SHARE Associated Press Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been the target of criticism for her stewardship of the Democratic National Committee, and for what some see as controversial statements about marijuana use and the complacency of nonvoters. Associated Press Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, has been the target of criticism for her stewardship of the Democratic National Committee, and for what some see as controversial statements about marijuana use and the complacency of non-voters. Two men plan to contest her re-election to Congress, but supporters say she is responsive to the needs of her constituents and will likely get another term.

Sanders fans, D.C. trespasser among critics

By Anthony Man

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — From the gyrocopter pilot who landed on the lawn of the White House to angry supporters of presidential candidate Bernie Sanders to feminist activists and supporters of medical marijuana, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is facing a barrage of criticism from the liberal wing of the Democratic Party.

They're complaining about her stewardship of the Democratic National Committee, with some demanding her ouster. They're raising Cain about statements attributed to her about marijuana and complacency among young female voters.

And they're trying to apply pressure at home in South Florida, with vows to challenge her in the August Democratic primary aimed at denying her a seventh term in Congress.

"There's a new round of land mines that she has figured out a way to step in here. Every time she manages to pull herself out of the morass, she manages to figure out a way to step back in it," said Ben Pollara, a South Florida political strategist and Wasserman Schultz critic.

"What it means, what will come of it, I have no idea," Pollara said.

Tim Canova and Doug Hughes hope it means she won't continue as the region's most prominent member of Congress.

Canova, a professor of law and public finance at Nova Southeastern University, and Hughes, the now-fired letter carrier awaiting sentencing for his gyrocopter flight through restricted airspace and landing on the grounds of the White House last year, are seeking the Democratic congressional nomination in the Broward/Miami-Dade County 23rd Congressional District.

Barbara Effman, president of the West Broward Democratic Club, and Andrew Weinstein, a Coral Springs Democrat who was a major fundraiser for both of Barack Obama's presidential campaigns, said they don't think today's currents will sink Wasserman Schultz.

Weinstein said he doesn't see a premature end to Wasserman Schultz's term as Democratic National Committee chairwoman (which runs through the end of the year). And neither Weinstein nor Effman thinks she'll lose the Democratic congressional primary (which takes place Aug. 30).

Wasserman Schultz, who has been in public office in South Florida since 1992, is used to criticism. For years it's been a constant refrain from Republicans. Last year it came from some Jewish community leaders who were angry that Wasserman Schultz, the state's first Jewish congresswoman, supported the Obama agreement aimed at curbing Iran's ability to develop a nuclear weapon.

And as Obama's hand-picked chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee since 2011, Wasserman Schultz has been a nationwide voice of the party and a frequent lighting rod for criticism.

"Find me the Democratic chair that hasn't been bumped and bruised through their tenure," she told the Sun Sentinel. "There is always something. I'm never going to be able to please everybody all of the time."

The current wave of criticism comes largely from supporters of Sanders, the U.S. senator from Vermont who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. Many of his fans believe Wasserman Schultz has used the party to help Hillary Clinton's candidacy at Sanders' expense.

For example, they think she authorized a small number of debates among the 2016 Democratic presidential candidates and holding them on nights with relatively low viewership to help Clinton.

"That's ridiculous. I don't know how many times I have to say it," Wasserman Schultz said last week.

Critics have also seized on two comments in a heavily condensed interview published Jan. 6 by The New York Times magazine. She was quoted as saying that young women who have grown up in the age of the Roe v. Wade ruling from the Supreme Court guaranteeing abortion rights are "complacent."

Wasserman Schultz said that wasn't an attack on those who are voting and active.

"Of course I'm not talking to them. I'm talking to the millions of young women who don't take the time to vote, that don't take the time to pay attention to the fact that their rights are under attack," she said. "I make no apologies for sounding that alarm bell, and I will continue to sound it. That's my job."

Proponents of medical marijuana, like Pollara, a leader of the effort in Florida, were critical of the suggestion in the interview that marijuana use could lead to more use of hard-core drugs such as heroin.

Online petitions run by liberal groups Credo Action and Roots Action, which allow people to click and express their displeasure, now have more than 100,000 people who say Wasserman Schultz should resign or be removed as party chairwoman.

Pollara said he doesn't see an imminent Wasserman Schultz departure.

Rendell said once Clinton or Sanders locks up enough support to become the de facto Democratic nominee, it's up to that person to decide who will run the party. "The putative nominee takes over the DNC."

Effman, who leads one of the largest political clubs in the county, said Wasserman Schultz has a deep reservoir of support.

"In her district they love her. She votes the way they want," Effman said. "She shows up at everything, and you would almost never realize that she is out of town. She takes care of her district and the voters of her district are very committed to her."

Canova and Hughes, neither of whom has sought political office before, say that won't carry her to another term.

As evidence, Canova pointed to the 3,500 people who followed his campaign Facebook page in its first three days, 1,000 financial donors in the first three days, and his Twitter followers, who now top 1,700. Canova announced his candidacy online and hasn't held a traditional news conference for newspaper and television outlets.

Canova, 55, of Hollywood, Fla, is a Sanders supporter who objects to what he sees in Wasserman Schultz and some other politicians: "Putting your fingers up to the wind. Being told what to say (and) when to say it." He said the incumbent "has been representing a lot of corporate interests and neglecting the needs of her constituents."

Hughes, 62, currently lives in Ruskin, on the south end of Tampa Bay. He said he's running in the 23rd Congressional District, where he's never lived "because Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the poster child of corrupt politics in the Democratic Party."

He was a letter carrier until July 2015, when he was fired by the Postal Service for the gyrocopter incident, which was aimed at calling attention to the need for campaign finance reform. He's scheduled for sentencing on April 13 in federal court for the case.

Before then, he's asked for court permission to travel outside his home county to visit South Florida for a news conference to announce his candidacy. The Constitution doesn't prevent felons from serving in Congress, but as a felon, he wouldn't be allowed to vote in this year's election.

If he's sentenced to prison, Hughes said he expects a term no longer than 10 months, allowing him to serve most of the two-year term that begins in January. "The question is whether it (being in prison) would be an impediment in my campaigning. Obviously it would be an impediment. But would it cause me to drop out of the race? Absolutely not."

Foreman said Wasserman Schultz is likely to return to Congress.

"While there is national discontent with Wasserman Schultz's positions and her performance as DNC chair, I'm not hearing a lot of that in South Florida," he said. "But, anything can happen. This is how movements begin. And the progressive part of the Democratic Party is on a roll right now."