Peter Schorsch
Remember the powerful line from Michelle Obama, “When they go low, we go high“?
Before Wednesday night, when the two candidates for Florida governor spent an hour making it uncomfortably clear how much they detest each other, Democrat Andrew Gillum had, for the most part, adhered to the motto articulated by the former First Lady.
Moderator Todd McDermott, an anchor for West Palm Beach’s WPBF, had barely finished introducing himself to a statewide television audience before Gillum and his Republican opponent, Ron DeSantis, engaged in an intense exchange of name-calling.
Gillum said the day after the primary that Florida voters shouldn’t “monkey this up” by supporting Gillum. And Gillum added that DeSantis was endorsed by President Donald Trump.
“My opponent … has run this race very, very close to the Trump handbook, where we call each other names, where we run false advertisements.”
Gillum then called DeSantis a liar, and DeSantis called Gillum corrupt (and a liar), pointing at Broadway tickets to “Hamilton” that were supplied by an undercover FBI agent investigating corruption at Tallahassee City Hall.
And on it went.
As POLITICO Florida recapped the debate, “the candidates sparred over virtually every topic, from school spending to taxes to health care to immigration to gun control. But it was all overshadowed by charges and counter-charges over radical associations, neo-Nazis and misuse of tax money.”
Gillum even spelled out n-i-g-g-e-r when making a point that one of DeSantis’ supporters referred to Barack Obama by that term.
“Now I’m not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist,” Gillum said. “I’m simply saying the racists believe he’s a racist.”
It was one zinger like that after another.
Yet there was that one moment when Gillum, who has been on the defensive for four days, lost his cool in a way that we have yet to see from him on the campaign trail.
It was more than him just baring his fangs; it was actually one of the lowest moment of Gillum’s campaign.
As DeSantis hammered Gillum on Tallahassee’s crime rate. Gillum joked that DeSantis might want to reconsider running for Governor: “The governor’s mansion’s in Tallahassee. I would hate for him to be hurt.”
On a day when at least nine suspicious packages sent in recent days to public figures, including the Obama and Clinton families, and CNN’s New York bureau, Gillum cracked wise about a politician getting hurt. A politician, by the way, who last year had just left a Republican congressional baseball practice before a gunman starting shooting at his teammates.
Not funny, Mr. Mayor.
It was just the sort of thing that – gasp – President Trump might say.
In fact, he does say things like that and leaders like Gillum appropriately call him out for it.
As CNN’s Jeff Zucker just said yesterday after a suspicious package was delivered to his New York newsroom, “words matter.”
Mind you, DeSantis, at several points, scraped from the bottom of the barrel. For DeSantis to suggest that Gillum would allow child molesters to roam Florida communities is just DeClasse.
And the former Congressman also had his own moment where he came close to losing his cool over during the same question where Gillum spelled out the N-word.
“How the hell am I supposed to know every single statement somebody makes?” he said without waiting for McDermott to finish the query. He also contended that those statements, made by David Horowitz, came after his appearance at Horowitz’ Freedom Center conference — an assertion that McDermott immediately refuted.
But when they go low, Gillum’s supposed to go high, right?
9 comments
Ray Tampa
October 25, 2018 at 8:38 am
Gillum’s comment about ‘hurt’, as I understood it, was referencing Tallahassee in the mindset of DeSantis. DeSantis was constantly lying about the state of affairs in the capital city and Mayor Gillum was simply saying – if things are as bad as you say, DeSantis, you might not want to go there.
Kelly In Neptune
October 25, 2018 at 8:50 am
I’m usually a fan of your writing Peter but I think its obvious you’re misconstruing here.
Clearly, Gillum was sarcastically pointing out the irony of Desantis claiming Tallahassee is such a violent place but nevertheless wanting to rule over the state from there.
Gillum still has my support, and I’m willing to be a lot of other voters will agree with what I’m about to write: most politicians accept gifts–or cash–from lobbyists, corporations, and any and everything else with a wallet. Voters know this occurs every single day. They also understand that most pols never get exposed for it, but they certainly know it occurs.
That Gillum took tickets from an undercover FBI agent is more comical than criminal in the minds of many. And most folks I have spoken to see to agree. And I know a lot of folks.
Of course, Republicans are making a totally different set of facts. They view Gillum’s FBI problem as a sign of corruption. I hardly have to point out the irony that the GOP’s beloved leader, President Trump, has multiple cronies already convicted and is at the center of his own FBI saga, which has been ongoing for about 2 years now. But Republicans overlook that, all for political expedience of course.
Without a doubt however, Gillum has certainly compounded an already difficult task: Florida voters have never elected a black candidate statewide, with the exception of Jennifer Carroll, who was par of the Rick Scott ticket. We know there’s an underlying reason for that. The unfortunate truth is most voters, of all races, see Gillum as a black guy running fr governor. For some, that’s historic and worthy of support; for untold numbers of others, its a hurdle they can’t overcome as hidden prejudices come into play at the ballot box, and is brought to the surface when anything negative hits the press bearing Gillum’s name.
Desantis knows Floridians have trouble with racial issues. And he’s exploiting that fact.
That said, I’m surprised you overlooked Desantis’ own crude explosion: losing his temper and even hurling an expletive after being accused of cavorting with racists. But it was a fair thing to point out. After all, he’s the one who sought to “monkey up” the campaign with dog whistles and racial subtexts.
Nan
October 25, 2018 at 9:09 am
Monkey up means “MESS UP” and liberals are using it as something racist!! Have you ever heard of s “monkey wrench”? This is absolutely absurd that it was a fascist comment. Gillum has studied in Ca with the communists and gd is one of them. They hate our country and want to take it over. Only naive people would vote fir Gillum. I’ve done my research on him. He’s a slick, corrupt politician. DeSantis is a man with honor and character.
Nan
October 25, 2018 at 9:14 am
*racist was changed to fascist. I typed RACIST.
*he
*for
Jeffrey
October 25, 2018 at 9:07 am
It’s was sarcasm literally expressing the opposite of DeSantis’ contention that Tallahassee is unsafe. It was certainly mocking but hardly a Trumpism like “Punch them in the face, I’ll pay for the legal bills” type comment.
Rick Fernandez
October 25, 2018 at 9:34 am
Swing and a miss on the “hurt” proposition. Linking that comment to Trump bombs is beneath you.
For purposes of this chat, let’s assume you are correct. Let’s assume the “hurt” comment is Mayor Gillum’s low point. If that’s true, he should be elected governor by acclamation today.
Gillum has my vote. Maybe Trump can find a job for Ronny D.
Stephen Urgo
October 25, 2018 at 10:26 am
Considering all the letter bombs that went out, I see your point but completely disagree. Gillum’s comment referred to the many attacks on Tallahassee’s crime rate. Sorry, but I think your comment bombed…
K. Anderson
October 25, 2018 at 11:26 am
Sarcasm in bad taste due to poor timing – given the events earlier in the day – is probably the point the author was attempting to make.
Kevin Wright
October 25, 2018 at 10:42 pm
Crime in Tallahassee is up, but reporting is down. For example, Gillum did not report (nor did the media, nor police) receiving bribes from developers, nor did he report the voter fraud practiced by his own brother and sister. Gillum’s magic ability to commit crime, and get away with it, is admired by democrat voters, who believe that this ability is the key to political power.
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