What to make of Gov. Rick Scott’s recent contretemps with Florida Hispanics, who comprised 17 percent of the electorate in 2012? Frankly, it’s an extension of second-rate staffing, a maladroit modus operandi and persistent misperceptions about Florida Hispanics. Three and a half years in, Scott still doesn’t get the fact that it’s about more than Little Havana Republicans.
Notice who it was who rallied in his behalf after Mike Fernandez, Coral Cables billionaire and co-finance chairman of the Scott re-election campaign, publicly quit amid allegations of poor Hispanic outreach as well as some insultingly, anti-Hispanic behavior by Scott staffers. The usual South Florida amigos, U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart and former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, led the way.
They haven’t forgotten that shortly after being elected, Scott pandered to the Cuban-exile community by coming out for legislation that would have prohibited Sunshine State governments from doing business with those who were doing business in Cuba. No surprise that Scott’s been supportive of the embargo, especially since Charlie Crist is now against its continued implementation.
What non-Cuban Hispanics–the Latino majority–recall is that before he was governor, Scott showed his true colors by pandering to the right wingnut crowd with his enthusiastic backing of an Arizona-esque, anti-illegal immigration bill. And Hispanics were prominent among minorities obviously targeted by the Scott Administration’s high-profile efforts at voter suppression in 2012. And, yes, they likely see through the puto role of Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera as he led the charge to blame Mike Fernandez–not Scott insiders.
But, no, it won’t help for Scott to plan another photo op with King Juan Carlos.