The Miami-Dade Republican Executive Committee is tearing itself apart as Chairman Nelson Diaz has come out condemning Vice Chairman Manny Roman’s recent personal endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz.
Roman supports Cruz, while Diaz supports Senator Marco Rubio in the 2016 GOP presidential primary race. Roman is on the record of saying that because Rubio flip-flopped on his hawkish position on immigration reform, he decided to back Cruz.Rubio’s evolving position on immigration reform has dogged him ever since this cosponsoring of the 2013 Senate “Gang of 8” immigration bill.
Diaz says that Roman’s support for Cruz is a violation of state GOP party rules because he is an elected Republican Party of Florida official.
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According to Roman, the Miami Herald told him that their editorial board took “editorial liberty” when stating his title in their story about his support for Cruz. Because the local GOP has pushed back at him for supporting Cruz, Roman believes that the either Rubio’s or Jeb Bush’s presidential campaigns pressured them into coming out against him.
Roman contends that even after he reached out to the Miami Herald, asking them to correct the “liberty” they took with his title as Vice Chairman, the local GOP knowing that the correction was made, continues to look to oust him.Roman, who identified himself in the letter only as a “Republican activist,” referred to Cruz in his letter as “an incredibly talented, principled and unwavering voice for constitutional and limited government. That’s why I’m endorsing him.” –Fox Latino
All signs point at the pressure on the local GOP to boot Roman is coming from Team Rubio.
Yes, there is a vote this week to boot out Roman as vice chairman of the Miami-Dade GOP.
It goes without saying that this is embarrassing for Rubio and his staff.
Here is Nelson Diaz’s statement regarding Roman’s support for Cruz:
It is inappropriate for party leaders to put their thumbs on the scales of what should grassroots elections. The Republican Party doesn’t endorse candidates in contested primaries for a reason: we let the grassroots decide who our nominee should be. Moreover, it is a violation of Party Rules (and the Loyalty Oath we all signed) to use our titles and position to endorse one Republican over another. Privately, of course, we can all support the candidate of our choice, but using our titles and positions is not only a violation of our rules but also a violation of the trust that party members placed in us. The nominee should win by election of the grassroots, in a bottom-up manner, not a top-down push by party leadership. This is why I have stayed publicly neutral in this primary season. It is my hope that other party leaders don’t try to put their thumbs on the scales as well.-Nelson Diaz
It is very interesting that Diaz believes that Roman violated Party rules, considering that many other state and federally elected officials around the state have already openly endorsed Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio for president.
Ok, I get it. Roman is a sitting vice chairman of an actual Republican club or executive board that is governed by the state Party’s rules.
But what about Nelson Diaz?
Like I said, Diaz is the chairman of the Miami-Dade GOP.
Should he also held to that same standard that he believes Roman and any other Florida Republican Party elected official should be held at?You betcha.
Diaz is a huge supporter of Rubio, who not only is personally supporting his long-time friend (stood behind Rubio during his presidential announcement in 2015) but is openly supporter Rubio’s presidential run.
Well, Kind of.
Back in January 2015, I ran into Diaz at the annual Republican Party of Florida meeting in Orlando, Florida.
I think this picture says it all.Nelson is in attendance at the annual meeting wearing his official RPOF badge and wearing a Marco Rubio for President in 2016 campaign pin.
Que!?
Oye, I don’t think that this can be considered to be either a “neutral” or a private show of support for Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign.
Well, for what its worth, Diaz was wearing this pin before anyone got into the GOP presidential primary race.
Where is Rubio on all of this?Rubio should weigh in for what is happening in his local GOP, and put an end to this infighting.
Such a move would be seen as Rubio showing leadership.