Gov. Rick Scott's Cara Jennings push-back ad, "Latte Liberal Gets an Earful," has been viewed in social media by more than 2 million people. If you aren't one of the 2 million, look at it here. Released Friday, the video was sponsored by Let's Get to Work, the governor's political action committee.
Self-professed anarchist Cara Jennings of Lake Worth will forever be a folk heroine to the legions who can't find a thing to like in Gov. Rick Scott.
So, I can't really blame the governor for answering back with a video of his own. The last word heard in the Gainesville Starbucks vid is "Sweet!" -- spoken by a customer who apparently approved of Jennings' confrontational sass. That word alone -- "Sweet!" -- would have been enough to prompt a response if I were a governor proud of the effort I'd put in to grow Florida's economy and add jobs to a mainly tourism-dependent state.
Scott shows he's willing to stand up and defend his policies -- particularly his No. 1 priority. Why not?
Here's what conservative blogger Steven Crowder had to say this weekend about the Scott response:
"Remember the crazy woman who yelled at Florida Gov. Rick Scott at a Starbucks? It got a lot of media attention because, 'hey look, a Republican is getting yelled at for being a Republican.' ...
"Normally, Republicans just roll over and take leftist criticism. See 8 years of George W. Bush. Well, this ad right here? It’s a healthy dose of push-back. We appreciate it, Governor.
"Did this woman have the right to say what she said? Absolutely. The First Amendment even applies in Starbucks. But that same right doesn’t promise immunity from criticism of those words she spoke. The lesson here is, if you want to scream at someone in this day and age, where you might be recorded, then uploaded to YouTube, be prepared to be Googled. Be prepared to have your face plastered in a call-out. Be prepared to have your silly argument roasted too long, just like that blend she was probably sipping."
Jennings has already fired back. "Gov. Scott and his PAC are bullies," Jennings said of the Scott video. "Instead of addressing the issues I brought up, he's using the power of his PAC to try to intimidate someone who spoke out against his policies."
Yes, Cara, but your speak-out, with all attendant vulgarity, was seen by millions around the world. It wasn't intimidation Scott was attempting with the video. He was fighting fire with fire.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
