Peter Schorsch
It did not take long for a video of a Florida woman haranguing Gov. Rick Scott while he ordered coffee at a Gainesville Starbucks to go viral.
“You cut Medicaid so I couldn’t get Obamacare,” the woman, identified as former Lake Worth City Commissioner Cara Jennings, yells at Scott. “You’re an asshole. You don’t care about working people. You should be ashamed to show your face around here.”
Scott responded by saying he has created a million jobs.
“A million jobs? Great, who here has a great job?” she said, turning her head and scanning the crowded room.
Never mind that Jennings launched this harangue while sitting in front of a laptop computer, presumably while enjoying a $5 cup of joe.
Unfortunately for him, Scott did not get to enjoy his coffee. Jennings, once described as an anarchist in the polka-dot skirt, was so disrespectful to the governor that he had smartly retreated from the coffee shop.
Democrats and progressives – and even a swath of politically moderate Floridians – are cheering Jennings’ broadside against Scott, who, despite the state’s low unemployment rate and expanding economy, remains unpopular.
The bottom-line, though, is Jennings was out of line.
Jennings may not respect the man, but she should have respected the office. She may vehemently disagree with Scott’s policies, but she was wrong to call the governor an “asshole” in a public setting.
It gives me no satisfaction coming to Scott’s defense. Let’s not forget that I was the guy who organized the first substantial protest of Scott after he took office (remember Boo Rick Scott on Opening Day?)
But Jennings’ actions were ugly. They were, in fact, Trumpian. They warrant an apology.
And Governor Scott should be able to get his Starbucks without being called an “asshole.”
44 comments
C
April 6, 2016 at 11:56 am
fuck this article. i cant believe you had the balls to write it.
Donna Turner
April 7, 2016 at 9:58 pm
Classy response.
Joe
April 6, 2016 at 11:57 am
If Scott hadn’t cut medicaid he would not have been called names.
DR
April 6, 2016 at 1:58 pm
She is a disgusting classless pig and representative of what is wrong with public discourse and the free flow of ideas and discussions.
PM
April 8, 2016 at 9:52 am
Why are they hanging around Starbucks when they could be out looking for a job?
Bruce Levy
April 8, 2016 at 5:48 pm
Right, and you mindless Florida morons elected this criminal. You deserve him.
Jason
April 6, 2016 at 2:17 pm
How about pointing out how much of an elitist she is and how belittling she was to those who work there.
“who here has a great job?” ARE YOU KIDDING ME? These are people who are actually working, providing her with her skim-latte-chai-mocca frappuccino. Real sleaze ball if you ask me. She REALLY cares for the working people, huh?
Donkey Hotey
April 8, 2016 at 12:54 am
Grasping at straws much? She looked around at the customers when she said that, not at the Starbucks employees.
Arthro
April 6, 2016 at 2:39 pm
That lady was the A$$hole. I’m not really a Rick Scott fan, but give me a break. He should be able to go to Starbucks without being verbally assaulted by some idiot. If you don’t like him, don’t vote for him. Write him a letter. Call your state rep or state senator. This was BS.
Tiffany
April 6, 2016 at 3:01 pm
Why should anyone respect the office someone who has no respect for their constituents?
Kathy smith
April 6, 2016 at 3:41 pm
She is a lowlife
Eli
April 6, 2016 at 3:45 pm
“presumably while enjoying a $5 cup of joe” I can’t believe I am not reading an article from The Onion…
This is extreme bias and Rick Scott absolutely deserved what he got yesterday. He takes things away from lower class people, which warrants the “asshole” comment. Florida Politics should be ashamed for publishing this.
Karen
April 7, 2016 at 1:29 am
Please tell me how he takes from lower income people?
Marshall Eubanks
April 6, 2016 at 4:59 pm
Disagree. It’s part of being in politics.
SW
April 6, 2016 at 5:20 pm
Karen
April 7, 2016 at 1:31 am
Is this really her?
Pablo
April 6, 2016 at 6:14 pm
Instead of “asshole” how about the more objective “homicidal sociopath”?
Babz
April 8, 2016 at 7:00 am
No, that would be my Gov. Rick Snyder. He literally killed people and poisoned an entire city. Rick Scott is a just another greedy asshole sociopath.
Mike Gonzalez
April 7, 2016 at 10:04 am
I think the woman was out of line and I am no fan of the governor. I do realize that it is impossible for him, or any government official / politician, to make everyone happy all of the time. I agree with the earlier post. If you don’t like him or what he stands for, don’t vote for him. Maybe she should right a letter or organize a legal protest against him and what he stands for. Yelling at the man and calling him an “a$$hole” while he is trying to get a cup of coffee is, in my opinion, improper. Should I yell at someone because I don’t agree with what they are wearing, the kind of job they have or the type of car they drive simply because I disagree with their choice? Where is the line? After doing two minutes of Google’ing, I can see the lady has a history of flying off the handle. Make your own decision but I think she handled it poorly. Not the way I would act or expect any of my friends / family to act when in opposition of someone. I classify it as a classless, in provoked attack from a lady sitting in Starbucks who complains about not being able to afford things while sitting on her laptop. She doesn’t look broke to me. Maybe she should be at work, like the rest of us.
Cathleen Schwarz Saraduke
April 7, 2016 at 3:11 pm
Are you kidding me, she should respect his position, just like the GOP respect President Obama’s position. Your an asshole too.,
Linda Duerden
April 7, 2016 at 4:43 pm
Well let’s see, Florida has on several occasions been rated as one of the most corrupt states. It comes from the top down and how could anyone stand up for a man who evoked the 5th amendment 75 times during the investigation into his company for massive Medcare fraud? He cares nothing for Floridians and has proven this over and over again. He and Bondi have wasted millions of dollars on suits that they knew they could not win at we the tax payers expense. Those millions could have funded Medicaid and done wonders in providing aid to our dying environment. Apologies I think not, he deserves much worse than being called a name!
Some asshole
April 7, 2016 at 5:12 pm
You’re an asshole.
Brian Doyle
April 7, 2016 at 5:22 pm
all that woman did was tell the truth. He is what he is.
Coffee Hater
April 7, 2016 at 5:57 pm
This anarchist cow probably waited for the right moment for his regular visit to this Starbucks. Interesting and convenient that it was carefully filmed and released to the public, isn’t it?
Donkey Hotey
April 8, 2016 at 12:53 am
Are you unaware that people carry video cameras in their pockets nowadays?
peter
April 7, 2016 at 7:08 pm
scott is an asshole and was unable to refute anything ms jennings said ….i think scott owes all of us in florida an apology
Donkey Hotey
April 8, 2016 at 12:55 am
I’ve always found that if I don’t act like an asshole, people don’t call me one.
Grateful Jeff
April 8, 2016 at 1:49 am
What a delusional clown. You say she disrespected the office of the governor? Rick Skeletor has more than disrespected the office of governor by being a lying criminal and the system is a joke for allowing the criminal dirtbag to run for governor in the first place. You reap what you sew. Calling him an asshole was too kind. He is a worthless piece of crap who is ruining life in Florida.
Tandy Braid
April 8, 2016 at 5:28 am
That is because he is an asshole. The old idiom “calling a spade, a spade” still hold true. He fits the bill!!
Adolfo Herrera
April 8, 2016 at 7:37 am
He’s a criminal. Getting called names should be the least we do to him. He deserves a rope around his freakish long neck for the crimes he has committed.
Todd
April 8, 2016 at 7:44 am
Scott is a “Public Servant” and in that position he has made many decisions that have hurt families, women, and children tremendously. This woman and any other group of people in this state that he has hurt with his decisions, which is easily 75% of the State of Florida, has every right to do what she did. I for one, welcome any and all Floridians that wish do this sort of in your face protest of this man. Do not be silent, your voice is all you have, It is your right, and these people commenting on this article and the author want to take it away, by shaming you for using it. Great Job CARA, Great Use of The 1st Amendment.
blurchh
April 8, 2016 at 9:13 am
Why does her “$5 cup of joe” matter? I’m broke as heck, but I’ve been gifted with many Starbucks giftcards in the past. I’ve gone to Starbucks with friends and had my drink paid for.
And the laptop? People fall on hard times. I had a tablet, a smartphone, and a Playstation 4 from when I had a great job. Now I don’t, but I still own these things. Should I throw them away to appease your stereotype of poor people?
JT
April 8, 2016 at 4:36 pm
If he didn’t want to be called an asshole he should try not being an asshole.
Tammy Howe
April 8, 2016 at 5:33 pm
So a million dollar super pac goes afters constituent making less than $15,000. Real brave guys. What didn’t get said is that the republicans in this state took control away from the insurance commissioner to regulate the insurance companies. They did this knowing full well that the companies would raise rates so they could then lay blame on Obamacare. Not only did they screw those needing the Medicaid expansion but also screwed the rest of the Floridians (Democrat or Republican) and Florida companies by allowing those rate increases to go unchallenged.
Susan
April 8, 2016 at 5:38 pm
Nope – given what he’s done to this state, and screwed the non-rich people of it, he gets everything he deserves.
Garren
April 8, 2016 at 5:42 pm
This article is ridiculous.
The governor could of responded by asking the voter if she would like to talk; however, he immediately went on the defensive and then the attack.
He deserves to hear how the people of Flordia feel. Every single person has a voice regardless of the political preferences.
To the author of this article, you should be ashamed of writing such a bias article.
Rick
April 8, 2016 at 5:43 pm
When he stops acting like an asshole he can go out in public without being called on being an asshole. What the video doesn’t show is that the conversation started with her talking to him civilly and him brushing her off, dismissing her concerns and telling her sha didn’t need Obamacare.
Bruce Levy
April 8, 2016 at 5:46 pm
You know what the real irony is? Scott should have been put in jail years ago for the biggest Medicare fraud ever perpetrated in the history of the US. But seeing as the rich buy their own type of justice, he’s still walking around making other people’s lives miserable with his grasping greed.He’s a sociopath and a clinical narcissist without a finctioning conscience. But you know what…Florida, you richly deserve all the stupidity and corruption that you elected. Pat yourselves on the back.
Gail Wernecke
April 8, 2016 at 5:51 pm
Dick Sc ott deserves all the criticism he gets. The man is a thief, a fraud and ought to be in a 6 x 10 cell. I am so glad to be out of that state.
Paula Morris
April 8, 2016 at 9:44 pm
Scott cut back on unemployment to 12 wks now, medicaid, etc, doesnt helo the poor at all. WE need a better governor than him I agree with this lady telling him off
PJ
April 9, 2016 at 4:14 pm
Cara was actually right on point. I wish it were me to have called it like it is cause I know Scott cares NOTHING about women’s health. All he’s ever cared about is GREED. Look up his history. He’s a criminal yet PR saved his ass to get those votes.
George
April 9, 2016 at 10:03 pm
Nope, sorry, when you’re in public office you are open to criticism no matter where you are and now matter what you’re doing. Your actions affect people’s lives, and we have the right to tell you when those actions are affecting us in a negative way.
Donny T.
April 9, 2016 at 11:13 pm
You are an idiot. This is the purpose of a public official. The founding fathers participated in the community. Constituents used to come up and talk to them, at them, have a drink with them, without a security guard. Rick Scott needs to hear what people think of him. He needs to hear and feel what he has done to people. Sitting behind a desk making choices that affect thousands of people come with a consequence. And he needs to understand that, and empathize with it. That is the point, a good man, an ethical man, a smart man who wanted to change his branding image, should have sat down with the woman and said, ” I am sorry to hear this. May I buy you another cup of coffee, or a snack and let us sit down together, because I want to hear your view.” In that moment he chose to run and give a big FU to that woman, and every person that feels that way. His lack of integrity shined though!
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