Daphne Campbell, a freshman Florida State House Representative from Miami, experienced an un-American attack firsthand last week during her first legislative session—and the attack came from her own political party.
Here’s the background: The Ultrasound Bill came up for debate and a vote on the floor of the House Chamber on April 21. Campbell, a wife and mother of five children—who just so happens to work as a nurse—rose in passionate support for the pro-life bill that requires ultrasounds before abortions. She quoted from the book of Ezekiel and admonished members with the commandment “Thou shalt not kill.”
Republican members in the Florida House stood to their feet in a standing ovation as other Democrat members protested with arms folded, standing in the back of the chamber. That’s when one member of her own party viciously attacked the young representative.
“I was the victim of an altercation by my fellow state representative, Scott Randolph,” Campbell told Sunshine State News. “Several items were thrown in my face, foul language was used against me, and I was insulted and ridiculed in front of all my colleagues. I was called a ‘traitor’ and was told that I was going to be kicked out of office next year.”
Randolph, whose assigned seat is right next to Campbell, started tossing papers on her desk and threw her pen in the trash, angered that a fellow Democrat would support the bill. When you understand some of the organizations that endorsed Randolph, his reaction makes plenty of sense. Planned Parenthood and Equality Florida are among his supporters.
Specifically, Randolph told Campbell “You are a traitor. … I swear, you will not be re-elected. I will get an opponent.” Campbell’s quick retort was: “You have no right. God put me here.”
“I spoke to Rep. Daphne Campbell by phone and personally thanked her and told her she is to be applauded for standing alone within her party in support of the weakest and most vulnerable members of society—the unborn,” says Florida Family Policy Council President John Stemberger. “She is a hero within our community and we will do everything we can to rally around her and support her.
“As for Rep. Scott Randolph, his temper-tantrum-like behavior is intolerant and juvenile. His disrespectful and shameless comments are a disgrace to the dignity of the Florida House of Representatives and he has behaved in a manner which is uncivil, undemocratic and un-American.”
