Rick Scott Refuses to Debate Charlie Crist Because of a Small Fan

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: Mediaite


(File photo)

In what can only be described as the strangest debate moment in recent memory, Florida Governor Rick Scott refused to get on stage for the start of his debate with opponent Charlie Crist because of the small fan Crist brought with him to the debate stage.

No, seriously.

According to The Tampa Bay Times, minutes before the debate, Scott refused to take the stage because of the fan, saying debate rules forbid any electronic equipment on the stage. Crist wanted the fan below the podium so he could keep cool during the debate.

So the debate started out with Scott just standing on stage by himself. One of the moderators called this “an extremely peculiar situation” and told the audience exactly why Scott wouldn’t appear on stage. When he was done, the audience loudly booed.

Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/rick-scott-refuses-to-debate-charlie-crist-because-of-a-small-fan/

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[mcar]

1. Scott was petty and petulant

His crowd of Villagers shouting "it's the rules" at Crist were boorish. Scott the Medicare fraudster complaining about a little fan? What a tool.

[freshwest]

25. Love that the audience BOOED him, they know he's a coward. Why not object to mic's?

Voldemort needs to go...

[amuse bouche]

56. Charlie's fan made Scott tremble

[marshall]

53. All rules are made to be broken

Under certain conditions every rule, no matter how strict, will and should be bent if not broken.

[bravenak]

2. Douche.

[Shrike47]

3. You see, he could have had his answers written on the blades; he can read REALLY fast.

[littlemissmartypants]

27. ...

[bigdarryl]

4. Who won the debate

[olddad56]

36. I think Scot lost be default

[olddad56]

37. I think Scott lost be default

[madamvlb]

5. FANtastic

[quadrature]

6. gadgets and stuff.. allowed by the rules, or not? ...nt

[starroute]

15. A fan is not an "electronic device"

You google on that and you get "a lightweight consumer electronic device that looks like a hand-held computer but instead performs specific tasks; can serve as a diary or a personal database or a telephone or an alarm clock etc."

Or "a device having or operating with the aid of many small components, especially microchips and transistors, that control and direct an electric current."

It seems pretty clear that the debate rules were intended to exclude any device that could be used as a cheat sheet. But unless Crist's fan looked like a hand-held computer or was controlled by microchips and transistors, it didn't fall under those rules.

[SCVDem]

17. One of us had to make this point.

You beat me to it.

Nicely put BTW.

[quadrature]

24. I would not make such an assumption

a '''fan''' !?!?

only a 5 YO would be fooled

[Cleita]

7. The stoopid just gets stoopider.

What an idiot. I hope Crist takes him in a landslide.

[elleng]

8. Yes. How stoopid is the FL electorate?

[amuse bouche]

12. Polls are saying it's pretty even

with Crist only slightly ahead

[RKP5637]

77. A total WTF to me. People have screamed about the crook in office, now that they have

a chance to change that ... it's neck in neck. I guess they want the SOS!

[yeoman6987]

33. I did a search from 2006-2010

and find it so funny how differently Crist was looked at. Now for some reason he is the savior but the OPs back then were that Crist was the anti-Christ. How weird. I just can't get over it. I am voting in Florida and it makes my stomach turn.

[blkmusclmachine]

44. Crist is a Republican -- our Republican -- kind of like Obama

and that's all it takes to make nasty GOP pet legislation palatable by the DEM base, because y'know, our Republican is the lesser of 2 evils. Uh, riiight.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

63. just out of curiosity

Does that mean that you think any former republicans should not be trusted or accepted if they disassociate themselves from their former party and become indep or dem since once a republican always a republican?

[truebluegreen]

82. Depends.

Were their eyes opened, or was it a move of pure expedience? The "independent" in South Dakota is clearly the latter. Crist? Who knows.

I am suspicious of those who change simply because the GOP has become too radical; they are still Republicans. I still disagree with them and don't want them pulling our party even farther to the right. Some tents can be too big.

[yeoman6987]

86. He is running as a Democrat

Because Rick Scott was the Republican candidate. I didn't like him as Governor as a Republican and I think he is going to run the state as GOP. Was there seriously no real Democratic politician in Florida in 2014?

[Corey_Baker08]

93. No. I Don't Appreciate You Calling POTUS Barack Obama A Republican, He Is A Democrat...

He ran a very close primary race against another Democrat, Hillary Clinton, and her views are way more 'republican' than the President of the United States, Democrat Barack Obama of Illinois. While President Obama has not accomplished everything the Democratic agenda has set out to accomplish, he has faced obstruction from the US Congress that no other President in our nation's history has had to face down or try to get their agenda passed.

You can say that the President hasn't yet accomplished our liberal Democratic Agenda, but you cant convince me that President Obama is a Republican. Perhaps if the President had more support from the Democratic base such as people like you who has done none thing productive with the exception of your criticisms....

[Voice for Peace]

62. because the current governor is a hideous caricature of a human being.

Crist looks MIGHTY good next to him. Almost anybody would.

[Cleita]

66. Apparently Scott has used this tactic before.

It works for him. It makes him look foolish at first, but since the media has gone full crazy on fans, the real issues have been buried.

[Voice for Peace]

68. I'm watching a video of the debate now.. following the fan business..

Rick is even creepier than usual.. and bumbling, stumbling.
Very weak.

[RKP5637]

78. He's really a strange duck IMO, and with the fan weirdness at the

debate. He sounds like a child IMO.

[Voice for Peace]

81. Whiny.. and whenever he talked about Gov Crist, he reminded me of

[RKP5637]

84. And his responses skirted the issues by constantly prefacing them often with

his family, religion and his hardships in life. And, constantly telling people to go check facts. If people start checking facts, there is enough about this crook for any sane individual to question why they ever voted for him in the first place, if they did. I am amazed he is so high in the polls. Yet more of my WTFs.

[Yupster]

83. Famous Harry Truman quote

" Sure he's a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch."

[amuse bouche]

9. The debate was a farce from the getgo

The moderators were awful and Scott was dumb and silly

He pulled this 'no electronics' nonsense when he debated Sink, the last time around. He
flipped out over a text she received during a break. But this one with the fan took the cake

Since when is a fan considered 'electronics' ? He doesn't seem to know the difference between electric and electronics

Dead mothers, once saying their son is a 'good boy' must poll well. He said it many times

[Cha]

18. The mods didn't like Charlie taking advantage of the no show by the petulant RS. lol

"Since when is a fan considered 'electronics' ? He doesn't seem to know the difference between electric and electronics"

He was hoping no one else knew the difference!

[littlemissmartypants]

29. It's electric...

Marcia Griffiths - Electric Boogie (The Electric …:

Clearly the fan is an instrument of the devil. Promoting paranoia and psychosis in possessed politicians.

HA!

~ Lmsp 🙅

[Cha]

31. Clearly, Lmsp! Rofl

[littlemissmartypants]

32. Good times, cha.

Really good.

[Cha]

38. You have to read these.. lol

Amy Ritter ‏@amyeritter · 6m6 minutes ago
If all it takes is a fan 2 make @FLGovScott disappear, we should've brought one out a long time ago #fangate #FLGovDebate #FailRickScott

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5671915

[littlemissmartypants]

39. Great!

What if it had been a windmill?


#fangate

The tweety is so much fun.

[d_r]

10. two things

1. "So the debate started out with Scott just standing on stage by himself. " No, Crist. Crist stood on stage by himself.

2. Scott doesn't know the difference between "electric" and "electronic."

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electronic

[Cha]

20. I caught that too.. and was just about to mention it.. thanks d_r

"So the debate started out with Scott just standing on stage by himself. One of the moderators called this “an extremely peculiar situation” and told the audience exactly why Scott wouldn’t appear on stage. When he was done, the audience loudly booed."

Can't have it both ways.

[greyl]

42. Article has been corrected, thankfully. nt

[Cha]

43. Good!

[George II]

11. I guess Scott realized that HE didn't have any fans! And.....

...when did an electric fan become "an electronic device"?

[Voice for Peace]

13. I predict Crist wins the election.

[davidpdx]

51. I think you are right

Scott has showed what an asshole he is time and time again. If we GOTV Crist should win.

[OregonBlue]

14. I'm guessing Scot was wearing a wire so they could feed him answers and he was afraid the

"electronic fan" would interfere with the reception. What an idiot!!!

[blkmusclmachine]

45. George W. Bush was wired

[blkmusclmachine]

46. Pic URL http://my.firedoglake.com/phoenix/files/2012/10/Bush-2004-Debate.jpg

Comments are my own

[Eugenian]

16. EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE: Rick Scott's meltdown

[hibbing]

19. Paging EarlG

I hope hope hope EarlG is working on a Pic of the Moment about this. The absurdity of it all, and now the great liberal media I am sure will focus on this stupid fan until election day instead of presenting information on real issues.

Peace

[blkmusclmachine]

47. The only people that believe we have a "lib'rul" media are the Rush Limbaugh types.

The media are wholly owned by the 1%.

[hibbing]

55. guess I need to add the sarcasm tag

[fbc]

21. Why didn't he just remove the fan?

seems like a simple solution

[blackspade]

22. dumb ass...

It's an electrical device, not electronic.

[Archae]

23. The Freepers are ignoring this.

Understandably, it makes their chosen one look really stupid.

[supercats]

26. Scott Was Terrified To Make (More Of) A Fool Of Himself...

in this debate. Come on Florida, even you should be able to see by now how much you've been harmed by this cruel poser!!! Send Scott packing and then once he is out of office, physically beat him to within an inch of his life....he deserves it.

[NBachers]

28. Keep Rick Scott away from sharp objects and medical supplies.

[littlemissmartypants]

30. But not dangerous microbes? nt

[rocktivity]

34. Gov. Scott is going to have a VERY small NUMBER of fans after tonight!!!

rocktivity

[Mister Nightowl]

35. I totally understand why Scott would want the stage as hot as possible

I mean, just consider where he's from!

[littlemissmartypants]

40. Perfect. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

41. I must be dreaming this.

That can't possibly have really happened.

No.

[IronLionZion]

48. It's hot in Flori-DUH

and nobody wants to appear sweaty. What if they give sick rick a fan too?

The booing was priceless. Hope florida voters wise up this election.

[Justice]

49. a friend who was at the debate said people kept saying, when will someone look at the camera and say

"Live from NY, It's Saturday Night!"

It was that surreal.

Hopefully, they will spoof it this Saturday on SNL!

[davidpdx]

50. It would be awfully hard to resist spoofing

Let us know if they do. I don't get SNL over here in Korea.

[mercuryblues]

52. In Scott's

defense. He was really afraid that when he opened his mouth and the shit came spewing out. It would hit the fan and fly back at him.

[Sancho]

54. It's take a fan to work day!!

[truthisfreedom]

57. An electric fan is not an electronic device.

By definition, it's an electric device. Like a flashlight. Rick was obviously scared and looking for any way to back out.

[Enrique]

58. Scott should have stuck it out

show that he stands up for important principles like whether people use fans.

[KamaAina]

59. "Fan"? Is that what they call it down there?

Yeah, I imagine pRick's is pretty small.

[DonCoquixote]

60. This was just Rick

Hoping for an Alex Sink moment/ However, if this fan somehow could give Crist answers, then I say Crist would win by sheer genius (sarcasm)

The real reasons Scott is doing so well is because we got a bunch of hard right wing scum who are phreaking out now that some Hispanics and NON-right wing northerners are taking control, so they are sounding the alarm hoping the Koches come in and save their plantation from those scary people >

[flamingdem]

61. I hope Scott gets laughed out of office

[yellowcanine]

64. I don't get it. Why doesn't he like small supporters? What does he have against small people?

If it weren't for the small people to make up for the large people eating all the food there would be even more hungry people.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

65. Tried to slip in a charlie horse

by inserting a fan fanny fandango seeking fantastic fanfair fanaticlly straight from the horses mouth.

[Blue Owl]

67. What a hot mess

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

69. It's not so hard to see through really,

what's nuts about it is the republican agenda - it doesn't matter what the issues are-,turn it ass backward-fan-fanny.

So it was the fan that prompted scott to speak out his ass backward seeking to rally up political fanfare.

The republican agenda is zero cooperation. This was a typical party poop-er play by those republicans.

It all makes perfect sense to them.

[blackcrowflies]

70. I have IBS

The cold breeze from a fan causes, well you know what. I wouldn't laugh at Scott if this was his concern.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

71. The cold breeze of that fan since you mentioned it

may have been scotts fear since he has ice water running through his veins. The sudden temperature drop will not have been viewed as the result of that fan itself.Beings of his type fear cold exposure in the worst possible ways. It is one thing to have it said that one has ice water running through one's veins by one other. But it is a very different thing altogether when that in a fact becomes true to the average eye as seen on TV.

Now common sense will seem to dictate that the fan having to do with changing the temperature
would most likely raise it due to the release of hot air. The thing worse than that is the freezing cold chill coming out of one who has ice water running through his veins.

He came on with a typical republican stand to the tune of zero cooperation.Thinking fast on his feet eh !That is his safety net.
Which means he had to provide himself with a republican coverall. No matter what it is, blame it on them,if you created the problem ,blame it on the other side. And never admit to being a crook.

So, it was that fan. Call that the fan-fanny fandango which is the dance of ass backwardness straight out of the republican play book.

The clue is scott said he or they are not ready to come on with it so we'll wait until they are ready. That means scott came on ill prepared leaving the only option there to play out,that being reverse the blame-fan-fanny fandango coming through ass backwardness.

CNN Rebuttal

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/16/politics/cnn-debate-fangate/

[blackcrowflies]

79. Always nice to see a rational response.

[shenmue]

80. If that were the issue, ok

Wasn't aware of that.

[closeupready]

72. This silliness is an EarlG lampoon just BEGGING to be created!

[Iamthetruth]

73. Crist broke the rules

Last edited Thu Oct 16, 2014, 10:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Petty or not this is the definition of Crist, always thinking he is above the rules.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

74. Here's a bit of an eye opener for you

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/16/opinion/begala-rick-scott-fan/index.html?hpt=hp_t3




Indeed, the fan-fanny fandango

[Tommy_Carcetti]

85. You're right. I'm voting for Scott now.

Because we cannot have that sort of blatant fan abuse in my state.

[Iamthetruth]

87. I hope you don't live in Florida

I've met Crist a few times and he is the definition of a politician. He will be anything it takes to get elected. Remember he was a republican and if you think he is a different person, you're crazy. If he beats Rubio he is a republican Senator and that would have been what, his fourth, fifth elected office? I had friends who were close to his inner circle back before he became governor the first time of Florida. No way he has changed that much. Crist won't win, people in Florida are still waiting for those property tax breaks he promised last time.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

88. I do, and I would love to listen to your wonderful alternative to voting for Crist.

We get it. He's far from perfect, comes off like a politician and is a former Republican. I don't necessarily disagree.

I also don't care.

The alternative is that we get four more years of Rick Scott. Rick Scott. A guy who actually turned out to be a worse Florida governor than Jeb Bush (albeit slightly), which is something I never, ever thought possible.

As governor, Charlie Crist was imperfect but stomachable, especially in light of who preceded him and who succeeded him.

You can bet your ass I'll be voting for Charlie Crist.

[Iamthetruth]

89. I would rather have

Scott, let him destroy the Republican Party. If not, Crist will destroy the Democratic Party in four years.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

91. That's incredibly foolish and non-sensical.

You'd rather have another four years of a horrible governor who's already created irreparable damage to the state, as opposed to the alternative, because he's a former Republican and comes off as something of a slick politician.

In what world does that make any sense?

[Iamthetruth]

94. In my world

I don't dislike people because of the politics they believe in, I measure someone by their heart, intensions, honesty and accomplishments. Crist has no heart, soul or honesty, I can't vote for that.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

97. Then if it's a razor thin victory for Scott, I'm personally blaming you.

And you should already know that razor thin electoral margins and Florida are not anything that is unprecedented.

Slick politicians exist on both sides of the aisle. Better have one who will likely work with us on most of the things we want than one who will completely screw us over in ever single way.

If you are encouraging Democrats to sit out the governor's race, I'm seriously beginning to question your intentions here.

[Iamthetruth]

98. Feel free

I could care less, Crist is scum.

[Zorro]

92. You should peddle your Republican boosterism somewhere else

Scott will never destroy the Republican party in Florida. A crook and a charlatan, he is a Republican through-and-through.

[Iamthetruth]

95. I feel for you

I'm no fan of Scott, with a teacher for a brother and a cop for a brother I know full well their feelings. However I'm not some twenty something moron who does not remember all the promises of Crist from eight years ago. I know several of his friends that worked hard to put him in office the first time and watched as he turned his back on them to advance his own goals. Sorry, not for me.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

99. Well, you got your wish. Scott won.

I hope you're happy.

[armed_and_liberal]

75. Tilting at Windmills

or in this case just falling over on his face.

[RKP5637]

76. "Idiocracy" Loud and Clear! So, he was on TV this morning saying he knew

nothing about the fan, that he was told Crist was a no-show. As usual, lies and distortions, who to believe. Scott, is a perpetual fool.

[DesertDiamond]

90. Poor Ricky was so nervous he probably felt like the air from the fan was attacking him.

[yurbud]

96. that photo of Rick Scott is a little too complimentary