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Photo: collage with EFE photo and image from Taddeo’s official Twitter account.
Local senator and Democratic candidate for federal Congress from Florida, Annette Taddeo, has shown a contradictory attitude towards Colombia’s new president, left-wing extremist Gustavo Petro. Although she says she does not support the president, Taddeo constantly praises Democratic candidates who celebrate the victory of the former guerrilla fighter.
In an interview with the colombian media Semana, Taddeo said that Petro’s presidency “worries her a lot” because of his closeness to socialist dictatorships like Venezuela’s. However, she has publicly supported multiple local candidates who are sympathetic to the leftist leader.
The Colombian-born candidate gave her “proud” endorsement to Thomas Kennedy, an aspiring Democratic National Committeeman from Florida, who celebrated Petro’s electoral victory saying it signified the end of “decades of failed right wing and reactionary governments.”
Taddeo has also singled out leftist John Moreno Escobar, a Democratic candidate for the Broward County School Board who has expressed support for Petro in the past, as an “exceptional leader.”
The dark circles of Annette Taddeo
On the other hand, Senator Taddeo has received the support of far-left organizations that not only support Petro, but promote socialism in the United States, advocate for the end of capitalism and contribute to the extremist organization Black Lives Matter.
One example is the organization Florida Rising, strongly criticized by the Sunshine State’s law enforcement agencies for promoting the defunding of the police and declaring itself “proudly” socialist. After Petro’s victory, its executive director, Andrea Mercado, celebrated the victory and the rise to power of now Vice President Francia Marquez.
Florida Rising publicly endorsed Taddeo “with pride.”
The leftist Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), which also celebrated Petro’s victory, supports Taddeo.
Needless to say, the Democrat candidate has publicly supported President Joe Biden, despite his constant rapprochement with the communist tyrannies of Cuba and Venezuela.
Taddeo aspires to remove from her seat in Congress Republican María Elvira Salazar, the Cuban-American journalist who has fought against dictatorships in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, has confronted far-left senators in Colombia and has warned of the threat Petro represents for the United States and Latin America.
Republican National Committee (RNC) spokeswoman Nicole Morales, who is of Colombian origin, said Taddeo “must offer an explanation for her gaslighting and political gamesmanship on an issue of such great importance to the thousands of Colombian-Americans residing in South Florida.”
Florida is home to nearly a third of all Colombians settled in the United States, with a majority of them residing in the southern part of the state. Between 80% and 90% of them voted against Petro in Colombia’s elections.
Tomás Lugo, journalist and writer. Born in Venezuela and graduated in Social Communication. Has written for international media outlets. Currently living in Colombia // Tomás Lugo, periodista y articulista. Nacido en Venezuela y graduado en Comunicación Social. Ha escrito para medios internacionales. Actualmente reside en Colombia.