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.
That is all they know to do...taught to them by B.HUSSEIN O. the ‘king’ of race...
enough said...
Ignore and move on.
I have days where I just monkey around. And sometimes I’m a “white hat”, sometimes I’m a “black hat”.
In a Fox News interview yesterday, DeSantis called Trump the “Gorilla in the room.”
When my Mom told me not to be a monkey, was she telling me not to let my skin turn black?
If you let a monkey drive a car, what happens? That is what “monkey something up” refers to!
Good one!
I sure hope these people quit monkeying around!
“If you hear the word “monkey” and the first thing that comes to your mind is “black” then you are the racist.”
EXACTLY! He should ask WHY that word means black in their mind since it didn’t come to his mind.
Brilliant on Trump’s part! He fights back!
DeSantis meant to say "Eff this up" but knew he couldn't, so he substituted "monkey" in its place.
Nothing to do with race, it was about avoiding a potty mouth.
-PJ
Only liberals see race in it...
I wonder why, when liberals hear the word ‘monkey’, they think ‘race’?
What race do they think it means?
Gillum claims that Trump's Russia Collusion criticism is undermining law enforcement when it’s an FBI whose political corruption by Democrats has led to the firing, early retirement or forced resignation of most of its top Washington officials:
Gillum: Trump, DeSantis have done everything they can to undermine FBI
But when it comes to the racist cop hating “Black Lives Matters” he has no such worry, but in fact, he finds it “inspiring” to see shirts with their slogan:
CNN made the connection of monkeys to blacks...so who’s the racist? CNN.
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!
Oh Laz, you fooled me with your fake Trump tweet.
‘He should ask WHY that word means black in their mind’
we have Howard Cosell to blame for that...
Super!!!! Hope he does.
His opponent has a whole pack of "Race Cards" and he intends to use every one of them.
LOL!
LMAO.
Well, put a monkey in front a typewriter and eventually it will come up with Shakespeare! LOL!
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