Robert Wexler

 

Robert Wexler
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 19th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 7, 1997
Preceded by	Harry Johnston
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	January 02 1961 (1961--) (age 46) 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.

Early life

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.

Political career

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.

Colbert Report interview

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.

”

Several news outlets commented on the statements, the overall tone of many of these stories being critical of Wexler's willingness to say what he said. 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" (see video). 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), Wexler picked up on the double entendre and joked that he learned from the last interview he had to watch what he said.

The Hill

In August and September 2006, Wexler and his office staff were featured on The Hill, a six-part documentary on the Sundance Channel.

Election results

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%

Committee assignments and caucus memberships

Committee assignments:

• House Committee on Foreign Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Europe (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia
• House Committee on the Judiciary
  • Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property Subcommittee

Congressional caucuses:

• Caucus on Intellectual Property Promotion and Piracy Prevention (co-founder/co-chairman)
• Caucus on U.S.-Turkish Relations (co-founder)
• Taiwan Caucus (co-founder)
• Indonesia Caucus (co-founder/co-chairman)
• India Caucus
• Serbia Caucus
• Congressional Study Group on Turkey (co-chair)

External links

• U.S. Congressman Robert Wexler official House site
• Robert Wexler at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission — Robert Wexler campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — Robert Wexler issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — Robert Wexler campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative Robert Wexler (FL) profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Robert Wexler voting record
• Robert Wexler for Congress official campaign website

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

Florida's delegation to the 110th United States Congress

Senators: Bill Nelson (D), Mel Martinez (R) Representative(s): Jeff Miller (R), Allen Boyd (D), Corrine Brown (D), Ander Crenshaw (R), Ginny Brown-Waite (R), Cliff Stearns (R), John Mica (R), Ric Keller (R), Gus Bilirakis (R), Bill Young (R), Kathy Castor (D), Adam Putnam (R), Vern Buchanan (R), Connie Mack IV (R), Dave Weldon (R), Tim Mahoney (D), Kendrick Meek (D), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R), Robert Wexler (D), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R), Ron Klein (D), Alcee Hastings (D), Tom Feeney (R), Mario Diaz-Balart (R) All delegations: Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands

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