Posted on 08/29/2018 1:30:44 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
Democratic gubernatorial opponent Andrew Gillum on Wednesday tied controversial remarks made by his opponent Rep. Ron DeSantis (R) to President Trump's rhetoric while appearing on Fox News.
DeSantis earlier in the day in his own Fox News appearance warned Florida voters not to "monkey this up" by voting for Gillum, a comment that prompted fierce backlash.
During an interview with Fox News host Shep Smith, Gillum said DeSantis was taking a page “directly from the campaign manual of Donald Trump.”
“Yeah, that part wasn’t lost on me," Gillum said to Smith when asked about the remarks. "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.”
“He thinks that in today’s day and age Florida’s voters are going to respond to that level of derision and division,” he continued. “They’re sick of it.”
"In the handbook of Donald Trump they no longer do whistle calls, they’re now using full bullhorns," Gillum continued when pressed by Smith whether he believed the congressman's remarks were racist or just a figure of speech.
"And what I’ve got to say about that is we got to make sure we stay focused, I think, on the issues that confront everyday people. I’m not going to get down in the gutter with DeSantis and Trump," he added.
DeSantis, who won the GOP primary Tuesday night, drew considerable pushback for the remarks that were perceived by many as racially charged.
In the interview, DeSantis initially referred to Gillum as "an articulate spokesman for those far-left views" and a "charismatic candidate" after Gillum's stunning Democratic primary victory Tuesday.
But he later launched into an attack on Gillum, a candidate backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), accusing him of embracing a "socialist agenda."
“Let’s build off the success we’ve had on Gov. Scott. The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases bankrupting the state. That is not going to work," DeSantis said.
The Republican’s campaign said in a statement obtained by The Hill that it was "absurd" to claim that he was doing anything other than criticizing Gillum's agenda.
“Ron DeSantis was obviously talking about Florida not making the wrong decision to embrace the socialist policies that Andrew Gillum espouses,” DeSantis communications director Stephen Lawson said in the statement.
“To characterize it as anything else is absurd,” Lawson added. “Florida’s economy has been on the move for the last eight years and the last thing we need is a far-left democrat trying to stop our success.”
Trump, who endorsed DeSantis in the GOP primary, said later on Wednesday that he had "not heard” DeSantis’s controversial remarks about his opponent but said the congressman is "extraordinary."
It doesn’t matter they’ll turn anything into a ‘slur’.
Who’s monkeying around now ? LOL
Monkey see, monkey do.
Why does the word “monkey” make liberals think “black”?
“I never implied that my opponent was a monkey. However, if the ears and tail fit, he is more than welcome to characterize himself as such (as he appears to be doing)”.
BTT
This is the best the souls to the polls crowd has tired and old
Whatever he does, he better not apologize.
He is going to be savaged as it is - if he apologizes he’ll be torn to pieces.
So just which “words” are so offensive that our cultural overlords say that they can’t be used in any context? What lunacy. I am never niggardly in my use of various wqrds The complainers need to up their meds and become aware of Freedom of Speech in America. What poltroons!!!
So just which “words” are so offensive that our cultural overlords say that they can’t be used in any context? What lunacy. I am never niggardly in my use of various words The complainers need to up their meds and become aware of Freedom of Speech in America. What poltroons!!!
So I suppose “throwing a monkey wrench” into something cannot be said any longer either, for it will be called “racist”!!!
And this is the reason Democrats will lose. In Democrat- radical eyes most words are racist and the American people have had enough.
This guy is currently under FBI investigation..he knows he has ZERO chance of winning in November
Inferiority complex?
Completely taken out of context but what more can we expect from those who see everything through the prism of race.
Obama is like that and he proved why having a black President just doesn’t work. For whatever reason certain minorities like blacks and Hispanics can’t get past their race. It’s always front and center affecting every thought and decision they make. Only when they can learn to get past this handicap can they be good political leaders. Some have proven it is possible but they are rare and they are never leftists.
—Whatever he does, he better not apologize.-—
He should just boomerang it back at them. Just say what’s most likely the truth - that his mind just doesn’t go there or think in those terms, and anyone who sees race in the comment is an overly race-obsessed person themselves.
I have a feeling that all this feigned outrage about this comment will backfire on the Democrats. People are sick and tired of everything a Republican says is said to be racist, even when there is no obvious racist intention. They have cried racism over so many things that it just gets old after a while.
Deep down I think this may cost the DNC even more money.
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