existence of the event with Lee in an email. It was part of Cuba's controversial Bay of Pigs invasion and was sentenced to 30 years in prison, according to the Herald. He was released after the US government paid for his release – and that of over 1,000 other men.
Shalala's campaign ultimately changed the event on its website to include only Pelosi. Lee stayed in Georgia, Pelosi said.
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"I disagree with anyone who praises Castro or praises [Nicaraguan leader Daniel] Ortega … or praise any other dictator, "Shalala told The Herald. "We should impose tough penalties on them. Let me make the following points: not all members of the Congress agree on all the issues, but in particular on the Cuban question, the Nicaraguan question or the Venezuelan question. "
Maria Elvira Salazar, the Republican congressional candidate, said it was "shameful" for any district candidate to "bring in a supporter of the Castro regime to campaign."
"This is not only disrespectful for Cuban exile, but also for the millions of Venezuelans and Nicaraguans, many of whom live in this district, who suffer because of the Castro regime," Salazar, a Spanish-speaking journalist, said in a statement.
It's unclear how Lee's invitation was extended – or resumed. Democratic figures and campaigners named Pelosi as the one who invited Lee to visit the 27th district – even though Shalala's staff had objections, Politico reported.
"Pelosi is the future speaker of the House. She is the most powerful Democrat in the House, "an unidentified Shalala campaign staff member told Politico. "We could not offend her and tell her that she could not bring her friend. We were stuck.
After Castro's death, Lee said, "He led a revolution in Cuba that led to social improvements for his people." She also said that her death was "very sad for the Cuban people".
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Shalala, a former secretary of social services and health and president of the University of Miami, has struggled to be elected Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is retiring. The district includes Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Key Biscayne and Little Havana.
Fox News has ranked the race thoroughly.
Salazar has also been criticized for Castro. Her main opponents and Shalala accused her of being too sweet towards the late dictator when she interviewed him in 1995.
"I have an opponent who treated Castro with enormous respect, who bowed to him and dubbed him" el comandante, "said Shalala, according to the Miami Herald." I would never do that, and I would never stand next to any of them. "
Neither a representative from Lee nor Shalala returned Fox News's requests for comment on Thursday.
Allie Raffa from Fox News contributed to this report.
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