Top Three Takeaways – February 23rd, 2021
- Hate speech, bigotry, and division. These are the three words Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner used to describe Rush Limbaugh in her repudiation of Governor DeSantis’s order to lower flags at half-staff in honor of him. In her statement she said this: Lowering to half-staff the flag of the United States of America is a sacred honor that pays respect to fallen heroes and patriots. It is not a partisan political tool. Therefore, I will notify all state offices under my direction to disregard the Governor's forthcoming order to lower flags for Mr. Limbaugh – because we will not celebrate hate speech, bigotry, and division. Lowering the flag should always reflect unity, not division, and raising our standards, not lowering them. Our flags will remain flying high to celebrate the American values of diversity, inclusion, and respect for all. Now for me, the question which must be asked is whether she is also saying you’re a bigot, a divider and someone who engages in hate speech...should you have been a fan of Rush Limbaugh who generally agreed with his perspective? It’s a question I’ll ask her if she agrees to come on with me again. Often an issue with those who aren’t informed but are very opinionated, is that they don’t weigh the implications of who they might be insulting by proxy. Either that or Nikki really does think you’re a hate speeching, bigoted, divider and is very comfortable telling you about her opinion of you.
- Projecting. In psychology it’s defined as: unconsciously taking unwanted emotions or traits you don't like about yourself and attributing them to someone else. Could this be a case of projecting by Commissioner Fried? I feel it’s time for one of my old bigotry updates. Here’s the definition of a bigot: A person who is intolerant towards those holding different opinions. Based on her statement, how tolerant is Nikki of Rush and his supporters? I mean she could have shown the same indignance without calling him, and by proxy those who identify with him, hate speeching, biogeted dividers. Instead, she included division in her message of “unity”. There’s irony for you. I’ll report and you can decide if you think she’s projecting.
- Reality Check. Look, all elections have consequences and thus when Florida elected an attorney from Fort Lauderdale to lead the Agriculture Department it was about as natural of a fit as an attorney from Fort Lauderdale running Florida’s Agriculture Department. But here’s the reality check. How many people working in Florida’s Ag industry more closely align with Rush’s message than Commissioner Fried’s? And if ever there was a time in which it was clear that A) Her political goal isn’t really to run Florida’s Agriculture Department and B) That she’s using her office to draw attention to herself to run for governor...this would be it. And on that note, there's a clear message that can be sent by Florida’s Agriculture Department and industry about who they identify with based on where they fly their flags.
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