Charlie Crist Abruptly Ends Press Conference When Asked About Running Mate’s ‘Sp-Ed’ Comments
FLORIDA (FLV) – Democrat nominee for Florida governor Charlie Crist was asked his reaction to running mate Karla Hernandez-Mats’ comparing her experience working with children who have special needs to dealing with a dysfunctional legislature.
“We’re dealing with a serious topic right now – let’s stay on this topic and continue to be serious, thank you, ya’ll have a great day. Pray for these people,” said Crist, referring to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ move to fly illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard Wednesday.
Fox News obtained a video of Hernandez-Mats saying her experience as a “sp-ed” teacher “qualifies” her “to deal with the dysfunctional legislature” if elected Florida’s next lieutenant governor.
Hernandez-Mats made the comment at a campaign event in Cape Coral Tuesday.
“I’m a teacher, I am a sp-ed teacher, so my major was emotionally-handicapped education, okay? That by itself qualifies me to deal with the dysfunctional legislature,” Hernandez-Mats said, leading the audience to laugh and applaud.
Republicans currently make up the majority of Florida’s state legislature.
First Lady Casey DeSantis said she was “sickened” to hear Hernandez-Mats claim her experience as a special education teacher “qualifies” her “to deal with the dysfunctional legislature” if elected Florida’s next lieutenant governor.
“Last night Floridians watched in horror as Ron DeSantis took a victory lap for his actions to fly 50 Venezuelan and Columbian immigrants to Massachusetts in a move that is costing what is reported Floridians 12 million dollars,” Crist added.
When questioned by a reporter what his suggestion for the process would be, Crist initially avoided offering a solution.
“It would not be to lie to people to lure them on an airplane to a place where they don’t even know where they’re going for a reason that they don’t know why, this is not how you treat people,” he responded.
Another reporter later followed up, asking Crist if he were Governor, what specific solutions he would propose that are different than the current solutions that are being used – to which he did not directly answer.
“I wouldn’t ship them around like they’re animals – like they’re cattle. I would not do that. Ron DeSantis is willing to do that – and that’s the difference it’s pretty clear,” he said.
The reporter pressed again, “What would you have done with these migrants?”
Crist said he wouldn’t have shipped them on a plane, lied to them, and kept them in Florida – treated them humanely, given them comfort, make sure they were fed and nourished and treated them like human beings – the opposite of what DeSantis has done.
During a press conference Thursday, DeSantis said he is sending a message that Florida is not a sanctuary state.
“We’re not a sanctuary state. We don’t have benefits or any of that. There are some sanctuary jurisdictions and that would be better,” DeSantis said. “Now what would be best is for Biden to do is damn job and secure the border.”
The DeSantis Administration reportedly sent two planes as “part of the state’s relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations.” The office said the funds were pulled from the $12 million the Florida legislature provided to help transport illegal immigrants from the state.
“All those people in D.C. and New York were beating their chests when Trump was president saying they were so proud to be sanctuary jurisdictions saying how bad it was to have a secure border,” DeSantis said.
