Ron DeSantis uses ‘monkey’ to describe Andrew Gillum agenda; Democrats brand it racist

[danarhea]

Republican gubernatorial nominee Ron DeSantis used the term “monkey” when describing his view of the agenda offered by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum.

Racist? Nah, Democrats are seizing on a very poor choice of words when DeSantis told his audience that Florida would be monkeying up the state if they they voted for his opponent, who happens to be black. But, I do have to say that DeSantis seems to have the mind of a monkey himself to have made such a faux pas here. Yea, this was dumb. He should be feeding his own base, not that of the Democrats. LOL.

Ron DeSantis uses ?monkey? to describe Andrew Gillum agenda; Democrats brand it racist - Sun Sentinel

 

[haymarket]

yeah - its not like there is history of equating African Americans with apes or anything like that. :doh:roll:

Maybe DeSantis was a Howard Cosell fan?

 

[NeverTrump]

Racist? Nah, Democrats are seizing on a very poor choice of words when DeSantis told his audience that Florida would be monkeying up the state if they they voted for his opponent, who happens to be black. But, I do have to say that DeSantis seems to have the mind of a monkey himself to have made such a faux pas here. Yea, this was dumb. He should be feeding his own base, not that of the Democrats. LOL.

Ron DeSantis uses ?monkey? to describe Andrew Gillum agenda; Democrats brand it racist - Sun Sentinel

Why didn't he use the word mess? Monkey has way too much of a racial history here.

 

[Samhain]

Democrats pounce.....

"don't monkey with" is a common phrase. Don't let that stop the outrage addicts from getting their daily fix though.

 

[Chaddelamancha]

It would seem that no one can have a poor choice of words without being deemed a racist nowadays. :roll:

 

[NeverTrump]

It would seem that no one can have a poor choice of words without being deemed a racist nowadays. :roll:

You would think politicians would clean themselves up and think about how it looks, but I guess not.

 

[Higgins86]

It would seem that no one can have a poor choice of words without being deemed a racist nowadays. :roll:

Can we say he's an idiot instead?

 

[Renae]

yeah - its not like there is history of equating African Americans with apes or anything like that. :doh:roll:

Maybe DeSantis was a Howard Cosell fan?

Anything to change the subject from things that matter to pull out the race card? Am I right? I mean who cares about the substantive difference between the two and what their goals are, dude said MONKEY!

 

[Skeptic Bob]

yeah - its not like there is history of equating African Americans with apes or anything like that. :doh:roll:

Maybe DeSantis was a Howard Cosell fan?

You are right, but I don’t see him doing that here. He uses “monkey” as a verb, something I have heard done many times. This is the first time I have ever heard that using it as a verb is racist/insensitive so it is difficult for me to hold it against him unless there is evidence he intended otherwise.

I get that language changes. So are we getting to the point that the word “monkey” can’t be used in any context?

 

[MTAtech]

Racist? Nah, Democrats are seizing on a very poor choice of words when DeSantis told his audience that Florida would be monkeying up the state if they they voted for his opponent, who happens to be black. But, I do have to say that DeSantis seems to have the mind of a monkey himself to have made such a faux pas here. Yea, this was dumb. He should be feeding his own base, not that of the Democrats. LOL.

Ron DeSantis uses ?monkey? to describe Andrew Gillum agenda; Democrats brand it racist - Sun Sentinel

I don't need to pounce on DeSantis with the inappropriate use of language to disqualify him from voting consideration. The fact that he supports Trump's policy positions -- namely, repealing the ACA and tax-cuts for the rich, is enough for voters in Florida to vote Gillum -- since losing the ACA would be devastating for a large number of Florida residents that would then not have access to health insurance.

Couple that with the general GOP agenda of limiting Social Security and Medicare and we have a reason for Florida seniors to vote for Gillum.

 

[Chaddelamancha]

You would think politicians would clean themselves up and think about how it looks, but I guess not.

Maybe it's like his rep said and it is a commonly used phrase that he has been using his entire life. :shrug: I would wager that it won't be going forward though.

 

[Chaddelamancha]

Can we say he's an idiot instead?

If you like.

 

[Mycroft]

Racist? Nah, Democrats are seizing on a very poor choice of words when DeSantis told his audience that Florida would be monkeying up the state if they they voted for his opponent, who happens to be black. But, I do have to say that DeSantis seems to have the mind of a monkey himself to have made such a faux pas here. Yea, this was dumb. He should be feeding his own base, not that of the Democrats. LOL.

Ron DeSantis uses ?monkey? to describe Andrew Gillum agenda; Democrats brand it racist - Sun Sentinel

Typical faux outrage based on deliberate spin and hyperbole. We've seen it before, we'll see it again.

DeSantis should just ignore them.

 

[Ikari]

yeah - its not like there is history of equating African Americans with apes or anything like that. :doh:roll:

Maybe DeSantis was a Howard Cosell fan?

While there has been, his statement was:

“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. That is not going to work. That’s not going to be good for Florida.”

That doesn't seem that the word "monkey" was used in a racially disparaging manner. So in this case, I would say that it wasn't a racist use of the word. He should have chosen words a bit more wisely, but it wasn't racist.

 

[haymarket]

While there has been, his statement was:

“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. That is not going to work. That’s not going to be good for Florida.”

That doesn't seem that the word "monkey" was used in a racially disparaging manner. So in this case, I would say that it wasn't a racist use of the word. He should have chosen words a bit more wisely, but it wasn't racist.

He and you can make that argument. And it might work if not for the long standing racist use of money and ape by the right wing.

 

[Blue Dog]

It was a stupid remark to make. If he meant to say “monkey wrench” it would have made more sense.

Here’s an idea, own the foot in mouth moment and apologize.

Jmo

 

[haymarket]

Anything to change the subject from things that matter to pull out the race card? Am I right? I mean who cares about the substantive difference between the two and what their goals are, dude said MONKEY!

Where does this magical and powerful "race card" come from anyway and what gives it such clout?

 

[Higgins86]

Is “ don’t monkey this up” actually a saying though, I’ve heard “ stop monkeying around”but not “ don’t monkey this up”

 

[Ikari]

He and you can make that argument. And it might work if not for the long standing racist use of money and ape by the right wing.

I will make that argument because it seems rather clear that in this instance it wasn't used as a racially derogative manner. As I said, he should have used a better choice of words, but it doesn't appear to be racially motivated in this instance. We can all be outraged by words people use, but we should also keep in mind context. Monkeying around, monkeying with, is a common phrase that doesn't relate to race.

 

[Renae]

Where does this magical and powerful "race card" come from anyway and what gives it such clout?

White Guilt for sins of the past, and every year that past gets further away. Real Racism needs to be confronted, calling anything even remotely near something that might, in another context and situation be construed maybe to be if you hold it upside and look at it sideways as racist... doesn't help anything.

 

[Cardinal]

I've never heard "monkey this up" in my life. This is essentially a repeat of the "macaca" incident:

The pivotal moment in the campaign, and the one that the vast majority of political observers attribute Allen's stunning upset loss to Webb, came on August 11, 2006, at a campaign stop in Breaks, Virginia, near the Kentucky border, where Allen twice used the racist slur "macaca" (meaning 'monkey') to refer to the dark-complexioned S. R. Sidarth, who was filming the event as a "tracker" for the opposing Jim Webb campaign. In what was dubbed as his "Macaca moment", Allen said:

"This fellow here over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent... Let's give a welcome to Macaca, here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen_(American_politician)

Now as then, the GOP, which has thoroughly transitioned into the White Nationalists Party, is gas lighting by saying the choice of words was an extraordinary coincidence and everybody is just being overly sensitive.

 

[NeverTrump]

Anything to change the subject from things that matter to pull out the race card? Am I right? I mean who cares about the substantive difference between the two and what their goals are, dude said MONKEY!

If desantis can't handle this, how will he be able to handle being Governor?

 

[ludin]

Racist? Nah, Democrats are seizing on a very poor choice of words when DeSantis told his audience that Florida would be monkeying up the state if they they voted for his opponent, who happens to be black. But, I do have to say that DeSantis seems to have the mind of a monkey himself to have made such a faux pas here. Yea, this was dumb. He should be feeding his own base, not that of the Democrats. LOL.

Ron DeSantis uses ?monkey? to describe Andrew Gillum agenda; Democrats brand it racist - Sun Sentinel

I didn't vote for desantis i voted for putnam but desantis won.
I checked into Gillum. I didn't hear much of him during the election compared to the other 3 big dem's running.

those 3 were all nut jobs. I thought that they might have nominated someone a little bit more sane than those 3.
nope he is about as bad as they are if not worse.

Fl is in a weird spot. We were running a nice surplus but 2 things have happened we had some massive hurricanes last year and medicaid rolls increased
Gillum wants to expand medicaid more making even more social spending.

their is the usual raise tax on the wealthy nonsense and business that never works.
of course being a liberal he is anti-2nd amendment.

and the list goes on and on.

more regulations more government more restrictions.
so i guess my vote will go to desantis.

why can't liberals every elect someone that is sane.

 

[Taylor]

Seems a common phrase. If using it is a "stupid remark" - it is only because of the far more stupid offense that some take to benign language.

 

[NeverTrump]

I've never heard "monkey this up" in my life.

Same here.