Crist Running Mate Explains Comparing GOP Legislature to ‘Sp-Ed’ Teaching Experience: ‘Disservice’ to Students
FORT MYERS (FLV) – In a new interview with Karla Hernandez-Mats, Democrat Charlie Crist’s running mate, she explained and walked back comments comparing being a “sp-ed” teacher dealing with a “dysfunctional” GOP state legislature.
Originally, Hernandez-Mats made the following comparison:
“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“
In an interview with WINK News, the running mate explained, saying, “I am trained in emotionally behaviorally disturbed education. It was an insult to the legislature because they are dysfunctional and they do not operate in ways that are kind to people or to the community… That population of students is actually magical and magnificent, so it’s actually a disservice to them that I compared them to dysfunctional lawmakers.”
Christina Pushaw, rapid response director for the DeSantis campaign, said her remarks “[Don’t] sound like an apology at all.”
“It is a disservice to the children that you were insulting, that is called an insult,” another said.
After reporting of her remarks and First Lady Casey DeSantis calling them out, Hernandez-Mats first doubled-down on them.
DeSantis said she was “sickened by callous words from someone who claims to be an advocate for children” in response to Hernandez-Mats’ comments. “Karla, saying children w/ unique abilities are ‘dysfunctional’ & equating them to political opponents is a new low.”
Charlie Crist’s running mate responded: “Wannabe Dictator DeSantis supports Trump who mocks the disabled, fines the Special Olympics & wants to bus Cubans to DE. As an advocate for students, parents, & teachers, I’m exceptionally qualified to deal w/ GOP legislators, except Matt Gaetz, the sex predator you all embrace.”
Fox News first reported a video of Hernandez-Mats making the comments at a campaign event in Cape Coral.
Democrat nominee for governor Charlie Crist tapped Karla Hernandez-Mats to be his running mate in August.
“Just wow. Sounds like she resented her students,” the DeSantis campaign said on Twitter in response to the video.
