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For the American writer, see Robert Freeman Wexler.
| Robert Wexler | |
| |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Harry Johnston |
|---|---|
| Born | January 2 1961 New York City, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Laurie Wexler |
| Religion | Jewish |
Robert I. Wexler (born January 2, 1961) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. He has served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1997, representing Florida\'s 19th congressional district.
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Wexler was born in Queens, New York City, to Sonny and Sandra Wexler. He and his family moved to South Florida when he was ten. Wexler graduated from Hollywood Hills High School in Hollywood, Florida and later attended Emory University for two years. He transferred to the University of Florida, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1982. Wexler received his law degree from The George Washington University Law School in 1985 and was a lawyer in private practice before serving in the House.
Wexler served in the Florida Senate from 1990 to 1996 before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1996 election, filling the open seat vacated by Harry Johnston, a Democrat.
Wexler is Jewish and an active advocate for closer American-Israeli relations.
On the July 20, 2006 episode of The Colbert Report, during an interview for the segment Better Know a District, Wexler jovially went along with Stephen Colbert\'s idea of making fake statements that, if he were campaigning in a contested election, would effectively end his career. Led by Stephen Colbert, he jokingly responded with the following statements (see video):
| “ | I enjoy cocaine because... it\'s a fun thing to do.
I enjoy the company of prostitutes for the following reasons: ... because it\'s a fun thing to do. Much like cocaine. If you combine the two together, it\'s probably even more fun. | ” |
However, on the July 25, 2006 episode of the same show, Stephen Colbert came out against networks that featured the interview in a negative light. (Colbert effectively criticized these mainstream networks by showing clips from many of the \'fluff\' pieces they favored instead of real, hard news.) In one of the few instances of Colbert breaking character during his television program (or in any situation where he is \'in character), he subsequently and sincerely told his viewers to "vote Wexler, the man\'s got a sense of humor, unlike, evidently, journalists".
On November 7, 2006, Wexler returned to the Colbert Report during the show\'s "Midterm Midtacular" special and joked about what he said in the earlier interview. When Colbert asked him if he would "reach across the aisle" if the Democrats took back the House (a phrase with a double entendre[citation needed]), Wexler picked up on the double entendre and joked that he learned from the last interview he had to watch what he said.
In August and September 2006, Wexler and his office staff were featured on The Hill, a six-part documentary on the Sundance Channel.
In an e-mail to supporters on November 7, 2007, Representative Robert Wexler, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, stated about H.R. 333:
| “ | I will urge the Judiciary Committee to schedule impeachment hearings immediately and not let this issue languish as it has over the last six months. Only through hearings can we bring begin to correct the abuses of Dick Cheney and the Bush Administration; and, if it is determined in these hearings that Vice President Cheney has committed High Crimes and Misdemeanors, he should be impeached and removed from office. | ” |
In mid December of 2007, Congressman Wexler launched a website (Wexlerwantshearings.com) to promote his effort for impeachment hearings. The site included a You Tube video where he explained his position and a petition for like-minded people to sign. Wexler set a goal of getting 50,000 Americans to join his cause. In just two weeks, over 160,000 people signed the petition and over 70,000 people watched his You Tube video.
Wexler ran unopposed in the 1998, 2004, and the 2006 elections.
From the 2002 election:
| Jack Merkl | Robert Wexler | |
|---|---|---|
| Party | Republican | Democratic |
| Total | 60,477 | 156,747 |
| Percentage | 27.8% | 72.2% |
From the 2000 election:
| Morris Thompson | Robert Wexler | |
|---|---|---|
| Party | Republican | Democratic |
| Subtotal | 67,782 | 171,068 |
| Absentee ballots | 7 | 12 |
| Totals | 67,789 | 171,080 |
| Percentage | 28.4% | 71.6% |
From the 1996 election:
| Beverly Kennedy | Robert Wexler | |
|---|---|---|
| Party | Republican | Democratic |
| Subtotal | 99,073 | 188,745 |
| Absentee ballots | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 99,073 | 188,745 |
| Percentage | 34.4% | 65.6% |
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Harry Johnston | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida\'s 19th congressional district 1997–Present | Succeeded by Incumbent |
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia
