As leaders in the Democratic Party throughout Florida, we are very concerned by what appears to be very cavalier statements you made to the Miami Herald and St. Petersburg Times about your affiliation to the Democratic Party.

The Herald/Times reports that you ran for Congress in 1982 as a conservative Republican; that you changed your Republican Party affiliation in 1992 and only became a registered Democrat in Florida in 2008 after moving here from California.

The newspaper reports that at a candidate forum in Sarasota, you stated, “Whether I was a Republican or Democrat, who cares?”

Mr. Greene, as Democratic leadership, we deeply care.  We welcome Republicans and Independents to join the Democratic Party and are proud of the gains our party has made in 2008, 2009, and this year in voter registration.  As a candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate you would become a leader in our party and would be expected to clarify the stark differences and values between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.  Furthermore, you would be expected to be an advocate for why voters should choose the Democratic Party over the Republican Party.

We as Democrats are fighting hard to defend and protect the interests of middle class Florida families who have suffered mightily at the hands of Wall Street.

We as Democrats have lived through over a decade of heavy-handed, wrongheaded policies carried out by a Republican president and governors.

We as Democrats demand that our leaders fight for comprehensive health reform, vigorously oppose its repeal, and stand for progressive ideals including a woman’s right to choice and privacy, comprehensive energy reform, and a responsible end to America’s two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Political parties do matter, and we take our Democratic values very seriously, and we hope you do too.

Since you are seeking the Democratic nomination in this race, we urge you not to be dismissive of our Democratic Party.

Sincerely,

Beth McMillen, Chair Brevard County

John Schmitt, Vice Chair Brevard County

Nancy Hurlbert, Chair Lake County

Mark Manera, Chair Indian River County

Pam Director, State Committeewoman Indian River County

Pat Kemp, Chair Hillsborough County

Zebe Schmitt, Chair and State Committee woman Gulf County

Mark Alan Siegel, Chair Palm Beach County

Roz Odell, Chair Citrus County

Gladys Roann, Chair Jefferson County

Rhett Bullard, Chair Hamilton County

Nancy C. Jacobson, State Committeewoman Orange County,  DNC Member

Ron Rice, State Committeeman, Pasco County

Chris Lomas, Chair Seminole County

Phil Morton, State Committeeman Nassau County