Posted on 08/30/2018 5:56:33 AM PDT by yesthatjallen
Immediately after winning Florida's Republican gubernatorial primary, Rep. Ron DeSantis -- the candidate endorsed by Donald Trump -- was branded a racist for using the phrase "monkey this up" in connection with his African-American opponent.
The controversy was still thriving on Thursday morning, stoked by cable news shows, where indignation flared anew.
DeSantis, appearing on Sean Hannity's show Wednesday night, said his "monkey this up" comment "has zero to do with race. It has everything to do with whether we want Florida to continue to go in a good direction, building off the success, or do we want to turn to left wing socialist policies which will absolutely devastate our state?"
Earlier Wednesday, speaking to Fox News, DeSantis made the gaffe that his opponents have seized upon.
He was speaking about his Democrat opponent, Andrew Gillum, whose platform includes the abolition of ICE, Medicare for all, legislating higher wages, legalizing marijuana, eliminating jail time for low-level drug offenders, and having businesses pay for the education of the workforce they want to hire.
DeSantis said:
"He is an articulate spokesman for those far-left views, and he's a charismatic candidate, and you know, I watched those Democratic debates and none of that was my cup of tea, but he performed better than the other people there, so we've got to work hard to make sure that we continue Florida going in a good direction. Let's build off the success we've had on Governor Scott. The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda, with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state."
On Wednesday night, DeSantis told Hannity:
"I believe people should be judged based on their ability and character regardless of race. But it's because of that that I know socialism won't work in Florida. It's not good for any race, color or creed. So this is not about race. This is about ideas and principles. And I'm not going to let the Democrats and Andrew Gillum try to obscure a debate about whether his tax increases, his single-payer health care plan, his desire to abolish ICE -- whether that is something that's acceptable for Florida. I don't think it is and I don't care what color you are."
DeSantis later added that, "From athletics, to the military, to how I've conducted myself as an elected official, I'm a straight shooter. I treat everyone with respect, regardless of circumstances of birth."
For his part, Gillum told Fox News, "It's very clear that Mr. DeSantis is taking a page directly from the campaign manual of Donald Trump. But I think he's got another thing coming to him, if he thinks that in today’s day and age Florida voters are going to respond that level of derision and division. They're sick of it."
Asked by Shepard Smith if DeSantis's remark was racist or a figure of speech, Gillum said, "Well, in the handbook of Donald Trump, they no longer do whistle calls, they're now using full bull horns."
For the record, MoveOn.org is already using the DeSantis gaffe to raise money.
So, what race are monkeys anyway?
If he had said “ni**er” this up, I’d have seen it as racist.
DeSantis, don’t back down. He didn’t equate monkeys with blacks, those looking for a racism issue did. And they called it a “dog whistle”, thus equating dogs with blacks.
More Gruberization aimed at the stupid.
Typical Leftist tactic. Throw out the race card in order to avoid an honest debate concerning actual issues people care about.
The appropriate response. Stay on the offensive.
Recite an endless list of phrases with monkey (ex: monkey’s uncle, barrel of monkeys, monkey around, monkey business, monkey wrench, monkey house, monkey see/monkey do, etc.) and then ask, “since when have the countless phrases containing “monkey” been about race - rather than aboutt monkeys and applied to all people?”
Exposing leftwing claims and charges as ridiculous nonsense (without being defensive) is the only sane response.
Don’t let up on him, Gillums a socialist. “Gimmedat Gillum” is plainly looking for some other way than his “plan” to win, and he’ll try to use this monkey thing to do it.
The woes and social ills that Gillum will bring us far outweigh his hurt feelings over a perceived epithet.
DeSantis, to not apologize.
‘If he had said “ni**er” this up, I’d have seen it as racist.’
I would have said ‘let’s not be niggardly with the campaign funds, and monkey this thing up’...
Mention they didnt report tge whole sentence.
Meanwhile, last night Gov. Cuomo called ICE agents “a bunch of thugs” and zero condemnation from DeSantis’s opponent.
Just for the record, that is not a real tweet of his, is it?
Excellent - No apologies
But, racists who hear it do associate “monkey” with “black people” no matter the context. And I haven’t heard as single republican or conservative who has made that association. That probably says something about who the racists are in this country.
I just saw a quote from Obama where he said both parties are ‘monkeying around’......circa 2008
+1
My thoughts exactly.
I was afraid he was going to apologize. I'm so tired of or side apologizing for everything.
When you have to explain a stupid statement, you only make it worse! For better to ignore and next time engage brain before you talk again!
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