New Ad Strikes Back Against Annette Taddeo, Slams ‘Socialist Ideas’

MIAMI (FLV) – A new ad released by the Congressional Leadership Fund is calling out Democrat candidate for Congress Annette Taddeo for having “socialist ideas.”

Taddeo seeks to represent South Florida in Congress for the 27th district and is facing off against Republican incumbent Maria Elvira Salazar.

NARRATOR: “Spotted huddling with the Miami chapter of a socialist group that supports the cuban communist regime.”

“Taddeo joined them to rally support for socialist-style spending that could bankrupt the country.”

“She supports paying people even more not to work and locking down those who do.”

“The revolution won’t be televised but Taddeo’s socialist ideas will.”

TADDEO: “This election will determine if we become a socialist dictatorship.”

Taddeo has said she did not support Colombia’s first-ever leftist president named Gustavo Petro.

Gustavo Petro was reportedly once a rebel with the now-defunct M-19 movement and was granted amnesty after being jailed for his involvement with the group.

Taddeo told WLRN she respects the “very democratic vote” in Colombia.

She continued, “But we need to make sure respect of the Constitution, property rights and other things are upheld.”

However, the RNC said Taddeo “uplifts” Petro’s supporters in South Florida. For example, Taddeo endorsed DNC member Thomas Kennedy who supported Petro’s win.

“Really proud of my Colombian friends who chose to turn the page on decades of failed right wing and reactionary governments today. Towards a new and more compassionate future for Latin America!” Kennedy said.

Taddeo has worked with pro-socialism groups such as Florida Rising and Florida Immigrant Coalition.

“Congratulations to Colombia… they elect[ed] their first leftists president,” Florida Immigrant Coalition said on instagram as they continued to praise the vice president’s victory.

RNC Spokeswoman Nicole Morales says Taddeo claims to stand against Colombia’s socialist president Gustavo Petro, yet “continuously elevates his supporters.”

“Annette 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,” said Morales.

Florida Rising’s website says it advances “economic and racial justice across Florida.” The organization endorses candidates and advocates for policy changes on the state and local levels.

“Police-free Schools are possible and NECESSARY. We marched on Osceola School Board grounds to call for the REMOVAL of all SROs in schools” as well as “police presence in schools helps no one, and harms our children,” the organization has tweeted.

Thirty Florida sheriffs denounced Florida Rising, claiming its agenda to defund the police and “demonize” law enforcement has led to violence against officers in the state.

Janelle Perez has also received endorsements from the organization “Florida Immigrant Coalition,” which says it works for the fair treatment of “all people, including immigrants.” The Coalition has ties to socialist and communist viewpoints and advocates with “Florida Rising.”

The group joined the Party for Socialism and Liberation and the Sex Worker Solidarity Network to march for International Workers’ Day in 2018. The Newspaper of the Party for Socialism and Liberation wrote a piece describing the march. 

“Only a socialist society built on the principles of equality and liberation for all can serve the needs of the masses of working people and stop the destruction of our planet. End racist deportations and police brutality! End capitalist oppression!” they wrote. 

In an article about Miami-Dade losing Latino voters after the 2020 election, the executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, Maria Rodriquez, said they tried to “diminish the impact of socialism” while reaching out to Cubans and Latinos in Florida.

“We tried to diminish the impact of ‘socialism’ during the campaign because, give me a f**king break, it’s Biden, c’mon,” Rodriquez said. “But we’ve overestimated, across the board, people’s electoral literacy.”