Ryan Nicol
A new ad from Adam Putnam‘s political committee shows the candidate talking tough on illegal immigration as he continues his run to be Florida’s next governor.
The ad, released by Florida Grown PC, features Putnam in front of a prison while discussing his plans to change Florida’s immigration approach.
“There are many reasons to be mad about illegal immigration,” says Putnam in the ad.
“Here’s one we can’t stand for: Today, taxpayers in Florida are paying nearly a hundred million dollars a year to imprison criminal illegal aliens. A hundred million dollars to feed, clothe and house criminal illegal aliens.”
The ad gives no citation for that $100 million figure, though the campaign pointed to Putnam’s own “Secure Florida First Agenda” plan. While that document has citations throughout, no source is given for that exact figure.
The Florida Democratic Party pounced on Putnam for the claim. Its spokesman, Kevin Donohoe, said “Adam Putnam isn’t just running against Ron DeSantis — he’s running against the truth.”
He pointed to fact-checkers’ analysis of the $100 million figure, saying, “It’s a blatantly false claim that has already been debunked by PolitiFact. But that didn’t seem to bother Putnam, whose campaign has officially gone fact-free.”
Nevertheless, Putnam feels that any amount spent is too much. “We need to support President [Donald] Trump’s plan to secure our borders and ban sanctuary cities. We need to protect taxpayers and deport violent criminals now.”
The 30-second ad will appear on cable and broadcast statewide beginning Tuesday. It also features Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco and Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, all of whom have endorsed Putnam is his primary challenge against Ron DeSantis.
Notably, DeSantis has earned the support of President Trump, whom Putnam cites in his new ad.
The DeSantis campaign slammed Putnam’s new ad. “There’s no doubt that Ron DeSantis exposed Putnam’s weak record on immigration in front of millions of viewers during the debate and now he’s on the defensive,” said David Vasquez, press secretary for the DeSantis campaign.
“Putnam’s record on immigration is crystal clear. He voted with Nancy Pelosi against securing our southern border, supported the Gang of Eight amnesty bill and fought against E-Verify in Florida. Suddenly facing a conservative opponent, Putnam is convinced he can somehow rewrite his own record to win over Florida conservatives.”
Recent polling has shown the race all over the place, though higher-rated pollsters have Putnam in the lead.
10 comments
JD Downey
July 10, 2018 at 11:13 am
I’m not sure anymore about backing Adam Putnam since apparently he’s only interested in deporting the “VIOLENT ILLEGAL ALIENS”. Am I the only one to understand the definition of ILLEGAL? Why would we wait until they commit a violent crime to enforce the law and deport them?
I for one am very tired of having to “PRESS ONE FOR ENGLISH” in the US. I shouldn’t have to press anything to speak to someone in English. It is after all the official language of our country and has been since the beginning.
Our current policy of paying for translation both written and in print form at taxpayer expense to enable these people to stay in our country unimpeded is a disgrace. This is enabling these illegal immigrants to live their entire lives in our country without any need or emphasis on learning our language. THIS IS CREATING AND PERPETUATING DIVISION IN OUR SOCIETY NOT UNITY and will only lead to incredible future uprisings.
I also am very upset so many of these illegal immigrants from countries south of Mexico such as Guatemala are using their gang violence as an excuse to come into the US. THAT IS A CONVENIENT EXCUSE to come to the US. If they were only trying to escape gang violence in these countries south of Mexico THEN WHY DID THEY NOT JUST STOP ONCE THEY GOT INTO MEXICO?
WE MUST BUILD A WALL AND COMPLETELY STOP THIS INEXCUSABLE FLOOD OF IMMIGRANTS INTO OUR COUNTRY! They are NOT innocent law abiding citizens THEY ARE COMMITTING A CRIME BY BOTH LYING ABOUT THEIR REASON TO COME TO THE US AND CROSSING ILLEGALLY AT OUR PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A BORDER!
TS Flynn
July 11, 2018 at 5:18 pm
Wow you are truly misinformed… SEEKING ASYLUM IS NOT ILLEGAL… how do you know they are lieing? Have you talked to them? Have you put yourself in their shoes? No.. of course not it is easier to just be mad and carry around all that anger. Insead of admiting to yourself you are just plain scared of a changing society and where will you fit in it. Unfortunately you are perpetuating division in our country by countinuing to believe in falsehoods.
JD Downey
July 12, 2018 at 7:23 am
Do you not read what has already been posted? I SAID THEY ARE LYING WHEN THEY CLAIM THEY ARE FLEEING THE GANG VIOLENCE IN GUATEMALA YET THEY ENTERED MEXICO AND DID NOT STOP THERE. SO THAT IS A LIE SINCE THEY CONTINUE ALL THE WAY THROUGH MEXICO TO GET TO THE US.
SO ACCORDING TO YOU WE SHOULD JUST COMPLETELY OPEN OUR BORDERS AND ALLOW EVERYONE AND ANYONE TO COME INTO THE US?
I ALSO SAID THAT EVERY ONE OF THEM WHO ILLEGALLY ENTERS THE US IS A CRIMINAL SINCE THAT IS A CRIME. YOU MUST HAVE RELATIVES IN PRISON TO CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DEFEND CRIMINALS. WE ALL HAVE CHOICES AND IF THEY CHOOSE TO VIOLATE OUR LAWS THEY DESERVE TO BE DEPORTED. YOU AND YOUR “LET’S TAKE CARE OF THEM” ATTITUDE IS SICKENING.
I’ve had enough of this thread, so if you feel the need to get the last word, have at it. I’m not wasting anymore time on someone like you.
Bill Adams
July 14, 2018 at 7:21 pm
STOP WATCHING FOX NEWS IT”S MAKING YOU DUMBER.
Danny Quinones
July 16, 2018 at 8:49 pm
Where did you get your information? You can easily google so, as you seem to show a lot of passion you lack knowledge on what you criticize. “Spanish was the first European language spoken in this country.” Linguistic experts tell us that’s accurate. Even though English is the dominant language in the United States, the first permanent English settlement came 42 years after explorers from Spain founded St. Augustine in Florida. So, instead of staying ignorant you might want to take a class in Spanish. I can go on because almost everything you say is ignorant and racist, but I’m tired of trying to unite people after all this divisive rhetoric we have coming from the white house. The Irony we might need to learn Russian and to be honest with you I have no problem leaning Russian as Knowledge is power.
Victoria Olson
July 21, 2018 at 7:16 pm
SHAME on you,Most of the immigrants coming in are WOMEN & CHILDREN fleeing from crime, rape & worse from their countries. Tell me how babies and 10 year old children are violent criminals? You are a moron who watches Fox news. Do you know there are THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL RUSSIANS WHO ARE VIOLENT CRIMINALS that are living in this country and not speaking English.. WHY aren’t they being DEPORTED?????
Susan Hamblen
July 10, 2018 at 8:58 pm
JD, English is not our official language. We are a country of immigrants. How far back did your ancestors come in?
Immigrants commit crimes at a lower rate then current citizens.
Claim of 100 million $$$ pd by tax payers of Florida … For illegal criminals… Ludicrous ! Making up numbers & ‘facts’.
Guessing you are a troll…. Stirring things up to add to division.
JD Downey
July 11, 2018 at 6:45 am
Susan, I definitely disagree. I suggest you do a Google search and you will discover that ENGLISH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE of the US. It has been since the year 1795 by congressional declaration. I hope you are NOT a school teacher. Some of you just won’t be happy until this entire country is speaking Spanish.
There is no defense for illegal immigration. It IS AGAINST THE LAW and it is ruining our country.
Obviously you are not in a position to sway my opinion or educate me when you defend criminal behavior.
MW
July 20, 2018 at 11:13 am
Downey, you are truly an ignorant person. And as it goes with ignorant people, facts are completely ignored. You speak a language of hate and intolerance and make inaccurate assumptions based on your emotional feelings. You take one seed of truth and distort it until there is nothing left of the initial idea. This will probably reach deaf ears, but LEARN and EDUCATE YOURSELF. Stop making judgments, you fool.
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