A.G. Gancarski
Even as Republicans (such as former Gov. Jeb Bush) decry President Donald Trump‘s policy of separating migrant children from families at the Mexican border, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is framing Gov. Rick Scott‘s response as lacking.
Scott has stated his opposition on the policy, with the most forceful declaration on Monday, as the Governor and U.S. Senate candidate blamed the issue on “bipartisan inaction and failure from our federal government” and not the president implementing the policy.
“They have failed to secure our borders, which has resulted in this chaos,” Scott said. “Let me be clear — I do not favor separating families. Washington is to blame for this by being all talk and no action, and the solution is to secure the border. Anyone seeking to enter our country illegally needs to be sent back, with the exception of those who are truly seeking asylum from an oppressive regime.”
This wasn’t enough for Nelson.
“As thousands of kids sit and sleep in warehouses, separated from their parents, Rick Scott — once again — refuses to stand up to the Trump Administration’s cruel and inhumane policy of separating families,” Nelson’s spox Carlie Waibel asserted.
“Bill Nelson is fighting in Congress to stop the separation of families — co-sponsoring the Keep Families Together Act — and holding the Trump Administration accountable, while Rick Scott plays politics with these children’s lives. It’s time for Rick Scott to stand up to his friend Donald Trump and support legislation to keep families together,” Waibel added.
In media encounters both Monday and last week, Scott has not mentioned Trump’s name.
Scott’s positioning is apace with that of Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, but seemingly ambivalent compared to the forceful policy condemnations of many Senate Republicans.
4 comments
Amy Roberts
June 18, 2018 at 5:07 pm
Bill Nelson has always represented the good people of the State of Florida honorably.
Patricia Silverman
June 18, 2018 at 5:08 pm
come on his biggest error that he can not get over is NOT FOLLOWING THE WILL OF 6.5 MILLION FLORIDA VOTERS, that will get everyone’s attention and it is a fact, but if there is any choise a democrat will be the last one voted in the behavior and the claims comming from democrats will never get voted yes
Rick S.
June 18, 2018 at 11:21 pm
Bill Nelson represents the traditional sanity that used to characterize government, before the extremists like Rick Scott took over. Remember that prior to becoming governor, Rick Scott presided over the 2nd largest Medicare fraud in American history (largest fraud then.) Scott’s defense: He didn’t know what was going on. So the question is, “Is he a crook or just incompetent?” Tell me how either choice makes Scott qualified to be a US Senator.
Do you want Rick Scott helping approve a future Supreme Court Justice? Just look at the incompetent cronies he has appointed to the Florida courts.
David McCallister
June 19, 2018 at 8:01 am
Ms. Silverman, Now its time for him to retire “honorably” and get out of the way of Rick Scott to represent the will of the majority of the citizen-voters of Florida.
In general: All this hand-wringing over child-separation ignores the glaring fact that it is the illegal, queue-jumping, wannabe-immigrant parents, who are the ones who are trying to force their way in by using their own children. if you think about it, as “human shields” without really caring if they get sacrificed along the way. We care more about these children than they do, and they count on this. The old paradigm was that the immigrant father would come first- legally- get a job, and be productive, send back support, and meanwhile save up, settle down, learn English, learn American ways, and mores, get full citizenship; and only then send for the rest of his family. This was the Emma Lazarus model. It worked before. It would work again.
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