Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 6-10-22

It’s Official:
Val Demings Is In The U.S. Senate Race
By Shanice Jones
Surrounded by family, friends, and clergy, Con- gresswoman Val Dem- ings formally filed to run for the U.S. Senate.
It seemed fitting that she addressed supporters in front of the history museum. The historic relevancy of her can- didacy is expected to moti- vate Black and women voters who are central to Demo- cratic victories. But Dem- ings, a former Orlando police chief would own unrivaled political significance as Florida’s first Black U.S. Sen- ator and the second woman elected to the office if she wins.
Five months before elec- tion day Deming’s oppo- nent, Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio is
Congresswoman Val Dem- ings files paperwork in Talla- hassee to challenge Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.
nowhere to be found on the campaign trail. It's an oppor- tunity for Demings to tell her story.
“We are living in the greatest country in the world and I’m on a mission to make
sure every man, woman, boy, and girl will have an opportu- nity to succeed. Service to the people of Florida is my prior- ity.”
Responding to a question about a Rubio’s law enforce- ment endorsement, Dem- ings quipped, “This race is about him and me. As a law enforcement officer, I would put on a bulletproof vest and go out and serve every day.” Adding to her contention that Rubio is soft on curbing gun violence, she said, “I don’t be- lieve in playing with people’s lives.”
For months Demings has outraised Rubio which has caught the eye of national players.
CNN ranks the Demings - Rubio match up as one that is among the 10 U.S. Senate races “likely to flip”.
Made In America... Very Little
The shortage of baby formula is just the tip of the ice- berg of America’s dependency on monopolies and other countries that provide life-saving commodities for too many Americans.
There are only four companies in America that make most of the baby formula. We have already seen the re- sults of what happens when it was difficult to purchase Christmas toys for children because of the China toy pro- duction distribution using the shipping and trucking in- dustries.
When we examine the impact of some of the import in- dustry to America, we recognize how easily the shortage of certain products could have an impact on life here in America. America and the world depend on 10 countries for most of its vitamins and medicines. China makes a substantial portion of all generic drugs and produces 95% of the world’s vitamins. In fact, the top three pharmaceu- tical import sources for America’s medicine are China, India, and Mexico. Moreover, China is the source of most of the antibiotics, high blood pressure treatments and acetaminophen. Of the 2000 Pharmaceutical manufac- turing facilities around the world, only 510 of them are in the USA.
Most of our clothing is made in rural and poor areas of Bangladesh, India, China, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Indone- sia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. Some of these areas do not have labor laws, minimum wages, or regulated work conditions.
According to one source, 90% of all seafood consumed in America is imported from China, Thailand, Canada, In- donesia, Vietnam, and Ecuador. China accounts for 31% of the seafood imports which include shrimp, freshwater fish, tuna, and salmon.
Most mobile phones are made in China, Vietnam, India, and other Asian countries. Computer parts and hardware are produced predominantly in Southeast Asia- Malaysia, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
By now, you can begin to see the picture as to how much we depend upon diplomatic partnerships to avoid the potential of interruption of our food, medicine, and communication supply. Thankfully, all our toilet paper is made in America.
God bless those who have their own.
Gov. DeSantis Is Absent, Candidate Charlie Crist Is Present On The Campaign Trail
By Jodi Yonder
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist is taking nothing for granted in his campaign to unseat Gov- ernor Ron DeSantis.
While Crist visits Florida’s diverse small towns and big cities, Gov. DeSan- tis has yet to hold a meeting with any constituency or hear their concerns. Crist on the other hand plays to his great- est, strength, engagement.
Praised for campaign prowess, Crist enjoys talking to people and embraces help- ing them. Another asset is his extensive record that ad- dresses issues that continue to confront Floridians every day. And he has policy for af- fordable housing, education, criminal justice “I work for you,” is what he often says to people he meets on the trail. The advantage of being a public servant for a long time adds to the need for experi- enced leadership following the horrors of Donald Trump, particularly for peo- ple of color and Blacks in par- ticular. DeSantis, a disciple of Trump mimics cruel in- difference and racial profiling
CHARLIE CRIST
state and federal judges de- clare as “targeting of Blacks.
In Tallahassee Crist met with the Men’s Breakfast Club led by Leon County Commission Chairman Bill Proctor. The issues of voter suppression, gerryman- dering and state buildings off the tax rolls were discussed. “We’re losing millions of tax dollars because of all the ex- emptions for state buildings,” Proctor says. Crist pledged his help.
He’s fought for all those issues and successfully on voting rights by extending voting hours by executive order. He was punished and
criticized for taking federal funds President Barack Obama distributed to Florida when he was gover- nor.” President Obama was doing what was best for Florida and I supported that,” Crist said.
Crist started as a state senator representing Pinellas County. From there he be- came the education commis- sioner; was elected statewide as attorney general, then gov- ernor and now is a member of Congress.
While most elected offi- cials hold 2 or 3 different of- fices, Crist has held 5 and produced a record that im- pacts people of color when few would step out on those issues.
The restoration of civil rights which granted 155,000 nonviolent felons the right to vote was a huge advance that Governor Rick Scott, now a U.S. Senator reversed his first day in office.
Crist returned to Gads- den and Jefferson Counties, places in rural North Florida rarely visited by gubernato- rial candidates. For Charlie Crist it was another listening tour to stay in touch.
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