The latest debate between Andrew Gillum and Ron DeSantis is not important for what was said but for what wasn’t said. In a discussion between the candidates, the subject of Gillum accepting trips to New York and Costa Rico. Those same lobbyists then received a 2 million dollar grant from his administration. Gillum has steadfastly said that he paid for both vacations but has never produced a receipt showing that he paid.
Last night he danced around the subject for the most part and offered no proof for statements he did make.
The same holds true when talking about his support for Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for all plan, which is basically a single payer plan, that would end all employer paid healthcare benefits. Gillum tried to say he only wanted it for those without insurance. But he couldn’t explain how to pay for it and when it was pointed out that was not what the bill said, he just tried to change the topic. Single payer insurance is not popular in the United States.
Gillum’s Republican opponent, Ron DeSantis, responded, “You went to a Broadway show with an undercover FBI agent. You went to Costa Rica with these same lobbyists, and guess what happened. The lobbyists that wined and dined Andrew — they got a $2 million grant from the city government. To me, corruption is when you’re in a position of power, you’re getting something you shouldn’t have had. He shouldn’t have gotten the Broadway tickets, he shouldn’t have gotten the trip to Costa Rica and then you give something to someone in return. He gave $2 million to those same lobbyists.”
“First of all, I’m a grown man. My wife and I take vacations and we pay for our own vacations. I didn’t get anything in life for free. I got it by working for it, so if the congressman is suggesting that because I have friends that — I don’t choose their professions, that somehow that makes me in some way less than ethical,” the mayor replied.
DeSantis continued to press Gillum on whether or not he paid for the trip to Costa Rico or to see Hamilton in New York.
Florida has a huge decision to make. Do they want to maintain their freedom or become the People’s republic of Florid?. The number of socialists running as Democrats is a frightening thing. It would be the death of our country.