Wexler Begs for Help in Fight Against 'Ultra-Conservative Radio and Television Hosts'

Rep. Robert Wexler is getting desperate.

After several media outlets discovered the Democratic congressman from Florida uses his in-laws' house in a Florida retirement community to meet residency requirements, he has sent out an e-mail (entire text here) asking for campaign donations - alleging it's his "strong and vocal stands in favor of impeaching President Bush and Vice President Cheney" that has made him a target of "ultra-conservative" media.

"In the eyes of the right wing, I am seen, along with Rep. Kucinich, as one of the symbols of the impeachment fight. They believe that if they defeat me - they defeat our cause," Wexler wrote. "For the last week, I've been relentlessly targeted by ultra-conservative radio and television hosts, as well as my local media. It has taken a toll.  Now more than ever, I need your support to help me stay in Congress to represent your voice in Washington."

What does Wexler want? He is asking for donations to his re-election campaign.

Wexler has been actively promoting his book, "Fire-Breathing Liberal: How I Learned to Survive (and Thrive) in the Contact Sport of Congress," but has been less than willing to address the residency concerns raised by a political opponent he is facing in the upcoming fall election, Republican Ed Lynch.

The coverage of Wexler's residency issues has been absent from three major networks, even though he was featured on CBS's "The Early Show" on June 2 to tout Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.

Wexler has also been a regular guest on various MSNBC and CNN shows, including a July 24 appearance on MSNBC's "Hardball," where he was "waxed" by Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., as my Newsbusters colleague Mark Finkelstein pointed out in a recent post.