Is Florida's Delegation the Wackiest?
By KATE NOCERA | 10/23/12 11:59 PM EST
Scandal-plagued politicians, partisan firebrands and sequined hats: The Sunshine State has it all.
Is Florida — already the center of the political universe — home to the wackiest congressional delegation?
Consider the evidence:
Tea party favorite Rep. Allen West called Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz “vile” and questioned whether she is a real “lady.” Republican Rep. David Rivera is under investigation for funding a shadow opponent in the Democratic primary. GOP Rep. Vern Buchanan has been dealing with allegations about illegal campaign donations for years. Rep. Bill Posey introduced a so-called birther bill as soon as he got to Congress in 2009. And Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings is regularly reelected — even though as a federal judge, he was impeached by Congress for bribery and perjury.
On the brighter side, it’s also home to Rep. Frederica Wilson, a South Florida Democrat who lights up the halls of Congress with her bedazzled hat collection.
And Republican Ted Yoho, a large-animal veterinarian with no political experience, and Democrat Alan Grayson, a former lawmaker known for his over-the-top political rhetoric, are positioned to win their respective elections and join the Floridians on the Hill next year.
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