Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam has launched an all-out offensive against CNN, the 24-hour news network, posting a tweet Saturday denouncing “liberals” and “fake news.”
Putnam, current frontrunner for the Republican nomination for governor, asks followers in the tweet to sign a petition to put an end to the left-wing slant on the network, which has routinely drawn the ire of conservatives, particularly in recent months.
“Aren’t you tired of the liberals taking fake news to new extremes?” asked Putnam. “I am. Sign the petition to stop CNN.”
Aren’t you tired of the liberals taking fake news to new extremes? I am. Sign the petition to stop CNN. https://t.co/2Vw6rxr8tg
— Adam Putnam (@adamputnam) July 29, 2017
The tweet then links to a signup page where followers can receive emails from the Putnam campaign team.
The tweet largely mirrors a campaign message employed by then-candidate, now-President Donald Trump, who popularized the term "fake news" when he ran for the White House last year.
While on the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly criticized the mainstream media for “publishing falsehoods,” and slanting coverage against conservatives and the Republican Party. CNN in particular became the focus of conservatives' vexation with the media.
CNN has made headlines in recent months for a series of Trump-related controversies. In May, CNN contributor Kathy Griffin rocked the media after she posted an image "beheading" Trump, for which she was promptly fired.
Three journalists at CNN, including an executive editor in charge of investigations, resigned in June after publishing an article on Russia which was later retracted. Reporters wrote Congress was investigating a "Russian investment fund with ties to Trump officials," citing one anonymous source. The story was later deleted from CNN's website for failing to meet CNN's editorial standards.
Bending the truth for political gain has been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years, but use of the term "fake news" skyrocketed through social media channels following Trump’s unexpected victory in November.
The label has more recently and more commonly been co-opted by voters and like-minded politicians to reflect a distrust of the media and to undermine left-weighted news coverage.
Putnam appears to be tapping into Trump’s message, making it part of his gubernatorial campaign and perhaps hoping it will elicit the same rallying cry for grassroots conservatives in Florida as it did last year for Trump conservatives nationwide.
Responses to the tweet indicate it quickly caught the attention of those who believe Putnam is running in the wrong direction by appearing to ride Trump’s coattails.
“Adam, you are better than this,” wrote one user. “Talk about Florida & why you are best to lead it. Don't get aboard with this populist drivel & false flags.”
Other users demanded Putnam delete the tweet and instead refocus his message to put “Florida First” rather than attempting to appeal to popular political tactics.
“Take down this dopey petition and tweet out solutions that will help struggling Floridians,” wrote WFLA host Ryan Gorman. “This Trump-like nonsense doesn't solve problems.”
Other users said they wouldn’t cast their ballot for Putnam as a result of the quick, 140-character tweet.
“I used to respect you but you have gone full Trump,” wrote one user. “Forget getting my vote.”
A recent editorial in the Tampa Bay Times accused Putnam of "selling out" and "boot-licking" the National Rifle Association, slamming him as a "marionette" for the pro-gun group which routinely supports conservative candidates who support expanding gun rights.
Putnam went to bat to legalize open carry and campus carry in Florida earlier this month. Putnam, a longtime Florida politician, said he supported changing the state’s gun-free zones to allow for “responsible” permit holders to carry their firearms in places like college campuses where guns are prohibited.
“There is absolutely a pathway for Florida to get to a form of open carry,” Putnam said.
Putnam's campaign team pointed to the Legislature's support for gun rights as one reason it believed the media opposed his candidacy.
“Adam Putnam has a long-standing, unwavering commitment to protecting our 2nd amendment rights, and it will surprise no one that the media opposes that effort," Putnam spokesperson Amanda Bevis told Sunshine State News. "That's one of many reasons that public confidence in the media is at an all-time low. We are running a strong grassroots campaign and taking our message directly to the voters using all the tools that exist.”
Putnam is currently the leading and only major announced Republican candidate in the gubernatorial race, but the primary field is likely to expand.
State Sen. Jack Latvala, among those rumored to be weighing a bid for the job, said he will make an announcement in August. House Speaker Richard Corcoran is also considering a gubernatorial run, as is U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
