Longform

Javier Manjarres: This shark eats politicians

Blog: The Shark Tank

Alias: El Sharko

Age: 38

Primary specialty: Ticking off moderate Republicans and liberal Democrats

Secondary specialty: Making moola off GOP candidates

Last Job: Landscaper

Net worth: N/A, but according to campaign finance reports from 18 Republican candidates, Manjarres's blog made $37,500 in advertising revenue in 2010.

Criminal record: On June 5, 1995, Manjarres was arrested for burglary with assault. He allegedly drove to the Boca Raton apartment of a man named Peter Bronkie, who at the time was dating Manjarres's ex-girlfriend Daniella Gonzalez. According to a Palm Beach County police report, Manjarres broke down the front door and punched Bronkie while Gonzalez was calling 911. Bronkie suffered bruises and a busted lip. Manjarres pleaded guilty and served two years of probation. Manjarres insists he only kicked the door, but never broke it, and that he was simply involved in a good old-fashioned fistfight. "An overzealous prosecutor felt he needed to make an example of me," he says.

Blog history: His relentless attacks on political candidates who don't hold true to Tea Party values earned Manjarres the 2011 blogger of the year award from the Conservative Political Action Conference. Toting a handheld camera this past October 31, El Sharko captured Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz claiming President George W. Bush was responsible for Hamas's rise to power in the Gaza Strip. Last February 21, he also filmed Nezar Hamze, a representative from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, demanding Republican Congressman Allen West show him where the Koran orders death for Americans. Manjarres has also feuded with Broward County Republican Party leaders. Last summer, he insisted that four members of the Broward executive committee be removed because they prevented him from videotaping the county party's monthly meetings. Manjarres's critics claim he has no credibility because he seeks out political candidates to buy ads on his blog and allegedly encouraged Hamze to apply to be a member of the Broward GOP as a publicity stunt.

Why he's No. 2: Though we wouldn't let our sisters date him, we like that Manjarres has no problem devouring his own kind. The fact that his party's affiliate in his home county doesn't want Manjarres around demonstrates he's a wolf in GOP clothing.

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Francisco Alvarado was born in Nicaragua and grew up in Miami, giving him unique insight into the Magic City and all its dark corners. An investigative reporter with a knack for uncovering corruption, Alvarado made his bones as a staff writer at Miami New Times and remains in dogged pursuit of the next juicy story.

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