Tag Archives: Emerge USA

Broward Democrat Chair “Occupies” Palestine Table At Muslim Event

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Cynthia Busch, second from left, confers with Ghazala Salam of the American Muslim Democratic Caucus

Even though they risk alienating their traditional base voters, the Broward Democrat Party continues to pander to local Muslim groups. The latest stop in the party’s pandering tour took place last week at the Muslim Heritage Celebration Dinner in Lauderhill. The dinner at the Mehfil restaurant was hosted by the American Muslim Democratic Caucus. Many Democrat party leaders and politicians, including former party boss Mitch Ceasar, attended the Ramadan dinner.

Ceasar told the Sun-Sentinel, “We have to spend these days now banding together. We have to realize we are all in this together. If we want this country to be as we believe it to be…we have to unite and stand together, whether it’s fighting bigotry or intolerance or just plain lies and ignorance.”

While Ceasar runs for Broward County Clerk of Courts, Cynthia Busch has taken the reins of the Broward Democrat Party. In pictures posted on social media, Busch can been seen sitting at a table at the event. A sign placed in the center of the table has the word “Palestine” written on it.

While it’s doubtful Busch was making a political statement on Israel by sitting at the table, one wonders how traditional Democrat voters in King’s Point, Wynmoor and Century Village would feel about the table’s centerpiece?

This is not the first example of Broward Democrat’s failure to make Muslim outreach a “teaching moment.” Last June, REDBROWARD exposed how local female judicial candidates covered their heads at Ramadan dinners. The event was hosted by the Democrat-friendly Emerge USA group. In 2014, REDBROWARD documented EMERGE USA’s strong support for Democrats Charlie Crist and Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief.

Pictures from the event featured Broward County Commissioner Marty Kiar, Broward Sheriff Scott Israel and Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan. While these gentleman appeared as they do at any community or political event, the Broward women running for office looked very different.

Pictures show State Rep. Gwyn Clarke-Reed and several women seeking to be Broward judges wearing scarves over their heads.

Before you say they’re showing respect inside of a mosque, many of the pictures were taken under a tent in the parking lot.

Broward Chief Judge Peter Weinstein attended the event in his normal attire. Would a sitting female judge cover her head? Would she politely decline and use the opportunity as a “teaching moment” on women’s issues in the Muslim faith?

Did anybody tell Rhoda Sokoloff, Betsy Benson and Andrea Gundersen to cover their heads?

Pembroke Pines’ Jay Schwartz Latest Broward Democrat Pandering To Local Muslim Group

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Pembroke Pines Commissioner Jay Schwartz is the latest Broward Democrat pandering to a local Muslim political action committee. Schwartz is featured prominently on the Emerge USA PAC Facebook page along with numerous other Broward Democrat politicians and candidates. In 2014, REDBROWARD exposed the role EMERGE USA played in Charlie Crist’s campaign for Governor.

Schwartz attended several EMERGE USA PAC events in 2015 including a Ramadan dinner celebration. According to one published report, Schwartz spoke about “changing” America EMERGE USA at a February event. Schwartz said, ““[T]here’s a group of people, in this room, who are changing America as we know it, and that’s a great thing… If there’s anything I can do to help the cause, I’m a phone call away.”

Last July, REDBROWARD exposed how female Broward judicial candidates covered their heads at several EMERGE USA events.

Pictures plastered all over social media featured Broward County Commissioner Marty Kiar, Broward Sheriff Scott Israel and Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan. While these gentleman appeared as they do at any community or political event, the Broward women running for office looked very different.

Pictures show State Rep. Gwyn Clarke-Reed and several women seeking to be Broward judges wearing scarves over their heads.

Before you say they’re showing respect inside of a mosque, many of the pictures were taken under a tent in the parking lot.

Broward Chief Judge Peter Weinstein attended the event in his normal attire. Would a sitting female judge cover her head? Would she politely decline and use the opportunity as a “teaching moment” on womens issues in the Muslim faith?

Did anybody tell Rhoda Sokoloff, Betsy Benson and Andrea Gundersen to cover their heads?

Is this the change Jay Schwartz was talking about?

UPDATE: Schwartz has two challengers in the non-partisan race for Pembroke Pines city commission. The election will be held on Tuesday March 15th. Early voting continues through Sunday.