Of course he’s a racist. That’s a badge of honor in Trump world.
2
this kangaroo court of the left finding fault with a phrase that is colloquial but harmless is typical of the "progressive" ideology
1
Leave it to the democrats to pump up this statement as being “racist,”. I guess your readers have never heard of a frequently used phrase, “monkey business” which is what the new socialist/democrat party is all about.
You're making it into something it's not. These are all reactive racists that are "hearing" racism here.
The democrat isn't getting in anyway, Florida will never vote for him, case closed.
If the first thing that comes in to your head when you hear the word 'monkey' is a black person, you have some serious issues. Sheesh.
1
Some of the comments here defend De Santis and claim he is not a racist. Here's more proof that he is - https://thinkprogress.org/florida-gop-gubernatorial-nominee-ron-desantis...
This matters, people. It doesn't mean it has to be THE issue of the campaign. It should not be, as that's not a winning strategy. But it does say a lot about De Santis. Do Floridians want this guy to lead their state?
11
It is more than apropos to recall the example that Sen. McCain set for us at his campaign rallies.
When somebody at a rally said they were afraid of President Obama because he was black, McCain said:
“He is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared as president of the United States.”
When somebody at a rally said they could not trust Obama because he was an Arab, McCain said:
“No, ma’am. He’s a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that’s what this campaign is all about.”
I imagine McCain would have set Mr. DeSantis straight.
6
Doesn't anyone else just hear a simple "slip between the tongue and the lip" resulting in a mixing "monkey with it "and "muck it up"? Maybe we should all "look for horses not zebras".
9
@DeborahPUHLEEZE! This guy is a total sleazebag. Just like Trump.
1
Oh my....will this ever end. Check out Chuck Berry’s “Too Much Monkey Businesss.” The Thought and Speech Police are in full force. God help the generations to come.
3
I was horrified at the racist tone of Mr. DeSantis remarks. He also “complimented” his opponent as articulate, as if we should not expect a person of color to be so. I bet if the opponent were a white woman, he would also have made the same kind of backhanded remark. What a bigot, appealing to other bigots. The commenter who said most people are not interested in identity politics needs to get out more. That’s all that counts now in my community, sadly. Mr. DeSantis knows exactly what he’s doing, and it just drags our country further into the mud.
3
Unless there are videos of DeSantis using "monkey" in reference to other people, which would show that "monkey" is a common expression for him, everyone should accept that DeSantis made a racial reference.
Or is anyone arguing that DeSantis is running a multi-million dollar campaign with no media consultants, message advisors, or focus-group tested statements?
3
Apparently nobody at the New York Times watches the Simpsons. It was Groundskeeper Willie who first described socialists as monkeys. "Bonjoooouuurrr, ya cheese-eatin' surrender monkeys," he said. Budget cuts at Springfield Elementary School forced him to teach French class. The phrase "surrender monkey" has been used since.
2
The aspect of "articulate" is, even though back-handed, given the rest of the DeSantis comment, a compliment. DeSantis should have used "muck it up"; but, he knew what he was implying. Nonetheless, listening to Gillum's interview on MSNBC last night, his common sense expounding about the reality of our here-and-now issues was most impressive.
5
"Racist dog whistle?!?" You have got to be kidding me... This is a racist airhorn! One would have to be willfully stupid to believe that the white conservative Southern Republican Trumpist candidate "accidentally" coined a new catch phrase without knowing full well the signal being sent.
Minus one for the ridiculously faint headline written by the Times.
5
This is about as racist as it can get. Hopefully Florida will recognize it and reject DeSantis.
1
No matter how you look at it, Mr. DeSantis is manifestly unfit to govern as a public servant. Either he is woefully clueless and doesn't know that "articulate" and "monkey" are conventional and common racial slurs. Or he is smarter than that, and is using such terms on purpose. I myself believe he knows just what he's doing. After all, he is the racist-in-chief's candidate.
1
Mr Gillum is too smart to let this be an issue in the campaign. DeSantis's equation of sensible social policies with 'socialism' (whatever he thinks that is) is what we ought to be talking about, because that's how he scares people into ignoring the flaws in the policies and characters of the Republican candidates.
1
As a Hispanic American lifelong Floridian I can assure DeSantis that I won't *Honkey* this up come November. My vote and my money go the whomever the Democratic candidate is on the ballot. I stand in solidarity with Mayor Gillum. As Dylan Thomas once wrote
"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
My RAGE will be direct at ALL THINGS REPUBLICAN! See you at the ballot honkey!
12
I have views on different parts of what DeSantis said.
First off "monkey this up" is not a common expression by any means. The closest would be something like "stop monkeying around" which is typically used to tell kids or others to stop doing something other their their assigned task.
There was no reason other than the racists "bull horn" as Mr. Gillum called the current behavior.
The other part though I have a problem with. The use of the word Articulate.
The claim is that "sometimes" some random people have used the word as an insult. That claim has arisen in the late 20th century and the man who said it was literally praising someone but members of the Black Panthers took insult to a black being called Articulate.
This is also tied to the identity politics of some black people saying other black people are not "black enough" which is usually based on the speech patterns of the accused.
The fact of the matter is, I am articulate and educated. When someone notices and compliments that, it is gratifying not insulting.
The standard of much our our poorer communities is a decided lack of speaking skills. They cannot or do not communicate using proper grammar and or English, and that is the insult. It shows they were never trained properly in school or they have no respect or interest in being part of normal society.
DeSantis statements are a mixed bag, either way I hope that Gillum wins the Governorship in Fla. That will smack the Trumpian cadre hard.
4
How about "mess this up" or "screw this up" if you want to appear harder? I have never heard the term "monkey this up" in my 42 years on Earth across conversations with people from multiple generations and multiple geographic locations.
I have spent a lot of time in Florida on vacations & Have never heard anyone use this term so it can't be easily passed of as a regional colloquialism. Let's call this what it is: clearly a racist dog whistle and to defend it as anything else is absurd and a showing of poor character by the defender.
8
I'm 80 years old, spent four years in the air force, been around the world more than once and I've never heard the term "monkey this up". I guess I was out of the loop. Oh, and by the way, I live in a racist state, Wisconsin.
4
Oh, Mr. Gillum, watch out for the Hillary Clinton 'Higher than thou' attitude.
1
Only those actively seeking to exploit racial issues for their own benefit would find "don't monkey this up" to be a pointed, racist comment. What is next with the PC language police? Don't monkey this up. Don't monkey around. Monkey shines. Monkey business. Monkey in the middle. I have heard these terms all my life and never once was there a racial aspect. Even if 100 years ago there was a racial slur implied, why does the mainstream media, led by the Times, have to go seek it out? Do you have no way to defend Gillum's clearly tax and spend agenda? Probably not, because there is no way to defend it.
2
@Paul — Step right up and defend the indefensible. On cue.
3
It is obviously irrational to not acknowledge our evolution from primates regardless of your color.
All these illogical taboos are getting on my last good nerve with their imaginary micro transgressions and intolerance surrounding gender identity and other animalistic attributes.
This author of this article mentions a “dog whistle”. and one could even do the mental gymnastics to equate this comment with sexism.
Are men more like dogs or are they just better than women at whistling? Talk amongst yourselves!
2
Dog whistle? That was no hidden racism allusion. It was as loud and clear as a pubic address on a KKK bullhorn.
7
No doubt Mr. DeSantis will offer a peace pipe of sorts noting the Mr. Gillum "Is a credit to his race."
Even if "monkeying around" wasn't intentional bait, it sure was a poor choice of words, which speaks of another poor qualification.
5
@Jus' Me, NYT
he did not say "monkeying around" which is a common phrase that has no racial connotation.
He said "monkey it up" which is not used in normal speech by anyone. It brings its own race baiting subtext.
2
Here's the full quote. "Let's build off the success we've had on Gov. Scott. The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases bankrupting the state. That is not going to work."
If you google "monkey it up" or "monkey this up" and exclude results from the last 48 hours, you get people talking about cooking pork chops, rebuilding motorcycle engines, using Excel spreadsheets, repairing a Toyota Camry, party planning, romantic relationships, the use of Allen wrenches, geocaching, jigsaw puzzles, and power lifting. NOT ONE reference to racism.
Racism, like beauty, is often in the eye of the beholder.
5
An experienced politician know what words to use. This is just another way to devide people into us verses them politics that Trumpiets wish to use to keep American fighting each other.
Personally I very tired of hearing compasion being called socialism, medical care a communist plot, and people before Corporations un-American.
4
I have never heard the phrase "monkey around" Not in the Midwest.
2
@lftash. So?
Sometimes a cigar is just a . . . cigar. The phrase "monkeying around" no more implies a genetic relationship than saying someone "swims like a fish." Get a life, people. Better yet, talk about the issues that matter.
14
@boroka right, sometimes. So when you’re getting your car repaired and have an African-American mechanic you say “don’t monkey this up!” I doubt it, because you know your words have an impact. If you do, well, that would be sad. So DeSantis is on the national stage for the first time, a seasoned politician of the order of the trump, chooses those words and you want to give him a pass? Nope, no pass. That was no cigar!
6
@boroka
Really?? Remember how Nixon played the game?
A race bating comment is an issue that matters.
@boroka — And sometimes a racist is just a racist.
"...the last thing we need to do is monkey this up, by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and [thus] bankrupting the state". That sentence was very carefully constructed to touch on the major points for his base: socialism, taxes, bankruptcy (the dire consequences thing...)
Hmm. How we gonna stick the racial thing in? Oh, yeah... Gillum will "monkey" this up.
DeSantis has been a state representative since '12, in a formerly Confederate state, that's nearly 20% black and 25% Hispanic/Latino, many of whom have black ancestry. So, there is NO excuse for using a word that was used to belittle humans, to dehumanize them, for generations. No problem with the word "fire", I love sitting in front of one, but if I yell "fire" in a cinema, I'll expect ejection.
But DeSantis isn't big on consequences. On August 24, 2017 DeSantis added a rider to 2018's proposed fiscal spending bill to cut funds for the Special Counsel investigation into Russia's interference in our election & possible Trump campaign coordination. So, apparently it's ok to DeSantis to undermine the USA, without even earning an inquiry.
But, DeSantis, as an experienced politician, your word choices DO have consequences.
Voters, say no to divisiveness in November.
9
Well that didn't take long, did it? American Conservatism is racist to its Southern core. Trump, Sessions, Rick Scott and now DeSantis are current examples of racist politicians who appeal to their racist supporters with white supremacy code words that they then deny and accuse any criticisms as "looking for racism" by Liberals. This Florida governors race will be one of the most racist campaigns in American history.
11
On September 3, 2008, candidate Barak Obama said, "It's not as if just republicans who have monkeyed around with elections in the past. Sometimes Democrats have, too." Both his and DeSantis's use of the verb are synonymous with tamper with, fiddle with, meddle with, and tinker with."
17
@Meg ... Not the same usage at all!
11
Is “monkey up” even a phrase? I have never heard it. I’ve been heard of monkeying (playing) around, having a monkey on your back (a drug addiction), and grinding things to a halt by throwing a monkey wrench into the works. Is “monkey up” a variation on the monkey wrench theme that I’ve just never heard? Or is this guy just a typical Trumpie who has mastered being simultaneously offensive and verbally nonsensical?
11
You should have used a phrase other than "racist dog whistle" in describing Trump-supporter Ron DeSantis' statement about Florida voters not "monkeying things up" by voting for Andrew Gillum. As Donald Trump made clear when he recently disparaged Omarosa Manigault Newman, using the word "dog" when referring to someone who is black is itself racist. So the phrase "racist dog whistle" in this article is inappropriate and redundant. And also unnecessarily repetitive.
Don't you just hate it when someone abuses you and when called out for it they say "I was just kidding" or "that's not what I meant" The answer is in how do you feel when they say it to you.
6
It was a power move. A neuro-linguistic equivalent to microaggression, though not so subtle, "southern strategy" style. Anyone who says otherwise is either lying or ignorant.
11
You know it’s bad when even Fox disassociates itself from such an expression.
9
John McCain may have not been a hero to many people, but his passing this past Saturday ought to remind us that he ran for President against a black candidate, and he might have rallied whites to win the race had he resorted to racist dog whistles, innuendoes and racist codes.
But McCain would have rather lose the campaign for our highest office than stoop to the kind of stupid dog whistles as Rep. Ron DeSantis, a Harvard and Yale graduate from recent immigrants, as they say, “without papers,” some who used their hands for punctuating and signifying speech in English. DeSantis is not even close to belonging in the same class, in every sense of the word, as John F. Kennedy, Prescott Bush, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or Barack Obama.
One wishes in vain that Andrew Gillum was running against a John McCain, someone who understood our history of white racism enough not to exploit its evil politics, and that Gillum, alas, was a black Republican. But he isn’t. So he may well lose the election. And DeSantis hopefully will lose the next primary to a John McCain Republican.
While the term “monkey” can be racist and insulting, the phrase that DeSantis used, standing alone, absolutely is not racist. Look it up.
https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/12/16/monkey-business-and-other...
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monkey%20with
So it’s a matter of context. DeSantis’ comment seems to be more directed at Florida voters, not his opponent. In that context, his comments don’t seem racist. But definitely a poor choice of words.
9
@My view Let me guess, you are a white male in a southern state?
1
@My view
nothing in those links address someone saying "monkey it up" much less to a black opponent.
2
Barack Obama warned supporters that politicians had “monkeyed around” with elections, during a campaign speech at Kent State University in New Philadelphia, Ohio, on September 3, 2008.
Then-Senator Obama (D-IL) said “I come from Chicago. It’s not as if it’s just Republicans who have monkeyed around with elections in the past. Sometimes Democrats have, too. You know, whenever people are in power, they have this tendency to try to tilt things in their direction.”
9
The “elite” candidate (Yale, Harvard)! So disappointing.
1
Funny how the people who are defending this person's words are the same people who got their knickers in a twist when Bill Maher said Trump's father was an orange orangutan. Trump even sued Maher and presented his birth certificate in court. Sometimes it is not what is said but it is the source that offends people.
5
I admit I thought "dog whistle" before "racist slur" when I first heard the comment, and those who have outvoted me have convinced me. But you know what? I think we're all overreacting. When Gillum was asked if he was going to demand an apology, he was adult enough to say only that he hoped DeSantis was "better than this," expressed remorse that Trump is the candidate's mentor, and moved on to deal with real issues. I wish all of us would follow Gillum's example.
4
Next, DeSantis going to ask for Mr. Gilliam's birth certificate.
5
Well I know I'm supporting the man who shares my values, not my skin tone. I'm so sick of ignorant and arrogant people like Ron DeSantis disgracing people of European descent like me. Please vote for Andrew Gillum Floridians.
5
No one typically uses this "monkey" reference in common speech so it was obviously intentional and racist
5
@M.R. Khan Obama did as a candidate in 2008.
Trying to hide your racist remarks indicate you know how wrong they are in the first place, but this was clearly a call to the racist right.
4
The apologists are distorting what DeSantis said. He didn't say "monkeying around," which is somewhat in common usage. He said "monkey it up," which is not in common usage and clearly racist. I suspect we are in for a very nasty campaign.
13
I won't even call it a dog whistle. All these "code words" are explicit in their meaning to degrade non whites. DeSantis use of the word "monkey" was intentional and racist, plain and simple. Everyone knows exactly what he and Trump mean when they use such words.
Could the word "dog" be far behind in DeSantis' reference to his opponent?
7
Sorry, but this is why Democrats lose elections. It's clear DeSantis was referring to Gillum's policies, not Gillum himself. Not everything is about race and racism, and Democrats' obsession with identity politics is becoming suffocating and repulsive. Is racism a problem? Absolutely. But crying "racist!" at a white politician when he criticizes the policies of his political opponent, who happens to be black, is counterproductive and frankly dangerous. It's this kind of "shoot from the hip" reaction that is polarizing American politics. Republicans are just as guilty. But on this one, sorry Democrats, you have gone too far.
9
@Jon I'm a Democrat and I have to agree. Use of this expression is not clearly racist and I'm disheartened that the focus for this political race could be sidetracked so early in the game.
5
Cong. De Santis's reference to "monkey" was probably not meant to insult, hurt the feelings of African Americans but did , I am sure, nonetheless.But the careless use of words--recall that in addition to having degrees from Yale and Harvard, De Santis was also a soldier, saw combat in Iraq, and is no doubt used to rough speech--was inexcusable, and he should apologize, then less said quicker mended, if that's possible!No coming back from hurt feelings!Most voters will forgive him and move on, but his basic message , that Trump economics is working, that we r in a period of prosperity, perhaps in part due to Obama, but mainly to Trump, is increasingly well received. Latest stats seem to show that over 90 percent of "les classes laborieuses"favor The Donald, and it is hard to imagine that confused voices of Democrat politicians praising socialism will have the desired resonance come November. People admire those who r financially successful, and many folks of color look at Trump and what he has accomplished and say, "I want to be like him!"Charges of sexism, of illicit deals with Putin,of not paying one's income taxes have little resonance for those who r not looking for a hand out but a hand up. Dems. should not take votes of its traditional supporters for granted. Hunch that De Santis will win in a "ras de maree!"
2
Yale undergrad. Harvard law. And he doesn't choose words carefully? He just jabbers?
Right.
7
As everything surrounding Trump his defenders can find no fault and his foes see only evil . However, those defending DeSantis might want to consider that while there are many expressions with reference to monkeys, "monkey this up" is not one of them. This is an odd and distinctive phrase and it is highly improbable it was not thoroughly thought out before he spoke.
4
The furor about the use of the word " monkey " and it's supposed reference to African - Americans is rather insulting in itself. Perhaps the individuals making all the fuss are the ones that are casting a rather derogatory aura over the African - America community.
2
The most important issue facing Florida right now is a toxic algae bloom that has lingered here since november .
Mr DeSantis is responsible due to his voting record :
http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/ron-desantis
" Good luck and Good night ",the late great Edward R Murrow.
4
"Monkeying around" is a synonym for playing with something while troubleshooting. You monkey around with a car engine. You monkey with a broken broom handle until you can get it back together. Or, you simply play around with something with no end goal.
DeSantis has not used the phrase in any way in the constructive sense - monkey this up in this context is clearly a racial slur. Yes, it can have a certain meaning in some contexts, but he did not intend the meaning he's now pretending he did.
If this is are starting point, where will we end up by Nov 6th?
6
He may claim this was a simple extemporaneous turn of phrase with no forethought, and dome will believe him. But if you have seen his weird Florida campaign ads, there is no doubt in my mind this was a planned, staged, practiced dog whistle to the unwashed he is their man and white extinction is what is at stake.
5
Att: Candidates of all or any parties
Be careful what you say. Avoid the possibility of damaging subtexts!
1
Being neither black nor white and neither Democrat nor Republican, I'm going to weigh in and say the phrase "monkey this up" is indisputably racist in this context.
There. I cleared it up for you. It's racist.
33
@William Fang
I have myself heard ''money with'' and ''monkey around with'' from the Southern Appalachians to the temperate zone east of the Mississippi, including college campuses.
I heard it on television, usually a bastion of General American dialect, throughout the 1960's and 70's.
Noticing the bias in one's heart is key to truly knowing oneself.
1
"monkey it up" - racist
"articulate spokesman"- not so much
3
@bobw
The "articulate" is more subtle, but it's often been used condescendingly about blacks. It implies that it's surprising a black person could speak so well.
1
And the Republicans win again as the discussion shifts from policy to fake outrage over something that was clearly not racial.
8
@Matthew Really?? Well if it’s not racist - which I believe it is - then De Santis is very much unaware of its connotation.
He’s from Florida. He knows.
4
I wonder how DeSantis, of Italian descent, would react if his opposing candidate had remarked that voters should not "Guido this up" by electing him to be Florida's next governor. Not well, I suspect. Not well at all.
23
Being a black American and having to deal with these types images and turning normal words in dangerous stereotypes.
Taking into consideration his links to Trump it is hard to believe that he was an intentional mistake.
Our country is in an odd place at the moment. It has become expected behavior of the President of the United States to openly express his prejudice against people of color.
I am just amazed. The challenge is how do we explain this to our children.
12
This is a perfect statement of what the 2018 elections are all about: enlightened democratic (small d, as in this is a democracy) values vs. the racist and xenophobic radical right.
The voters will decide. God help us if they chose the wrong path.
17
When I was growing up my father often told us kids "don't monkey with it" or "stop monkeying around." The clear reference was to comedic movies and silly photos where monkeys were turning things upside down and breaking things and causing chaos...often in scientific laboratories. Monkeys were thought to be mischievous and destructive and funny. It had absolutely nothing to do with race.
7
@rpe123 You’re from Florida and have never heard of monkey as a racial pejorative...I don’t think so.
2
@rpe123 "Monkey" is not the issue here.
Per many paper & online dictionaries of repute, to "monkey with" or to "monkey around" is to "play or trifly idly, to waste time".
Both are phrases, idioms, & each phrase requires both words to reflect the definition.
To "monkey this up" is also a phrase, an idiom, but it is unrelated to "monkey with" & "monkey around".
I found it in just one any of the many paper or online dictionaries I consulted, since it is a derogatory slang expression, & since it "is a blatant example of a 'dog whistle'", per today's online tweet by Dictionary.com.
2
Monkey up, an expression I’ve never heard in my 64 yrs, or monkey around, an expression that has become less commonly used, makes little sense in the context intended. Desantis is testing the waters to see what he can get away with
25
The fact that Mr. DeSantis, a Harvard educated navy veteran, uses such racially-charged words shows that academic education alone is not enough to heal racism. You need moral education too.
18
@Thomas I guess he learned how carefully pick his words.
1
Pretty simple to determine.
Has he ever used that expression in a speech or interview?
My guess? No.
Has he "complimented" anyone as "articulate?"
My guess? No.
Keep listening. no matter how hard he tries these will not be his last racist, superiority and patronizing comments.
I hope some astute real reporter asks the president if he thinks the comments were "ok"
19
One simple test to see if this is a deliberate dog whistle is to check, in all of DeSantis previously recorded public speeches and interviews. Whether If he has used the term “monkey this up” to describe any of his white opponent’s actions.
14
The responses to this article are, for the most part, absurd. There are a number of monkey related sayings. They may be unfair to monkeys (yeah, just what the world needs, more “victims”) but they have nothing, repeat nothing to do with human beings. They are just expressions and include monkey shines, monkey business, monkey wrench, the list goes on forever. None of these have anything to do with black human beings except in the minds of those who look for offense at every turn.
4
The answer is simple... don't vote for DeSantis... or any other republican. But that doesn't mean give the democrats a free run. Stay involved in the politics of this country, of "YOUR" country. It is every person's duty to be involved in this nations democracy.
10
All the Democrats have to do in FL is run DeSantis' campaign add, which glorifies trump and has no message how he would govern. And along with it run his racist remark about his opponent. It's pretty clear who this guy is.
9
For those decrying the condemnation of the republican’s use of monkey, perhaps you might want to consider the context in which he used it. He wasn’t speaking about his daughter, granddaughter, niece, sweetheart. This word is loaded and the speaker was well aware of that. There are many, many words far better suited for describing the situation he was describing.
13
Well " monkey" did not operate as " a racist dog whistle " in the past. But now it does and most of us are aware of this. It is not perceived as harmless or innocent nowadays when white people utter the word " monkey " or any monkey phrases such as " Quit acting like monkeys !" in the vicinity of or about black people. A white parent may see this as race neutral when aimed at the back seat. I have myself said it to my own offspring. As teachers we've been informed that this is a hot button word and that you will be reprimanded for using it at work.
So if we know that a word is hurtful or causes anger we should be decent and avoid it. If we truly did not know believe me someone will tell us. Mr. DeSantis now knows if he did not already. He should apologize. And if he can truly plead ignorance he could mention that. Gillum seems quite dignified and will possibly find it within himself to be graceful this time.
7
Duh. Of course he knew what he was saying. It is utter nonsense to say that he was unaware that " monkey" is a disparaging word when used in reference toward anyone African American. If he claims that was "unintentional" then I would ask what cave he's been living in for the last 50 years. Spare me. I'm white but over 90% of my students are people of color. Teachers work hard to use inclusive language and to learn how hurtful certain diction can be. Surprise! Students don't learn well when they feel disparaged by phrases like, "monkey this up." If I told my students not to "monkey this up" they would be appalled and angry, because they would recognize that for the insensitive (at best) and deliberately racist (realistically) this phrase really is. If the GOP has candidates who plan to appeal to Black or Latino voters they better learn how NOT to act and speak like racists do. Because you know, when they speak like this I assume they ARE racist. Most likely because they are.
9
I have often used the term "monkey business " which means "mischievous or deceitful behavior" and I have on occasion used a monkey wrench, not realizing I was casting myself as a racist. PC has gone way too far.
4
@Aaron Adams This isn't about your garage. It's about a choreographed moment broadcast widely.
3
@Aaron Adams Those terms are NOT racist...only when used to describe an African American. Regardless if he misspoke...I want highly intelligent and qualified people running the Governments...not slackers or people that lack class and decency.
In my work, I often say variations on the expression, “Let’s not monkey around on this one,” with regard to situations that I feel need to be taken seriously. I also use the expression “throwing a monkey wrench into the situation.” I’m white and I work with diverse people and many POC. I don’t think anyone ever misinterpreted me because I think/hope the context is always clear.
I understand that this was directed at a black man and I’m mindful of disgusting slurs such as Rosanne Barr’s toward Valerie Jarret, but I think this specific instance might be different. I’m hesitant to immediately identify this as pure racism. Sadly, DeSantis is aligned with Trump, who I do believe is a racist, and regrettably that makes you wonder his true intentions.
19
@Matt T So at your work, with a diverse group, when speaking to a black person about a project, you would choose the words “don’t monkey this up” to convey how important you think the project is?? DeSantis is a seasoned politician used to public speaking which generally requires knowing your audience and choosing words carefully. I certainly understood the context and got the message.
I’m an old white guy too, and I know what he was doing, he learned it from the master...trump.
2
@Matt T It might be plausible to discount either the “monkey it up” or the “articulate” description as an unfortunate but accidental slip up, but when used together, I’d say they paint a pretty clear picture.
2
Parkland students have a lot of work to do to defeat this dangerous man. Hopefully his own words will help boost their efforts. Florida needs to go back to BLUE and turn away the RED that has infested their politics and their waters.
57
Both DeSantis and Roseanne Barr have put their proverbial foot in their mouths and swallowed It. To be unaware of Roseanne Barr's recent insulting and racially insensitive remarks while running for a public office is, frankly, unbelievable. Therefore, I'm left with three plausible explanations for the remarks by DeSantis.
1. He pays no attention to current events and their impact on a sizeable percentage of the population he wants to represent. If that's the case, he shouldn't be running for the governor's office.
2. He pays attention but doesn't care about the repercussions of his statements. If that's the case, see #1 above.
3. He's aware of the fact that his words were offensive to many of his potential constituents and will be issuing an apology. However, since his press release demonstrates no sense of remorse or regret, that probably isn't going to happen. And, if it comes later, it probably is less than sincere. So, again, see #1 above.
I'm not black so I don't know for certain how my words will be interpreted by people of that race. However, if I believe they may be offensive, I wouldn't use them. In other words, I use something called common sense and common decency. Both seem to be in short supply these days....starting in the Oval Office.
80
@Tom Q Allow me to suggest a third possibility, DeSantis purposely made that comment as a signal to supporters that he won't allow himself to be pushed around by the PC police. In other words, he's their Donald Trump and the rules don't apply to him. Democrats are playing into his game by directly call him out on this comment. Instead they should be a bit smarter and criticize him for sending signals to white nationalist groups that "he's their man".
10
I couldn't have said it better this remark by Desantis was uncalled for he is a professional and he knew what he was saying disgraceful
I must say that our ‘post racial’ times have taught me much about how people are excluded. Even over the phone I have gotten comments about how well spoken I am, or that I am articulate for someone whose last name is Chinese. My only accent I assume is what I have from growing up in SoCal, and my only written errors are greatly helped by auto-correct. I never thought I was being excluded or my intelligence was in question only that I hid my accented English well. But I have gotten better at reading intent recently. And am shocked at how often I have been ignorant of the blade these phrases hide. Using ‘Monkey’ is so blatantly racist, but ‘articulate’ too? Like the experience of the gentleman at the Starbucks. My motherly advice would have been to buy something, anything, even if you didn’t want or need more than to use the bathroom or a place to meet someone. But now I know that advice is something only children of color are told growing up and it makes me sad. If Mr. Gilliam is a bad politician or was a rotten mayor, so be it. Don’t vote for him. But if all you know is his race and that is why you don’t vote for him, shame on you for depriving us his leadership and his talents. Your unfounded hatred has impoverished us all.
49
@Janet Woo It’s not about his race Janet, it’s about racism. Using monkey as a noun, verb or adjective regarding a person of color - especially in the South - is insensitive at best but likely a dog whistle.
It’s especially egregious coming from a political candidate; a person who spends most of their time considering, shaping and deciding on their ‘message’.
2
Let me fix that photo's caption: "His comments about Gillian in a interview were recognized as racist dog whistles by observers."
Watch what you're doing. Call it out rather than feeding the partisan monster. This isn't partisan and it's not anyone's mere suspicion.
13
In honor of Trump, and to all those who share his views, ala Ron DeSantis, why can't the GOP just get it over with and change their name to the GOR, Grand Old Racists. It would at least, if nothing else, be more accurate and truthful.
And to those of you planning on voting Republican this November, let me just say I never knew how many racists there were in this country and how many of them had infiltrated the Republican so thoroughly until I became aware of the likes of Sessions, and DeSantis, and so many others. Trump better be careful with Sessions though or some of his vaunted base might think he's not as racist as he should be.
22
I really hope the people of Florida won't elect this DeSantis clown, but I'm not holding my breath.
20
DeSantis has degrees from Harvard and Yale, and has spent many years in public life. He did not just fall off the turnip truck. His elocution extemporaneous speaking skills are refined by both education and experience. This was not a slip of the tongue. He said it on purpose to get the racists to the polls, and to the polls they will go. I just hope it gets the rest of us out to the polls, too.
70
@LL
Perhaps you could really should get to know what you speak about first?
Florida elections are always competitive. And [Gillum] is a guy who, although he is much too liberal for Florida, I think he's got huge problems with how he's governed Tallahassee. He is an articulate spokesman for those far-left views and he's a charismatic candidate. And I watched those Democrat debates, none of that was my cup of tea but, I mean, he performed better than the other people there. So, we've got to work hard to make sure that we continue, Florida, going in a good direction. Let's build off the success of we've had [under] Governor Scott. The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state. That is not going to work. That's not gonna be good for Florida.
1
You're right. It was deliberate. Crude and disgusting, like the commercial in which his children are building a wall.
4
Here is what DeSantis actually did say:
Florida elections are always competitive, and this is a guy who, although he’s much too liberal for Florida, I think he’s got huge problems with how he’s governed Tallahassee, he is an articulate spokesman for those far-left views, and he’s a charismatic candidate.
I watched those Democrat debates, and none of that is my cup of tea, but he performed better than those other people there.
So we’ve got to work hard to make sure that we continue Florida going in a good direction, let’s build off the success we’ve had on Governor Scott, the last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state.
That’s not going to work.
The politicized news media will stay on this word as long as it can because false accusations of racism are literally ALL the progressives have in this race.
Oops! That word ''race.'' There I said it!!
Izzat CNN on the phone?
4
@L'osservatore Thanks for the print-out, didn't realize he got the word monkey and socialist in the same sentence. Pretty smooth actually.
From Miriam Webster:
“Definition of monkey around
informal
: to do things that are not useful or serious : to waste time We just monkeyed around all afternoon. a young scientist monkeying around in the lab”
No one has heard the phrase “quit monkeying around?” Or perhaps any variation of it? Why is it that the word “monkey” can no longer be used without someone taking offense? Isn’t it racist for someone to assume that the use of the word always refers to a person of African American descent? DIdnt people call George W Bush a monkey because he had big ears? It’s probably also racist to think it wasn’t offensive to him because he is white.
It’s quite a stretch, making this out to be an issue of race...
12
@Megan
ok, I'll bite: that's not what he said. He said - monkey up; English is a delightful language that uses prepositions in a number of ways to create meaning - not the same meaning, different meanings; 'get in', for example, does not mean the same as 'get out' - no one fluent in the language would ever confuse the two. 'Monkey around' and 'monkey up' don't mean the same thing, dear, back to the dictionary (spelled Merriam, btw) with you.
12
Uh, he didn’t say “monkey around” — but even if he had, what politician uses that word to describe anything, much less the opponent’s policies?
1
@Charon Leber, thank you! I've seen multiple similarly worded objections from people who are simply clueless. Beautiful explanation. I'm in my 60s and have never heard the expression "monkey up." It's definitely a veiled hint for "Don't vote for the black guy."
3
After decades of democrats labeling republican opponents as racists in order to divide the electorate and win elections the term has lost its meaning. The fact that the Gillum supporters have so quickly labeled Mr. Desantis a racist for such a benign comment is testament to their total lack of an agenda that could carry them to victory. We can expect a replay of the Obama years when every criticism of Mr. Gillum is labeled racist. Unfortunately for democrats that old dog ain’t gonna hunt anymore. Try as he might to devolve the election into a discussion of racism all while asserting that Mr. Desantis is party to it Mr. Gillum will not be able to avoid discussing and defending his socialist agenda. Given the fact that even the democrat hierarchy in Florida did not believe he could mount a plausible defense it’s clear that that should be handily defeated. That prospect insures that for the next three months Floridians will be bombarded with accusations of racism from the socialists supporting Gillum.
7
It is simple. Trump is a racist. DeSantis is a racist. He needs the MAGA-head racist base to come out of the swamp and vote for him. We will see more and more of this as we move toward November.
29
"The anchor who conducted the interview with Mr. DeSantis, Sandra Smith, said on air later in the day that Fox “does not condone” the language the Republican candidate used."
Even Fox News admits that this was a racist comment.
41
What’s that saying? Something about a fish stinks ...
8
Racist shouts are par for the course for Trumpeters.
The Republican wannbe-governor should now tell the voter what “it” is that his democratic opponent can “monkey up” ( mess up?)....Is it a neo-southern strategy with backward views and injustice laws? Sounds awfully familiar, Circa 1950’s!
8
@SenDanFlorida elections are always competitive. And [Gillum] is a guy who, although he is much too liberal for Florida, I think he's got huge problems with how he's governed Tallahassee. He is an articulate spokesman for those far-left views and he's a charismatic candidate. And I watched those Democrat debates, none of that was my cup of tea but, I mean, he performed better than the other people there. So, we've got to work hard to make sure that we continue, Florida, going in a good direction. Let's build off the success of we've had [under] Governor Scott. The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state. That is not going to work. That's not gonna be good for Florida.
Boy, has that dog whistle turned into a loudspeaker.
11
A “dog whistle?” Seriously? “Monkey this up” is about as subtle as a George Wallace pick handle. This is no dog whistle, this is the raw, ugly sound of 1950’s racism.
24
Well then. It is settled and confirmed. The party of Greed Over People, Donald Trump, CEO, is racist and foments racist hate. And Trump, in failing to condemn "blood and soil" is the chief instigator.
Good job, DeSantis, good job.
11
He fumbled a common expression and the chattersphere jumps all over him. Those of us who prefer debate on the important issues are so tired of this knee-jerk reaction to declare someone racist, sexist, xenophobic, or whatever, especially when someone is speaking extemporaneously. If he had a repeated habit of this type of thing, that'd be different, but losing one's mind over a one-time flub just makes it look like the 'referees' are biased.
6
@Strunk and White "A common expression"?! Not among decent human beings… .
@Strunk and White. What is the “common expression” he “fumbled”? Serious question. I’ve never heard the expression “monkey [this] up.”
1
@Strunk and White If racial slurs come so easily to the man, chances are it's not a one-time thing.
There is no limit to how despicable Republicans are these days. That remark was so openly racist.There is no defending it or justify it. Republicans and conservatives have been Trumpefied, thru and thru.
20
It was an ignorant comment at best and likely meant to be divisive. It is up to Florida voters to show they are better than and above this.
9
Playing devil's advocate, if he didn't mean it in a racist way (c'mon really?) then he's already demonstrated at the very least poor judgement or lack of forethought...sound familiar? I want my elected leaders to be Rhode Scholars and Harvard graduates, not slack-jawed yokels...
8
@Brian
DeSantis is a Harvard graduate. Yale, too.
This wasn’t an accident.
3
Contrary to what some commenters are saying, that’s just not a normal turn of phrase. Have you ever said that? It sounds flatly racist to me.
20
Dear Michelle,
When do we stop going high?
19
Here it comes, post-Trump dog whistling.
The practice, pre-Trump, was getting abstract ("food stamps" and "states rights"). Trump changed course. Voters who found abstract race whistling too difficult to decode love him for this. He sticks it in your face, rather than slip it in slyly. So now what?
Georgia's and Florida's governor races will be test cases. Black candidates whose policies are probably those a majority would prefer, and white candidates who know they can draw on regional racial animosities.
To call Gillum's politics "monkey" tells us where we begin. Reagan referred to "welfare queens," language of the '70s. Trump's racism is both new age and 19th century. DeSantis splits the difference, returning to 1920. That's when black face was big, with the monkey metaphor. When signs said "No dogs Negros Mexicans", when physical contact between whites and blacks was abhorred. Expect Gillum's ads to use interracial images to stir fear. Rap will be used, as jazz was in the '20s, to imply a black candidate's decadence.
We've got to expose it.
11
"Monkey up" is NOT a common expression. This is racism, pure and simple. So egregious that even Fox News had to call it out.
24
Lets start a running countdown on how many days a Trumpster does NOT make a racist comment. THIS guy: Zero days . Seriously.
12
A racist associated with Donald Trump? No way. I can't believe it!
7
Precisely what anyone may expect from a Trump wannabe.
12
Blatant racism. Should draw criticism and censure from everyone. I don't believe it was a faux pas. It's typical Trump Camp trash talk. If I was a Floridian, I would vote for Andrew Gillum, based on just that. DeSantis served in the Navy, wonderful, but not a good example of a leader. Sorry, pal. And to think I even voted for Trump. Duh!
14
No dog whistle this. He just came out and said what he thinks and what a lot of Floridians think and would say if they could get away with it. The depravity of the republican party...
18
Hillary was right; DEPLORABLE!
18
Thank you, DJT, for making public racism so facile. Since DeSantis is your lackey, it's no surprise to see your ventriloquist act as part of DeSantis' campaign. At least Fox acknowledges they don't condone this language. Why should anyone?!
10
This comment is exactly what it was intended to be. Please Florida, don't let it work.
22
Gillum is black. That's a fact, not a whistle or whisper.
What DeSantis did is a bold in your face statement of racism.
20
I find it fascinating that Republicans bash "socialists" even as their party embraces Vladimir Putin.
16
"Monkey this up" has never been a phrase to describe anything. Until now. At best, it is an example of idiocy in new governance. At worst, it is a blatant racist insult. Even if he did not intend to offend, the result is an offense to decency. Words matter. To those seeking high office, and insist that we speak English, please try harder to express yourselves!
21
All the comments saying "monkey (insert rest of phrase here)...." is a common term. Maybe, until you use it in the context of the African- American candidate your running against. Then it is racist.
9
This isn't a dog whistle.
Talking about "inner cities" is a dog whistle.
This is straight-up racist rhetoric from the 19th century.
15
Don’t think for a minute this Harvard man didn’t know what he was saying.
13
Here’s some things Florida constituents should know about DeSantis:
He voted against the Veterans Equal Access Amendment to give vets medical marijuana, denounces Planned Parenthood, voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, opposes federal education programs, opposes the Iran nuclear deal, opposes gun control, opposes ACA, opposes DACA, has voted for anti-gay policies
And he also:
1. proposed an amendment to halt funding for Mueller's SC investigation
2. was on House Intelligence Committee, and voted to release a classified memo authored by Republicans on the committee which purported to show that the FBI abused its surveillance powers in the Russia investigation
3. called on FBI Director Christopher Wray to criminally investigate a number of officials involved in investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election: FBI Director James Comey, former Acting Director of the FBI Andrew McCabe, FBI Agent Peter Strzok and FBI Counsel Lisa Page and investigations of a number of former Obama officials, including Loretta Lynch and Hillary Clinton.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_DeSantis
13
Wow. Right outta the gate...
8
Is Rob DeSantis racist? I have no idea and based on this quote neither does anyone else.
4
When someone kicks off a general election campaign with "monkey" and "articulate," he's just shown voters the caliber of his mind and spirit. That's all he has? Pathetic. No policies, no ideals, just ignorant prejudice. I bet in addition to whistling up the reliable dogs, he repelled a good number of Florida Republicans who might otherwise have been sure votes.
14
I'm sure that President Pariah is proud of his "Mini-me" DeSantis. The next ten weeks will be godawful.
10
Dog whistle? Thats a megaphone. It doesn't get any more blatantly racist. They're not even pretending anymore.
16
I simply read the headline and that was the first thing I thought....this guy’s starting out this race as a racist. All the loonies think they can come out from under their rocks now and pedal this stuff because of the loon in the White House.And I’m a white happily FORMER republican. Can’t wait for November.
20
It’s not a dog whistle
2
Do you people not learn? You had a candidate in 2016 who threw out dog whistles on a second-by-second basis. Not even whistles, in fact, he shouted them through a megaphone. The left went crazy.
They lost. The whistler won.
Now you’re doing it again. Here is an unpalatable fact: some people care more about jobs, taxes, pensions, houses and safety then they do about identity, colour, gender - whatever. Policies, people, policies. Don’t try and scrape through by just highlighting someone’s unsuitability - you tried that last time and lost. Sorry.
And anyway: “Monkey: Verb (used without object), Informal: To play or trifle idly, fool (often followed by around or with).” Dictionary.com, definition 10.
Never used “monkeying around”? “Slowly slowly catchy monkey”? “Don’t monkey with Broadway”? “Don’t monkey with another monkeys monkey”? “Don’t monkey with me”? “Don’t monkey around with drugs”?
1
Are you pretending he said one of the things you list? He didn't. He said, "monkey this up."
3
Wonderful to see comments allowed on this story which requires no additional comments. The story tells it all it is succinct and to the point. Which side are you on?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh86h92PrH0
2
Before jumping to final conclusion reread the late Philip Roth's "The Human Stain".
1
@Sean
I have. What is your point?
1
The real test will be if Gillum can raise enough money to answer all the negative ads DeSantis is going to run on TV. Trump had better hope he has not been arrested before the election
3
There's an online survey company SurveyMonkey. They are probably best suited to arbitrate this argument.
5
The funny thing is, I don’t even seriously think Trump is actually racist. I do think he is highly prejudiced against poor people though. He definitely has no problem associating with non-whites, if they are rich enough. I think the only reason he associates with racists is strictly to be controversial and therefore possesses the attention of the media. The day Trump is out of their attention is the day he loses all his identity and relevance. What’s interesting is he only wants attention no matter what it costs his reputation. Fascinating.
4
Merriam-Webster definition...
Definition of monkey with
informal
: to handle or play with (something) in a careless way : to monkey around with (something) I told you not to monkey with the lawn mower.
5
@rpe123
Depends on context, there is a long history of associating people of recent african ancestry (everybody on earth is of african ancestry) with monkeys, a reference to inferior humans. Funny thing is almost all monkeys have white skin and are extremely intelligent, the greater apes intelligent by human standards.
6
“The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state...”
This is pure politics. It’s a common phrase. Nothing dog whistle about the way it was used in this context. You’re trying to make something out of nothing. This isn’t going to convince independent or undecided voters to vote for Gillum. If Gillum can’t defend his platform and goes straight to claiming racism, he’s a lost cause.
In New York, the socialists claimed criticizing the personal financial disarray of a black candidate for lieutenant governor was a dog whistle. Given the guy earned six figures as a city council member for the past decade, that racism claim fell flat.
9
It was deliberate. And it was racist.
Having said that, the Democrats are taking the bait. They are being led down the path of playing the race card. It is designed to marginalize the Democrats. They better wake up, put together a set of policy proposals to help hard working Americans, craft a winning message soon (and a winning candidate).
8
@AP917
Look at Andrew Gillums history .It is the reason he won yesterday and had very little to do with the race card
at least for me .I'm 63 and white .
His plans are essential for the possible change that
desperately needs to take place here in Florida .
GO ANDREW !
2
Certainly glad to have cancelled that Florida trip that I had booked for January. Between the many guns and the laws that protect shooters, it does not seem a safe place to relax. And now this blatant racism that is intolerable to the more enlightened and human of us who, regrettably, are the same ‘shade’ as the racists. Hope the Florida tourism industry does not need my few thousand dollars.
9
@Dee
Most importantly is the toxic algae bloom on the west coast that appears to be moving east courtesy of
big agriculture .
I would cancel as well only I have to live here
less than 20min to siesta key .yup, the beach voted as
one of the top beaches in the world .A terrible mess
of death and destruction .Book your vacation with
alot of research .
2
"DeSantis Warns Florida Not to ‘Monkey This Up’ by Electing Black Rival"
Kudos to the NYT. Turned the phrase the way we wanted it to be, even it was not "by Electing Black Rival".
1
I have never heard the phrase "monkey this up". What exactly is that supposed to mean if it's not a racist comment? It is simply astounding to see how low Trump has taken our nation. At this point, I'd posit that most monkeys have more intelligence than 90% of Republicans.
11
Another phony by-line.
Only the radical left can find racism in what DeSantis said. The Dems wanted the moderate leftist. They instead got this corrupt radical backed by Big Money donors and Sanders. This guy is 39. He’s been a pol for 16 yrs already! He’s under investigation as mayor of Tallahassee.
The left figures we can’t be DeSantis. So let’s smear him.
6
Another indirect consequence of publishing front and center such comments in the NY Times is the extra attention it brings to candidates like DeSantis (and Trump). How many times during 2016 election did we see 4-5 front page stories on candidate Trump.
How about every time, and we expect many more examples, that NY Times gives attention to outrageous comments from candidate DeSantis we are provided side by side with a NY TImes front page article and picture of candidate Gillum
1
i am a 55 year old white guy with some native american heritage in my background.
i have really tired of middle age white men and women who bemoan their place in the world and think that because they are white they deserve something.
get over yourselves!
8
Legs up, popcorn popped, let it hit the fan....on my grandmothers deathbed, Florida WILL kick out the politicians who have chosen greed over ecological stability and our VOICE will be heard!
4
I don’t understand how anyone can defend or minimize this man’s statement. Comparing black people to animals, especially monkeys, is one of the oldest and most vicious racial slurs. It is meant to convey the belief that black people are less intelligent, less worthy, and less valuable than white people; that their value is the same as animals. Anyone with the slightest knowledge of this country’s racism would understand it is unacceptable to use “monkey,” either as a noun or a verb, to attack your black opponent. I politely suggest Mr. DeSantis pick up a history book and a thesaurus if he truly wants to represent Floridians. I make the same suggestion to everyone else who even thinks of defending him for one second.
14
@Victoria Supposedly, according to Wikipedia, Mr. DeSantis studied history at Yale.
2
The ones who hear a ‘racist dog whistle’ are racists. Yes, that would be Terrie Rizzo, head of the Florida Democratic Party, and those who are criticizing DeSantis based on their interpretation of his words. Of course, given that the media loves these stories, they are doing their part to keep alive a story that has no legs. Shame all around.
As to ‘articulate’ being a racial slur: Joe Biden was not available for comment.
5
Today as I was installing software on on my laptop, I mentioned to a coworker that "I hope this stuff doesn't 'monkey up' the PC. The point being the phrase has many non-racist connotations.
Democrats and left leaning whoevers need to take a step back. Automatically throwing the race card when a remark was clearly not intended to be racist, only fuels the anti-liberal flame.
As a left-leaning independent
7
The comments are obviously racist, the ingenuity being that they are not patently so and thus are susceptible to being casually brushed aside. As with virtually everything that has happened since the time that Agent Orange (thank you, Spike Lee) announced his candidacy, "this is not normal". This pawn of the president (who, in turn, is a puppet of Putin), should be rejected outright by anyone with a modicum of decency.
5
Trump and like-minded GOPers shake the Racist Tree, and people like DeSantis fall out of it. This is how the GOP of Trump rolls these days.
5
Look, I virulently loathe conservatives and racists in equal measure, but if you look at that the whole quote in context it doesn’t seem like a dog whistle. In addition this will pour petrol on the simmering “free speech” fury, which elements of the right love to clutch at to hide their actual innate prejudices behind - then you really will hear the dog whistles, believe me.
4
@Mat Well, Mr. DeSantis has degrees from Yale and Harvard, so it’s not supposed to *seem* like a dog whistle.
DeSantis performed quite a “ku” during his speech excoriating the Democrats and their “klandestine” plans to ruin the Florida economy. You should have heard all the “klux” from the gaggle of media people in attendance. By the way, anyone who views the previous two sentences as being disrespectful to right-wing Republicans is just being politically correct and “absurd”.
4
@The Dude
I will admit I am wrong and vote for DeSantis if you can show me where he ever used the term "monkey around with" in reference to a white person.
It sure seems to me that Mr. DeSantis is an articulate spokesperson for the western European cultural establishment. He certainly doesn't have a racist bone in his body (even though all his bones, and his skin, are lily white...) and anyone who sees racism in his statement probably sees Nazis around every corner and white hoods on every porch, not the concern for the preservation of our Southern Heritage and Traditions that motivate Mr. DeSantis. Of course, "there are good people on both sides" - although I have yet to find a really good person who espouses white supremacy, and chants "Jews will not replace us!" while parading around carrying tiki torches. But that doesn't mean that Mr. DeSantis can't sympathize with those who worry about 'attacks on our traditional European heritage' and 'the historical legacy of our Southern Traditions...' in an entirely un-racist way. Un-huh.
3
That's not a dog whistle; I agree with Gillum. That's a bullhorn.
10
@Jaylyn - read citybumpkin's comment if you haven't already for a good rundown of everything that's wrong with your own.
What's behind Mr. DeSantis' remarks? Nothing less than Donald Trump's (and the GOP's) brand of white supremacism.
5
Another code word by a Trump made man. Vote!!
4
I do not know whether DeSantis intended to be racist or not, and I really don't care. Given the racist and misogynist policies of contemporary GOP, I'd rather vote for a genuine ape or even a giraffe than a Republican.
7
I’m so glad he said this because it was a great prompt for me to immediately make a campaign contribution to Mr. Gillum.
7
Trump republicans win because the go out and vote. Democrat voters are too lazy to bother to vote so they get what they deserve.
Dog whistles are subtle utterances that only an intended audience can hear. Gillum (unlike the NYTimes headline) is absolutely correct in pointing out that there was nothing subtle in the DeSantis slur. This was overt racism—not a dog whistle at all.
119
"Consider the paradox: Racial 'sensitivity' requires not eradicating racial stereotypes but keeping them alive--and not only keeping them alive but remaining acutely conscious of them at all times."
2
The Republican Party viciously persists advancing the campaign of divide and inflame, playing the 'race card' to foment, engender, and incite racial internecine. No accident. No Freudian slip. No mistake. Rather, intentional, direct, and to the point. Ron DeSantis didn't waste any time [less than 12 hours] maligning and disparaging Andrew Gillum. Classically, Black Americans are historically stereotyped when they speak 'good English' and don't sound stereotypical that many associate with general Black American speech. And, the remark "monkey this up" is not a racist dog whistle. The demeaning remark is a loudly expressive public announcement to the ever diminishing base that a person of colour threatens to 'take over' and control their lives. Take a blunt example of the belying meaning of this remark from the 2014 film "All the Way," starring Bryan Cranston playing the role of Lyndon Baines Johnson and his efforts to push through the Civil Rights At of 1964. A scene in the film shows Judge Smith, the chairman of the House Rules Committee, on the floor, loudly condemning the public accommodations aspect of the bill. Smith exhorted that a friend of his [a podiatrist] had his office in a hotel. Smith laconically said: "If I were a podiatrist with my office in a hotel, I would want to know whose feet I was monkeying around with. I would want to know if they smelled good or bad." Watch the film. DeSantis is consistent: racial fear mongering works. Not this time, Ron.
3
The question isn't why DeSantis said it, but why it's effective at galvanizing his base
11
Republicans are communicating in subtle ways to their racists group to win elections for decades. That group provides a solid support for Republicans and consists of 70% of Republican voters. Until Trump got elected, the leadership of Republican Party are not racists, even though they send coded messages to their core support group to win the elections. Now, they are coming out of closets. Racism has been there and will be there, but aiding and comforting them by the leadership is dangerous turn of events.
3
I just don't know what to say. I live in Florida now after nearly 55 years in the NYC and Metro area. Mr. DeSantis is a folk hero on the northwest gulf coast today after his racist comments. So sad. The same people were disparaging the late Senator McCain suggesting that his father (the Admiral) "insisted that he stay in a POW camp to punish the young man for his whining and traitorous conduct during the Vietnam War". This as he laid in state in the capital rotunda. I was rarely in agreement with the senator's political or economic positions but I certainly respected him and appreciated the enormous sacrifices he made for this nation. What's wrong with these people? How has Mr. Trump corrupted so many so quickly? Or has this been decades in the making.....
Where are all those boomers who marched for peace, justice and civil rights? What happened to my generation?
12
DJT didn’t corrupt them. He showed them the way.
3
He is communicating with his base. He is also making the vote about race and not policies.
7
DeSantis add that Gillum “comes from a musical people,” likely “dances well” then asked for his 2019 final four bracket “on the DL.”
4
In the race for governor in Florida the cliches and classifications have begun.The one is a progressive the other a Trump surrogate.I hope that the election is fought on the issues.How do we improve the educational system provide better healthcare for Floridians and remedy the dangerous creeping climate changes in the State.We do not need a clone of Mr Trump or Mr Sanders but a sincere and determined person to serve the people.Ivy league degrees are my per se the road to good governance if the person is beholden to a president that has created deeper chasm in society .
Mr Trumps mantra for candidates he oppose is “weak on crime and the military” among other statements. His are fictional attempts At devaluing his opponents in the hope that this will appeal to the uninformed and the a priori prejudiced and committed to his dark vision.
3
My first thought upon seeing the Florida’s Governor race: “This will be an ugly couple months.”
If a candidate didn’t say something inappropriate between now and Election Day, I fully expected a surrogate or supporter to do so.
I imagine the ballot count wasn’t even finished in some (larger) counties when De Santis made his remark.
As a Floridian, may I please have my ballot now and get this over with?
3
I'm almost 67 years old. I have heard the phrase "Don't (insert favorite word here) this up" countless times and with many verbs. Rarely, if ever, have I ever heard it with nouns, until now.
I have never heard "Don't monkey this up" before DeSantis.
Don't tell me this is not a dog whistle. The Republican party sinks lower by the day.
9
So subtle and sly, but don't think for a minute that a politician at this level does not choose his words consciously and with every intention of double entendre and mixed meanings. This guy is part of a new white supremacy in the GOP that is growing and compounding itself.
6
The more Dems talk bout race, the happier the Republicans will be. If the Dems talk race race 24 hours a day, they will get almost no votes. Race is not one of the problems we face.
1
I'm waiting for the anti-socialist DeSantis to come out against Social Security, Medicare and every public assistance program in the state (serving everyone from infants up to the elderly). Don't monkey this up Governor, we're counting on you to stand strong. If it's good enough for your survival of the fittest cutthroat role model and ally in the White House, it's good enough for the people of Florida. You know, "Let them eat cake".
Rousseau, in his Confessions, tells the story of a princess, who was so insensitive, that when she was told that the people had no bread to eat, she said, "Let them eat cake".
That would be the perfect anti-socialist motto and would look great on a cap.
3
This is a very cleverly parsed statement by DeSantis. He can deny any racist intent, but his followers know he has spoken in code.
Context matters. If DeSantis's opponent were white, no problem, no issue. But he is Black and that matters. Everybody knows that.
8
they don't even try to hide their overt racism anymore. This makes DeSantis' campaign slogan very easy: "Vote for me, I'm white he's not".
6
Mr. DeSantis just demonstrated he does not posses the judgment temperament character or vocabulary to lead one of the most diverse States in the country. This remark on National television spoken in the South on the anniversary of Dr.King's iconic "I Have a Dream" speech is disgraceful.This man is unfit to hold public office of ANY kind.
7
DeSantis has just shown the whole world that he is not confident enough in his platform or issues to compete with Gillum on a regular basis. DeSantis has to pull out numerous racially insulting comments, immediately, to show the kind of campaign he feel he needs to run to win the election. I predict and hope it will have the exact opposite effect!
4
There are very clearly some fine people on both sides. There is truth and then there is the truth or you could have alternative facts. In any case, I have to meet Julia in the cafeteria. If you don’t know what I am referencing go to the library (while they still exist) and borrow George Orwell’s 1984. Orwell’s nightmarish vision is coming to fruition.
3
Democrats and the media are desperate now. And this time is not going to work - the media and liberals are trying to transform an idiomatic expression into a racist expression.
Florida voters will correctly consider liberals reaction to this expression as a manipulative and transparent political tactic intended to unfairly attack a candidate. Regardless of political affiliation.
2
The sad, and scary, part is that this gambit might well work for him. I'm sorry to say so but I think those who think this will work AGAINST DeSantis are naïve.
11
Either DeSantis is the worst kind of bigot or he's the worst kind of idiot. Either way, he deserves nothing but the scorn of his intended constituents.
67
Unbelievable. The expression is "don't muck this up.". It makes think that what DeSantis said was a totally intentional racist comment.
99
@Thoughtful
I have never heard the word "monkey" used in that phrase before.
One doesn't have to think. We all know DeSantis used the word "monkey" as a deliberate racist word. Trump
and his allies no longer use code words, They blatantly yell out insults daily against all non white individuals.
1
This is absolutely ridiculous. He is not racist, has been an active duty service member where 1. racism is not tolerated, and 2. everyone is characterized as green aka we're all the same. The idea that the left is trying to characterize this as a attack against his opponent based on racial discrimination is a gross misrepresentation of the comment. He used a commonly used figure of speech to articulate (that work apparently @JimSteinberg also I presume reflects a racist view towards Gillum) that he believes that socialist policies would be devastating to the continued growth and progress the state is making. This is a distraction from the real debate that is ocurring in America between the conversvatives/libertarians and the democrats and their new age democratic socialist partners. The race card has been overplayed so much that it's lost its effect. Utilizing it now would spell defeat for the democrats. America is not more racist than it was in the 60s unless you want to include black racism towards whites which is, according to the left wing media, impossible because blacks are the oppressed and whites are the oppressors. This tribalism will spell the end of the United States of America as we know it. Stop propogating this none-sense and get back to the important conversation NYT. How are socialist democrats going to pay for their new programs. What is their plan and why do they want to increase the depending on the government? These are important questions...
14
@Scott Vosler: I'm guessing that you're not black, correct? But that some of your best friends are? And that those black friends think exactly as you do? And that your knowledge of Socialism comes from repeated readings of Das Kapital and The Communist Manifesto? So which tribe do YOU belong to?
18
We will pay for these programs the same way we pay for out-of-control military spending or better yet the same way we pay for trillions of dollars in tax cuts. The economic rationale for the tax cuts is that they will stimulate the economy because business will have more capital to invest. I say the same applies for Medicare for All: a healthier population will be more productive, more production translates into economic gains, also, the money the individual won’t have to pay in out of pocket cancer treatment can also be invested in new businesses, or poured back into the economy in the form of consumption . See? The Right only believes in trickle down economics only when it comes to tax cuts, I say they should apply it to other principles since they love the argument so much.
6
@Scott Vosler
Hmm . . . just because he “has been an active duty service member,” does not mean that he is not racist or is willing to use a racist term in his run for the governorship. It seems to me that very recently an “active duty” member of the military was found to have links to, and was active in, s white supremacist organization.
And the label of socialist is a canard: A socialist (as opposed to Democratic socialist) advocates government ownership of the means of production. Mr. Gillum surely does not do so. But, to his credit, he may advocate government’s attempts to try to ameliorate the negative effects of capitalism.
6
He could have said "muck it up" or "mess it up" but he had to choose a longstanding racist simian trope. Some people just don't know when they are being racist. Ever. How can they be so oblivious? But...they are. Or, maybe it was deliberate...?
54
@Russian Princess: If it were, indeed, a mistake, he should have apologized by now.
13
@stu freeman
Never admit a wording that was no mistake but simply a local expression. The opposition with never forgive you anyway. Just ask George Bush.
@L'osservatore: "Monkey this up" is a local expression? I've spent lots of time in Florida and have never heard that one.
Just another Republican attempt at drawing people of color to the GOP.
How’s that working out for you?
44
@Pen Vs. Sword
Unfortunately, it is working out just fine for the deplorables. the majority of us, not so much.
Gillum is cut from the same cloth as Ocasio-Cortez and Davids. His dad was a construction worker and his mother drove a school bus. He knows what it like to live paycheck to paycheck. If he wins, he will be the first Democrat governor in 24 years and the first non-millionaire. He’s the kind of person I want to run my state because he will care about all citizens and won’t be bought by special interests. DeSantis, on the other hand, is a Trump lackey and obviously a racist.
151
@Cathy
" won’t be bought by special interests. DeSantis,"
Tom Steyer will support anyone who will help impeach Trump, Soros just wants to destroy Democracy and the other one wants get rid of ICE. Those aren't special interests giving Gillum money.
You can be sure there will be many more of these racist calls. Let’s not call it a dogwhistle. Let’s call it what it is. R a c i s m. Of course, DeSantis is being racist. Scary and sad thing is, in Trump’s America, it is not seen as appalling anymore. I hope and pray DeSantis liars. Then again, it’s Florida. :(
30
The Decent Christian White People of The South will be here for the rest of the election season defending the watermelon jokes, the fried chicken asides, the comments on hair straightener, andd all manner of blatant UMPIRE WHISTLES that are indefensible.
47
Its sickening.
But I really hope that Mr Gillum doesn't take the bait.
We know what Mr Trump and his supporters are. That isn't going to change.
Mr Gillum should focus on the issues that matter. He will win if he does that.
Don't get down in the gutter with the pigs.
47
Democrats!
Wake up!
The sexist, racist, homophobe labels don’t work any more.
The voters want to see energy and accomplishments.
The GOP is laying these traps and the Democrats keep falling in.
21
@Tuco: So we should excuse the racism if the accomplishments are there? Unfortunately, in this era of "fake news," it's easier to identify the racism than it is to assess the accomplishments. For example, did you know that more people were hired during the last 18 months of the Obama administration than during the first 18 months of the Trump administration? That fact, like many others, may be more difficult to comprehend than are the reasons why Trump kept telling us that Obama was born in Kenya.
18
@Tuco -- uh, just exactly what "trap" did Democrats "fall into" here?
2
@Tuco
Agreed. Calling a racist a racist makes it about race and just makes borderline bigots dig in. I think it needs to be dealt with, but if this election is about racism, it gives the advantage to the GOP. Their policies are completely phony: that’s what should be talked about.
Dog Whistle - really? that refers to something that refers to something that's subtly racist. This was just plain racist. Racists hiding in plain sight in the GOP. Congratulations America.
20
Whoa! That is so utterly vile even tone-deaf older white Republicans might be shocked into voting against him.
19
Only a fool would use the term 'monkey this up'. I think, however, objecting to the use of the word 'articluate' is silly.
7
You may think it’s silly, but it has a long history of being used in the way the article describes: not as a compliment to someone’s eloquence, but as an expression of surprise that the (with this usage, usually black) speaker is intelligent, thoughtful, and educated.
4
@JustThinkin'
Actually the “articulate” thing is common. I’ve experienced it over and over. People having little or no contact with PEERS of other races often are surprised by intellect and poise where they’d expected none.
4
Doesn’t the writer know what a dog whistle is? This is no dog whistle! This is blatant racism; no ifs, ands or buts!
18
I'm a white man, so let's not whitewash this. That comment is disgusting, unAmerican, and no matter how DeSantis spins it, it is indeed a racist dog whistle. Let's not pretend that wasn't a totally racist cheap shot. DeSantis obviouslydidn't get the message, "close your mouth before your brain is in gear." Florida politics continues to amaze amuse and depress me, all at the same time.
67
Racist dog whistle? More like an air horn. I heard it loud and clear, and I hope the voters in Florida did too.
58
important trade negotiations with Canada. John McCains lies in state in Arizona. Important international news from Russia and Argentina.
And this article is at the top of the NYT online?
It is becoming more and more obvious that the NYT is no longer a hard news organization, but instead is merely a panderer to its far left, echo chamber supporters.
No wonder I must flee to the BBC or Reuters. Both have liberal leanings, but at least they report hard news.
8
DeSantis' racist comment shouldn't surprise anybody. He's a Trump fanatic, for God's sake. Still, let's call him out as the racist he is. Every day of the campaign, his racism should be lit up for the entire country to see. Don't let him duck out of this. Call him "Racist Ron" from now on.
27
Democrats need to learn what Michael Avenatti says they should do: when they go low we hit hard
'We go high' stopped working long time ago
21
@tk Democrats have been going low since day one.There are a million examples. But let's get back to this article. Monkey up is an ordinary expression that is used: "hack together hardware for a particular task, especially a one-shot job. Connotes an extremely crafty and consciously temporary solution. Which isn't this exactly what socialism seems to offer? Divide the wealth and then once that runs out where is the new wealth creation? There is none built-in. So let's all grow up and have real debates.
Already we are getting elaborate contortionist acts telling us how "monkey it up" is a totally normal phrase used all the time in the 21st century, and its unfortunate use here has zero connection to a classic racist caricature of black people. This just happens to an unfortunate faux-pas, in the Deep South, used regarding a black political opponent, coincidentally during a political climate where people like former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke are talking about how a Republican President has "won a great victory" for white people.
Yeah, sure, okay...real unfortunate coincidence.
143
That's not a "dog whistle." It's a racial slur.
230
DeSantis comment was even too much for Fox News. It was clearly an unsubtle racist dog whistle.
24
This is a dog whistle only Democrats can hear.
7
@rpe123 Only because Republicans have their MAGA earplugs firmly in place. Newsflash: it doesn't go away just because you pretend not to hear it.
3
@rpe123 You could hear this living under a rock. But Republicans by and large won't think this is racist. We know this because all of the racist code used by Republicans seems totally normal and acceptable to them, like "the blacks" and "the Hispanics". It's pretty subtle, but it's still racist. Thankfully, there are still some independents left and we will decide the shape of things to come, not Republicans or Democrats.
3
@rpe123 No, this is a dog whistle that all rational people can hear. Unfortunately for many others, well, racism still is pervasive in many segments of our society, and you have proven that.
3
“Ron DeSantis was obviously talking about Florida not making the wrong decision to embrace the socialist policies that Andrew Gillum espouses,” Mr. Lawson said. “To characterize it as anything else is absurd.”
Then why didn't Mr. DeSantis say it as plainly as that? He didn't because he meant his words to be interpreted otherwise. How low the GOP has sunk since the days of Lincoln and Eisenhower.
23
@Doug Exactly...i am 56 years old and have lived in major cities and have a degree from ucla. Pretty well read blah blah blah...point is I have never, in my life, heard or read this "monkey it up" term used by anyone. Not once. So its not a common expression, if its an expression at all other than to,throw shade...
2
What's his history? As someone that uses the term "monkey" regularly in clearly innocuous ways (I don't come across a lot of diversity in my regular routine), I wouldn't be prepared to join the mob on this statement alone. But if DeSantis has a history of using risky words...
4
@T Montoya He was endorsed by Trump back in December … racist by association.
Every time a Conservative politician denounced the "socialist agenda with huge tax increase and bankrupting the state", one word come to me KANSAS.
16
I just donated to Mr. Gillum's campaign. I suggest everyone who supports our Democratic efforts to return civility and decency to our Government do the same. Donate to "Get out the vote" campaigns as well as Democratic Representatives running for Congress throughout the country. Taking back the House is our best hope for survival.
16
@sflawyermom While you are at it, support Devin Nunes' opponent, Andrew Janz, in California.
2
The Republicans have embraced racism to appeal to their base. Bless their hearts.
11
How long and hard do the voters in Florida have to think about this?
Mr. DeSantis has made the choice very simple.
Florida with DeSantis as Governor could mean a 'Whites Only' logo on every tourist destination in the state.
No NFL playoff games, no NCAA tournaments, far fewer concerts, international tourists from a small fraction of the world's population, no state funded travel from the west coast or the northeast.
The only good thing would be a negative growth rate in Florida. That would mean far fewer climate change refugees as the state reverts back to its carbonate platform past.
8
As despicable as this is (it is either intentional or clueless, your choice) I wish to also direct anger at the tired 'he's a socialist that will raise your taxes and remove all choices!'
It is time for us as a country to decide what we are going to do collectively with our taxes, and using it to improve health, education, infrastructure, etc is NOT SHAMEFUL. Government is (or should be) us, and we should be sharing the expense of a strong and safe community.
We need to get this message out loud and clear, and take apart the fear mongering that picks our pockets and hands it to the top while soothingly telling us it is for our own good.
17
@nlwincaro Or you could be like the party of Trump and spend, spend, and spend some more (not on programs that actually help working people, mind you) while cutting taxes mainly for the very wealthy and definitely for corporations. Then you could say you will cut the fat (presumably from Social Security and Medicare, things we have all invested in over many years) saying that these are welfare programs or entitlements or whatever other stupid reason they can dish up.
2
Huge tax increases will bankrupt he state?!? Well, no ...huge tax cuts and increased spending will bankrupt the state (and the Taj Mahal, apparently). The new Republican mantra: deficits don't matter (as long as I have lower taxes). Ask the Greeks how that works out.
13
Mr.DeSantis' Trump inspired ads using his children to promote the Trump agenda are in poor taste as is his crude and "inarticulate" language.
12
When will BIG media learn that they are giving Trump and his minions billions of dollars worth of free airtime and promotion every time they say something crazy.
Imagine.
Just imagine if this was said 4 years ago say. Imagine the outcry, individuals of a great many political stripes coming together and roundly condemning it.
Place yourselves back 4 years ago and try to imagine a time in the future when what was said would not only be met with silence from almost a whole political party but also in line with the leader of that party’s (who is also the President of the United States) thinking.
I can’t, but I know that I must to the best of my ability ensure that memory - the reality of what once was, though targeted by the same individual, is rigorously defended.
3
DeSantis joins the ranks of white politicians who earnestly believe they are not racist simply b/c they say they are not. As Charles M. Blow pointed out so beautifully in an opinion piece a few years back, part of the solution of tackling the overwhelmingly complex problem of racism in our culture begins with folks acknowledging that they have a baseline of racial prejudice that they should recognize, not unlike an alcoholic pursuing treatment by admitting they have a problem first. I will admit to all of you that as a white man, even though I do not believe myself to be a racist, I was still raised to find humor in referring to minorities in certain, racist ways, as if it was okay to make those jokes b/c the family wasn’t overtly racist or discriminatory outside of the home. I had to admit to myself at some point that even though I come from good, hard-working people, that does not mean that my upbringing was devoid of racism b/c it wasn’t. I need to acknowledge that fact and dedicate my personal and professional work to bridging those gaps in understanding, as should Mr. DeSantis. That he denies his ‘monkey’ comment was offensive, further implicates him as an arrogant, insensitive politician.
18
Mr Gillum has my support and of course vote. Trump has brought on the most toxic atmosphere within the election process in all of history of the USA. Yes there were a few that were awful, but in 2018 it is poison.
Florida is a strange state in that there are many that have and continue to move here for the weather, cost of living, businesses moving here for tax breaks~no state tax is a lure. The state was once the place to retire, now it is a place to raise a family and so on. This mix of people makes it strange. Jacksonville holds on to being a Navy town. Many military retirees end up here.
Ended up here after discharge in '79. Many changes since then. We need to get the state back to serving we the people~ALL the people~not just the wealthiest.
Mr Gillum now!
13
The phrase was obviously planned ahead of time. All he needed to say was "the last thing we need to do is to adopt a socialist agenda" but he wanted a way to signal to his supporters that his opponent is black and that DeSantis would protect white hegemony.
He also probably felt that the phrase was ambiguous enough that he could assert that anyone offended is overly sensitive. Who would be sufficiently credulous to swallow such an argument? Probably some of the people watching his interview on Fox "news."
Most of those viewers, however, would understand the racist intent, but would not have a problem with it.
10
Using the term "monkey this up" is extremely unnatural - it is not the usual way that English speakers would use that expression. People are far more apt to say something like "mess this up" or "muck this up." That suggests to me that De Santis went out of his way to use a highly unusual formulation of the term. So, yes, he was using a racist dog whistle. The problem is this: there are hordes of white Americans who are incredibly racist but refuse to admit or acknowledge it. They have innumerable ways to deny the obvious. I see some of their comments here. As usual, I despair that the US will ever become a civilized society.
14
US@Shaun Narine The quickest way for the US to become a civilized society is for citizens to vote for Democrats and throw the Republican obstructionists out!
4
@Shaun Narine, I had the same reaction. This is not a phrase I remember hearing, ever. " You kids quit monkeying around" perhaps. Or in the words of Chuck Berry, "Too Much Monkey Business".
Plus, anyone with a mic should just avoid the word other than the literal, just ask Howard Cosell, though he may have lived in more enlightend times.
1
Keep up the good work, Mr. DeSantis, with your scurrilous campaign language that will only insure an increased Democratic, Independent, and "Never Trump" Republican voter turnout against you this November, while also spurring voters outside Florida to cast their votes against other Trump-endorsed Republicans. You've surely picked a winning strategy. How brilliantly conceived and executed.
11
Wow..just as was the case with Hillary, Florida dems just chose the one guy DeSantis can actually win against.
Gillum is not popular down state, his ideas play terribly with even moderate democrats, and he has no, repeat NO crossover appeal to even left leaning republicans.
Do not be the least bit surprised if DeSantis wins and provides a limp coattail to GOP congressional races in FL to hang onto.
Plenty of moderate FL dems want nothing to do with Gillum. They just handed the state house and legislature back to the GOP...
5
How did your moderate Democratic candidates fair in past elections for governor? You know what they say about doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
1
This is exactly the kind of nitpicking that gives the left a bad rep. The phrase "monkeying around" is not racist, and neither is any variation of it. Don't make it into something it's not when there are legitimate concerns we could be discussing.
25
@Jaylyn
If people perceive it as racist, then it is. It is difficult to believe that a politician did not know that his comments would be perceived as racist by many. You don't have to be left leaning to be outraged by his comment. Pointing out racism does not preclude a meaningful discussion about other topics. Racism is a legitimate topic.
5
@Jaylyn Sorry, but no. Google the phrase, and all your hits will be references to DeSantis saying it. It's a phrase without any kind of colloquial history to it. He could have said "don't mess this up," he could have said "don't foul this up," he could have said "Floridians will be making a huge mistake if they send this gentleman to the governor's mansion, " he could have said any number of things.
He knew what he was saying.
5
@Jaylyn -- "Monkeying around" is not a racist dog-whistle when it is used to describe a person having an affair. It is not a racist dog-whistle when it is used to describe two teenagers in a back seat. When it is used to describe one's political opponent, who is a black man, it definitely carries a racist connotation. Were I to call Mr. DeSantis a "white ethnocentric activist" you would know exactly what I mean... and I'm sure that all the "white ethnocentric activists" got Mr. DeSantis's message just fine. Its not nitpicking to call someone out when they say something really stupid and offensive... its necessary. This is NOT normal, no matter how much Trump has eroded our nation's civility and boundaries.
4
New York Times, please don't pretend you think this remark has any subtlety. This is not a dog whistle.
48
For the new Trump GOP - there is no longer a reason to hide your racism, sexism, anti-semitism, etc.
No. The new Trump GOP wears all of that ugly hate on their sleeves proudly.
49
It does not matter if DeSantis was ambiguous or not, he is supported by a Corrupt idiot in the White House, Racist, Fascist and Putin's Puppet.
What matters is that he's supported by a Racist Fascist which makes DeSantis is a in the closet Racist Fascist. He will destroy Florida and it diversity of American citizens like Scott did when the shooting when off killing kids. A vote for DeSantis is a vote for Trump's Corruption, Trump's Fascism and Trump's Racism.
16
Gillum has this.
13
With all due respect... are you people INSANE?
I honestly thought we were beyond this as a nation.
People hearing the word "monkey" and immediately thinking it means "black person" is just sooooo disgusting. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
Who even thinks like this??? I REALLY thought that type of stereotyping went out in the 70's
I mean - I get that you're anxious to knock a republican, but REALLY???
You're willing to disparage people with darker skin to do it???
I don't believe Mr. Gillum has children (I could be wrong) but thank god he doesn't.
Can you imagine them hearing their father equated to a monkey by the very members of his own party???
10
Didn’t go out in the 70s. Republicans were using such references against Michelle Obama for years. Welcome to tea party America.
19
Monkey is a derogatory term used to dehumanize black people. Dehumanization is the foundation on which racism is based. It’s logical to conclude the statement was racist.
4
@Gaul Bladder, well it kinda comes immediately to mind thanks to supporters of the Stable Genius who said when Melania became FLOTUS something along the lines of "thank goodness it isn't that ape in heels anymore." That's how folks make the association because the comparisons never actually ended, contrary to your comment.
Get it now?
4
The world is a big place in which none of us can proclaim to have a monopoly on virtue and openness. But in this case, I am stunned. His choice of words is deliberate & obvious. I will avoid Florida.
29
Even if you give DeSantis the benefit of the doubt and assume that he really just misspoke, how oblivious or even stupid do you have to be to use such a loaded term, even without malice? Hmm...oblivious and stupid. Trump supporter. Now it makes sense.
36
@Marcus Aurelius Well, yeah. It kind of does matter who uses the term, genius. By the way, "monkey around with" is a commonly used expression; "monkey up (something)" is not. The white nationalist wing of the Republican party was clearly signaled.
2
what do you expect? Yale (Elihu) - founder of Yale (slave trader); Royall - founder of HLS (slaveholder)
3
As usual when the Democrats=The Media= New Socialist=Progressives feel threatened they use the race card.
I hope that monkey wrench in my garage is not offended.
How about that Monkey in the zoo...Is it now racist to call the Monkey, a Monkey?
5
No. It’s racist to call a man that. If you really needed that explained racism isn’t your chief problem.
17
DeSantis' relationship to Trump: monkey see, monkey do.
42
DeSantis as a grown adult realized the ramifications of using the word "monkey" in regards to comments about an African American.
This was a dog bull horn plain as day. Anyone thinking differently, has a severe case of living on MARS.
24
Disgusting! Keep going Republicans and we will see what Floridians want!
Let's hear a "McCain like" rebuff of this nasty man by Sen. Rubio. Yeah!!!!!!
4
Wait for some form of "liberal snowflakes" or "politically correct" defense from the folks willing to go along with this racism.
Wait for it...
20
Some people will try to find something "racist" in about anything.
23
@Thomas L. And sometimes absolutely no effort is required. At all.
18
Some places you can find something racist in just about anything.
2
@ ThomasL
Given the long history of using the term "monkey" in a racist context towards Africans and African-Americans, the white-supremacist tone is blatant in De Santis' comment. One doesn't have to be a far-left social justice warrior to see that. My jaw dropped when I read DeSantis' statement. @Thomas L
3
To be expected by a Trump acolyte - grotesque race baiting.
22
This isn’t even a dog whistle. This is like a dog bullhorn.
33
I was going to send Gillum a contribution before these remarks; now I’m doubling that contribution. How’s that for “monkeying up” your own campaign, Mr. DeSantis?
40
Hang this around his neck for the rest of the campaign. I can only hope that Florida has enough sense to vote for basic human decency.
39
@andy b
They didn't in 2016.......
2
Again, why do African americans and other minorities declare themselves Republican, vote for Republicans and even work for Republican politicians?
One Senator and two House members are African American out of 535. I guess Republican are not in love with Black politicians. What are those three doing there?
They should denounce every Republican and join and vote for Democrats.
23
Mr Gillum responded “I’m not going to get down in the gutter with DeSantis and Trump...I’m going to try and stay high.” Thank you for staying polite, Mr Gillum. You've already proven yourself to be the better man in this race. American politics desperately needs more leaders with your sense of respect and decency.
43
This has to have set some sort of speed record for uttering a racist comment about one's political opponent. Fewer than 24 hours after Gillum became the Democratic candidate! We've been reminded again about what the Republicans are really good at ...
48
Fox "news" still has about two decent humans working there. Even they out DeSantis down for his bigoted, racist comment.
Dollars to donuts that hate-mongering, lying Carlson, Hannity and Graham - the Tokyo Roses of useless broadcast energy and Trump's REALCabinet and Senior Advisors - will not even mention this OR they will swing some drivel dissing the Democrats, their favorite targets.
DeSantis is a disgrace, just as is Trump. TrumpTV will promote him because their advertisers pay them to do so. They are not a news medium; they are a venal propaganda machine that would say ANYTHING to further their criminal bosses (remember Roger Ailes?).
If ever there were a kistification for censorship, Fox and Friends, Hannity, Carlson and Ingraham personify it. I would support a mandated disclosure before any of their programs stating that viewers are being subjected to lies and fake information, just like lethal drugs.
13
Monkey this up? What can that mean other than a reference to race? I know most slang and that’s not anything I’ve heard before. Or is it some new Trump-speak? I can’t believe he jumped out of the starting gate this way. Shame DeSantis.
45
As a resident of Florida, I want to thank Ric Desantis for slinging a racial eipthet at his opponent not 12 hours after his nomination. He certainly us not mokeying around. He goes right to the mainstay of the Trumpist agenda.
At least, we know where we are and no one can deny it. It's all about "Make America White Again." Floridians are being given a real choice for the next overnor. They can vote for d white nativism or they can return to American decency and relegate Desantis to the obscurity of George Allen Jr. who called a heckler a macaca which is portuguese for monkey.
Many American elections are contests between centrists which has led some critics to claim such an election to be between Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. Not this time. After Trump's incumbent record of racial indecency, the vote in Novermber allows Floridians to reclaim their human dignity.
33
When Howard Cosell called Mike Adamle a "little monkey" everyone was offended. My how times have changed.
9
Alvin Garrett.
1
DeSantis is not only racist enough to make blatantly racist appeals to the Florida portion of the Trump constituency, but also appears to lack the intelligence to realize how obvious and undeniable it it.
At least Trump attempts to maintain a pretense that his racist appeals are against 'those rapists and murderers' among those others.
DeSantis needs to take a few classes at The Real Trump University.
14
He also described his opponent as "articulate," because a black man speaking proper English language certainly deserves an accolade.
30
"Those whistle lessons I learned at the knee of my beloved White House patron are paying off!"
11
Of course its a dog whistle. Who says "Monkey this up?"
32
Apparently, we are making some progress with the scourge of racial discrimination in the United States . . . in their hearts, white supremacists don't believe that anyone with the surname of DeSantis is really white, but they'll vote for him anyway.
9
Disclaimer: I'm a lifelong Democrat AND have a healthy percentage of African-American ancestry. We AA have to stop...and the media has to stop...accusing people of using "dog whistles" and racist-leaning comments. I have NEVER thought of myself as a monkey. If you do, the problem is with your self-esteem. If Mr Gillum is that offended by a benign remark then he should not be in politics. It's shameful enough that the AA community said to the world..."we're not smart enough to compete equally in the SAT world", so the barre was lowered. That insulted my intelligence! Now, every little remark a Republican makes is dissected for racism. The media and other Dems are, again, insulting my intelligence!!
4
Disgusting. I can’t believe this was said.
19
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Birther-Liar-In-Chief would like you to meet his little Florida monkey and marionette, Ron DeSantis.
Charming.
November 6 2018
92
Obviously a derivation of monkey around with. You really have to be looking for racism to find it here.
24
@Steve Gallagher. As the Brits say, I believe you...thousands wouldn't.
2
@Steve Gallagher
Oh, right. Just like all the times we heard Trump say Hillary would monkey up the country.
3
What's obvious is that he did NOT say "monkeying around with." He could have. He didn't. Now he owns his racist comment.
5
Hope Gillum Wops him.
35
Ever since Howard Cosell's July 29, 1972 broadcast of the NFL 'Hall of Fame' game; "Look at that little monkey run." has been emblazoned on the psyche of every white guy in America. Whether they saw the broadcast of not, it is too much of sports legend for a middle aged white guy to not have it 'top of mind'.
19
Dear NYT:
As usual, if this is a racist dog whistle, which is at best ambiguous, the most vigorous whistle-blowers are the liberal media and partisan Ds seeking to label Mr. DeSantis, the speaker, as a racist. This is called race baiting.
According to Merriam Webster, to "monkey around" is to "do things that are not useful or serious : to waste time.
Example: We just monkeyed around all afternoon.
Example: a young scientist monkeying around in the lab
This dictionary definition is consistent with DeSantis' explanation that the object of his "monkey around" derision was the silly, trendy and unserious Marxist politics (abolish ICE, universal health care under single payor, impeach Trump) advocated by his opponent, not his opponent's race.
The dictionary definition is the objective measure of meaning. It does not cite any express racist meanings.
I would suggest that only racists -- or people trying to paint others as racist -- would suggest that for DeSantis, the subjective meaning of his utterance of "monkey around" is necessarily an expression of racism is untenable.
That D politicians and media critics would leap on this remark as evidence of racism says more about them then about DeSantis.
9
@Jorge The phrase used wasn't monkey around, it's monkey up, meaning screw up, mess up, gum up, ruin. The word monkey carries a lot of baggage, and its nuanced meanings depend on the context in which it is used. One of its meanings comes from its historical use as a racial slur on black people, in co-use with ape (recall Pamela Taylor's "ape in heels" remark about Michelle Obama), gorilla, and chimpanzee. Since DeSantis was talking about a black candidate for political office, the racist nuance holds; your strained interpretation is both lame and wrong.
16
@Kathleen Flacy You've nailed it!
3
@Jorge And it's purely by chance that he chose to use this particular phrase out of dozens of choices.
This is the same strategy that Trump used to win the white supremacy voters but keep his other supporters. He just said something that could clearly be interpreted as racist but then denied that he meant it that way.
It's awful to see this method of campaigning spread like a disease. They target the people that will get them just enough votes to win and make no effort at all to reach all of the people that they will be representing.
206
The big blue wave is expected. DeSantis acting like Trump will not end well after the Manafort/Cohen scandal. The political scene is much different than in 2016.
11
The spokesman’s explanation confirms the malicious intent. The statement is insensitive to claims that others heard it differently. Racism is predicated on the inability to value others.
The only acceptable response is an apology.
24
I dread Florida elections but look forward to pushing hard against this candidate. No thank you Mr. DeSantis, you are not wanted in any shape or form.
34
You can't moan about this being taken out of context and PC, DeSantis and supporters. YOU are the one who put the expression "monkey up" into the context of your first comments about a campaign against Gillum, an African American mayor. It's not a common expression, so you chose to dog whistle and you chose poorly. No one else did it for you.
DeSantis and Trump will also make this a campaign about socialism and "the far left." Universal healthcare is like Social Security, and there's nothing extreme about it - except for the people like DeSantis, who don't want people to have healthcare that they can pay for in this lifetime. So Gillum supports impeaching Trump? That's irrelevant, since he's
running to be governor, not to be in Congress.
But get ready for DeSantis to scream about extreme socialism and - it's clear as day now - to use the Trumpian dog whistles as fast as he can think of them.
27
How could a tax increase bankrupt the state?
19
All of this means nothing to the outcome of the election.
Here's my concern with the FL governor's race. In yesterday's primaries, about 100K more republicans voted than Dems (approx 1.6 million vs 1.5 million). This means republican primary voters are more energized than Dems. Where is the blue wave?
I’m afraid that Dems are falling into the same trap that Hillary’s campaign did. Hubris or dangerous overconfidence fanned by overly optimistic press coverage. Say what you will about Obama , but that was one thing he didn’t have. At every campaign rally, he asked his supporters to go out and vote.
Now it's true that FL has a closed primary system. This means a good number of minorities and young people ( the Obama coalition) may not have been able to vote in the primaries.
In fact, a good 30% of FL voters are not registered to either party and
could not vote in the primaries.
What Can You Do?
If you want to help Dem win, put your money where your mouth is and volunteer. Call up Gillum's campaign and ask how you can help with voter turnout. The only thing that matters in an election is voter turnout. Everything else means nothing. Volunteering may involve knocking on doors of known democrats and independents convincing them to vote in this election.
If you are unable to volunteer, make a donation and require that it goes towards voter turnout.
13
For those suggesting this was an innocent utterance, is this a common phrase for him? Can we find another instance of him using this phrase? Ever?
25
A more poignant question would be: can you could find evidence of racism in any of his other on the record remarks from the last 6 years in public office or his 12 years in the JAG corps?
In the last decade-and-a-half, my family has taken five expensive Florida vacations (Disney Word three times, Universal Studios twice). If the racist DeSantis wins in November, there will be no more Florida vacations as I simply cannot condone racism or a state whose voters condone it or look the other way.
15
Racism from the Republican Party has never been a surprise. However, the brazenness of this racism has reached heights not seen since the first half of the 20th century. Nonetheless, the base eats this up because they either support such views or they have no problem supporting racists, which is just as bad.
When the voters of Florida go to the polls this fall, they must turn their backs on racism and vote for Gillum. Looking at states like FL, NC and GA, a grand voter mobilization is needed in these southern states. Republican efforts to suppress voters, especially racial minorities, is part of their goal of remaining perpetually in power even if they don't receive most of the votes. Combining suppression with the racist comments of DeSantis (along with the claims of post-election violence by liberals from Trump), it is clear the stakes are higher than ever in 2018.
9
@Kevin
Maybe it is time for another Freedom Riders moment; people drive, or ride buses to these States and register voters; then get them to the polls. Even in gerrymandered Districts all names have to be on the ballot. This is part of a dying Party desperately trying to stay alive, even when young voters are moving away. The Whigs were powerful once; then they died. The GOP will either up its game, or it will die a slow lingering death.
4
He wants to be Donald trump.
Neglect the victims of the hurricane and forget who he truly is; a good start.
Won’t help him win the seat. But good for a joke.
It’s on him!
7
Let me begin by stating that I am a moderate Republican who is embarrassed that Trump is our president. But, the culture of people jumping to accuse someone of being a racist simply because they used a common expression for making a mistake is one of the reasons Trump won the election. Was the comment in-artful in this political and social climate? Yes. Do I believe it was racist? No. Those who quickly jumped on the bandwagon to attack the comment are merely opportunistic. Let’s not forget that Joe Biden once referred to President Obama as “articulate.” I don’t think most people would suddenly jump to the conclusion that Vice President Biden is a racist.
2
@Greg
Biden did not refer to Obama as someone who was "monkeying" things up. Your post is "inartful" at best; misleading at worst.
2
@Greg. Again, when did “ monkey up” become a common expression??
2
I moved to US from an Asian country 29 years ago. I was welcomed with open arms. I worked hard, went to school up to grad level and made position for myself in the society. I was very proud and thankful for the opportunities I got in this county. I used to say to my friends and family back home what great place this is. Now I cant believe this is the same country which welcomed me with open arms, what happened to this country
19
@Masood
It is not the same country but if it is not to late I say welcome. We are glad to have you.
2
He could have said "mess this up" and everyone would have understood it as politics as usual. By using the other "m" word, he converts the phrase into obscurity and pure racism. Priceless.
13
Campaign donations are a fine answer to dog whistles, even if inadvertent.
15
Surely desantis doesn't feel the need to exhibit his trumpican
creds to the panhandle sector, that couldn't be the point
of the clever dropping of the purposefully ambiguous use
of the phrase, where historical context is hidden behind
an ideological encoded surface. You could just as easily
argue that throwing the socialist label has as much
dog whistle red meat content within as the racist one does.
The cleverness of the juxtaposition is not that it perks up the
ears of the white racist, whose ears are always tuned to
such sweet sounding whistles. Instead it is designed to
inflame the supporters of Gillum, who it is hoped, will
go overboard with expected retorts that can then be used
for tarring via the typical "liberal politically correct" snide aspersion.
Once inflamed they can be counted upon to overreact, and thereby frighten/annoy/irritate (take your pick)
the fence sitting white (or maybe hispanic? or jewish?) independent whose possible favorable take on Gillum himself
could be compromised by worrying about who his allies are. In other words, they may not like his company even if they might like him. This creates a potential negative in their mind that serves as
a wedge that can help create support space for desantis down the road.
e.g.: "Better to join those one is comfortable with than
rubbing shoulders with those who irritate..."
I can see voter registration being a big issue plus turnout
and strong rallying around Gillum within the party.
3
What do you expect from Ron DeSantis, who in one of his campaign ads, in an attempt to send up his own image as a "Trump Lite" wannabe, is seen using building blocks with his toddler, playing "Build a Wall";reading a bedtime story about Trump, saying "I like that," after reading aloud a line from the story, where Trump says, "You're Fired!"; and the ad ends showing the little tyke wearing a red "Make America Great Again" jumper.
Add using a line in the wake of his victory, "monkeying around," clearly aimed at his Democratic opponent, an African-American.
It's one thing to pander to your base during Primaries ( wrong as it is, anyway).
In the general election, you want to reach the masses.
That said, if DeSantis figures what worked for his idol in Trump, why can't lightning strike twice?
Except, lightning can also be (in this context) fatal.
17
DeSantis was Trump's choice. Is there anyone out there who is surprised by such a choice of words by the Republican candidate? How low has the Republican party fallen in the past two decades. From Gingrich to Trump. No fall downhill could have been faster.
I used to vote for Republican candidates for public office when I found them preferable to the Democratic candidate. Never again.
21
I'm not at all surprised by the appearance of racism by Mr. De Santis and two things I note; Trump must like his wife very much and Trump is surrounding himself with military people. That is an ominous sign of the future.
6
Why do I get the feeling 'Monkeying it up' would never have been used in a context where DeSantis was facing a white Democratic opponent? Seems louder than a dog whistle to me and a benefit of the doubt he simply does not deserve.
17
I am not surprised. Ron DeSantis ran on racism and intolerance. Republican voters knew that and voted for him anyway just like they did with Trump.
11
We're too far out to sea for an inch of leeway here. It doesn't matter what you meant or meant to say. Context is absolutely irrelevant. Welcome to Party!
5
It took less than 12hours for Desantis to demean Mayor Gillum and falsely call him a socialist.
Floridians have an opportunity to vote for a higher minimum wage, expanded Medicaid and higher teacher pay. That’s not socialism, it’s good governance.
24
And this is day 1 of the campaign. How much lower can our political climate go? Sad. Twenty five years ago, I considered myself a Republican. I don’t even recognize the party of Lincoln.
9
I don't have to guess if he's speaking in 'dog whistle'; he's an acolyte of Trump, so I don't need to puzzle out the true meaning of individual words; quite simply, anyone who doesn't call out Trump for his racism is either a racist, or indifferent to racism. Channeling Trump also makes one complicit in a raft of criminal conspiracies to undermine the U.S. government, pollute the air, poison and the water, and it also indicates a willingness to unwind the revolutionary consumer protections that were created by the Obama administration to protect people from predatory practices. No guesswork required.
10
Trump's political disciples have no decency or fear; they have been unleashed by our unhinged president.
Trump referencing Pocahontas in the Oval Office, in the presence of the Navajo code talkers, in front of a painting of Andrew Jackson, is just one example of Trump releasing the hounds.
With DeSantis very targeted and vile comments, Florida voters now have a crystal clear choice.
13
Oh my god! The Republican Party needs sensitivity training. So disturbing that anyone registers and votes Republican.
7
While you're talking about animals Mr. DeSantis, let's talk about the elephant in the room - the GOP symbol - VOTE IT OUT!
11
The reliance of Republicans like DeSantis
on name calling (Liberal! Socialist! Failure! Monkey!) is testimony to the candidates’ intellectual bankruptcy.
Republicans, not Democrats, have been fiscally irresponsible. People, and businesses that employ them, need educational systems that work, affordable healthcare, and up-to-date infrastructure. Such things cost money, so people must pay taxes. Ideally, the burden of paying taxes is fairly distributed.
If Florida needs to spend more money to improve its economic competitiveness and its citizens’ quality of life, of course it will need to add taxes. Tax money spent for education, preventive healthcare and infrastructure is investment, not merely consumption. It’s a good thing. Only someone as simpleminded as a Republican thinks that the police, prisons and the military are the only appropriate targets for public expenditures.
In the great expansion of the American economy after WWII taxes were high. The Interstate highway system was built. Great state universities were tuition-free for state residents. Highways and universities were bipartisan priorities. Socialists were our Cold War enemies in the USSR. No one conflated strong public services, progressive taxation and fiscal responsibility with socialism.
Name-calling bullies belong in the Principal’s office, not the governor’s mansion.
14
So it took, what, a couple of hours for overt racism to rear its ugly head (just as I have predicted elsewhere in comments on this election). And De Santis, true to Trump, then tried to walk the comment back.
They will throw anything that sticks at Gillum, not only race but the FBI probe of Tallahassee government and a progressive agenda that means higher taxes (which seniors hate).
Unfortunately, racism and smear tactics will work.
White voters still form the majority here. Many of them are crypto racists, and some not so crypto. Result: Gillum hasn't a prayer.
2
God you have given us another trump. Please forgive us forgive us for whatever we have done to deserve this. We promise to try to be better in the future.
16
I really hope, while Florida remains above water, that they have a progressive governor helping Floridians to resettle to higher ground. The lives of Floridians will be much much worse if they have a racist climate change denier controlling the state response.
20
It doesn't take very long for people aspiring to high office start on a racist rant. If people from his own party can't understand that this is unacceptable in 2018, then we are really on the road back to the dark ages.
21
@phacker
Actually phacker, nobody from his own party thought about black people when they heard the word "monkey".
That's completely on the democrats (just read the comments here if you don't believe me), don't try scraping it off on us!!
1
@phacker. If America believed in trains you'd be on a bullet train to the dark ages.
2
I am astounded to read what the Republican nominee for Florida governor said. He had to be deliberate; the expression is "muck this up."
This truly shows the thinking and ugliness of so many Republicans.
34
This is a Great Moment For Florida!! The Decent Christian White Voters of the Republican Party have spoken and chosen Mr DeSantis. The beliefs of this gentleman and his followers have made America What It Is Today. You'd have to be blind to not see this for what it is. And here we are and Jesus must be so proud of us.
7
@Upwising
Made America what it is today? An imperialistic monster who violates international law and geneva conventions? How can anyone be proud of the invasion of Iraq, Guanatomao Bay, waterboarding, and the overseas prisons. Think!
1
@wayne griswald I think you missed the sarcasm.
3
It’s plainly evident that Trump and the GOP plan on upcoming election cycle devolving into a racial conflict. The 1970’s saw the rise of black voices in the Democratic Part and the southern strategy take hold in the GOP. Now, with so much on the line, all pretense will be thrown by the wayside. Trump blatantly appealed to racial animosity, his party will follow suit. Buckle you seatbelts.
8
Sometimes a cigar is a cigar. Nothing more.
16
@L, L says, "Sometimes a cigar is a cigar. Nothing more." Yes, and sometimes a cracker is a cracker. Nothing more.
19
@L
this is more then a cigar....it's 1984 white wash.
5
@L I thought a cigar was a smoke!
That sounds more like a train whistle.
16
Well, that didn't take long at all. *sigh*
18
My jaw just dropped. Why any intelligent (?) person running for public office would want to polarize himself in such a disgraceful way is insane. Why appeal only to the base and to the base among us? Why aren't politicians trying to do the right thing by encompassing all Americans? We've come a long way on the party system, but its current corrupt use to simply divide the country along racial lines fails us now.
35
It’s not surprising that an endorser and protege of Donald Trump, as well as a member of the US House’s arch-conservative Freedom Caucus would send a racist dog whistle like this immediately following the primary. There are so many words other than “monkey” that he could have effectively used. This was intentional. The governor’s race in Florida may well be a referendum on racism and where the voters of Florida stand on that issue. Trump has taken us back at least 50 years regarding the ugliness of racism. Let’s hope that Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis doesn’t set Florida back another 50 years. Support Andrew Gillum!
39
We used to be better than this. Didn't we?
169
Better only in the sense that it was better hidden. The racism, misogyny, callousness etc. have been there but now Trump has made it ok to be open about it (aided by Fox, of course). Not being "PC" is just a way of saying we don't have to worry about being racist now. VOTE!
10
@John ... depends which "we" you mean. If you mean the Republican partu after it absorbed the Southern Democrats ... the answer is "no." It's been race-baiting all the way after Nixon's "southern strategy."
Some of it has actually dog-whistled though, as opposed to this.
2
@John Perhaps. Or, perhaps, as the last 40+ years of oddly & remarkably made comments,thinking, etc. have just been a return to what America was (or maybe a sizeable segment hoped for daily):
"THEY" had slavery around here once, and "THEY" liked it.
Despicable.
1
Ron, don't raise taxes; institute some tariffs
1
Well we see DeSantis is going after his base big time.
11
Hard to believe that anyone could plead ignorance that a reference to "monkey" in connotation with an African-American politician is racist. Not in 2018. Not a mere five months after Roseanne Barr's "planet of the apes" tweet about Valerie Jarrett.
It's not just what Mr. DeSantis thinks about his opponent for governor, Mr. Gillum. It's what he thinks about the 17% of Floridians who are African-American as well.
To give Mr. DeSantis the benefit of the doubt, perhaps it wasn't a racist dog whistle. Perhaps he just misspoke. Of course, that would make him inarticulate.
27
The racist comment made by Ron DeSantis was not a slip of the tongue but a deliberate coded message to Floridians to reject Andrew Gillum’s candidacy based solely on his race. Insinuating that Florida would turn into a zoo is unbecoming of any public official but DeSantis took a page out of the president’s book of how to win votes and insult people. Being on the left of the political spectrum is one thing but to dehumanize an opponent is beyond the pale.
DeSantis fired the opening salvo in this campaign for the governor’s office and since he’s a clone of the president, Florida voters are in for a nasty campaign this fall.
233
The “articulate” “performer” will “monkey it up.” A racist trifecta!
6
Terri Rizzo and Andrew Gillum will regret trying to stop this campaign dead in its tracks with these silly, baseless accusations. When will the Dems begin to understand that most voters have no interest in their divisive identity politics. These guys will have to engage in a real conversation in order to make any headway or end up exactly where HC did.
12
@Billy H.
???? bizarro world
9
@Billy H. What planet are you living on? It's ONLY right wingers that overtly appeal to racial prejudice. ONLY. And you're enabling it.
17
Billy H.,
Using the phrase, "identity politics," is divisive.
6
No dog whistling, just racist shouting. Horrid, horrid racist shouting.
223
Vile. Vote and get out the vote to ensure a thinly disguised racist doesn’t win.
138
Racist is as racist does — and speaks. Trump and his supporters are disgusting throwbacks — with luck the people of Florida will see through their dirty tricks and vote for their own best interest.
100
I am a Florida voter. Gillum was a surprise winner, mainly because the pollsters didn't talk to black voters and therefore predicted his opponents would win the primary. That may have been polling oversight or because black voters declined to be counted or participate. I am not black, but even I always decline to participate in any sort of poll enquiry via phone or email. There are too many scammers just trying to get money from you one way or another under the guise of wanting your opinion. But the vote is in, with the result that there will be a black Democrat candidate for Florida's gubernatorial race, I think the latent racism of many Republicans in Florida like DeStantis will be triggered. They can't help themselves. Ultimately, Florida is a purple state and can go either way. This will be interesting.
159
@MimiB
Let's hope it is 'interesting' to the betterment of Floridians and the country!
4
It would be interesting for DeSantis to just come out and make even bolder racist statements for then Floridians could make a clear choice between the racist white supremacy candidate and the progressive inclusive candidate. If DeSantis gets to keep ducking the racist tag, his supporters also get to duck that tag and I´d rather have them have to make the unambiguous choice of declaring their racism or supporting democracy. There is irony in his surname meaning one who is holy and devout. I guess he devout in his racist bent, but certainly not holy.
67
Did he really say that? Is this even possible?
112
@Tom
Sadly, in Trump’s America, yes.
14
@Tom. What is so bizarre is that he thought it needed to be said. Gillum's race is pretty obvious and racists are going to be well aware of it. What a monumentally stupid thing to do. The *only* explanation is that he had to firmly establish his racist cred in case there was any doubt. He succeeded.
America is destroying itself.
6
@Tom yes and yes
3
I have recently moved to Pennsylvania from having lived for over two decades in Florida. This is my hope for the citizens of Florida: that this racist comment will become part of Florida's ubiquitous TV political ad directed again DeSantis. Those who cannot tolerate having the Monster in the White House will, I hope, be very, very motivated to be certain that Florida doesn't have this monster in their governor's mansion.
172
@eric
I don't think the people voting for Santis are offended by this remark.
3
Although I’m not a Floridian does this suprise anyone really?
11
One of the great things about this Trump era...the bigots are not shy about coming out of their caves and being identified for future reference.
241
So much for civility.
29
@Mrs.ArchStanton
As you will have noticed in the past few years, republicans no longer even pretend to be civil. Racism, misogyny, and any other nasty "ism" are out there on full display. They are utterly shameless--just like their "leader" in the White House.
As another commenter noter here, however: there is some good to this. The mask is off, and they will never again be able to pretend they are anything but bigots. America has seen the republican party for what it ACTUALLY is and stands for, and the majority of us are appalled.
6
The thing that troubles me about this, and this goes for virtually everything out of Trump's mouth as well, is that legions of supporters are willing to play dumb and pretend there was no intent here, while secretly high fiving each other over the veiled racism.
Florida, I know you haven't been at your best politically in, well, ever, but we definitely need to do better. Replacing a climate change denier (as Miami is returned to the ocean) with someone who pretends racism isn't a thing is a step back we can't afford to make.
170
That’s not veiled!
1
Well well well, it didn't take long for Republicans to appeal to to their basest, racist instincts, did it? I hasn't been a day since the election.
260
Well, Bless His Heart....
19
In case anyone is wondering “bless his heart” translates to “what a fool”.
7
I expect ugly. Broadcast TV will be unwatchable. With either - Florida will miss Rick Scott.
2
@BenT
Scott is busily buying himself a Senate seat--Florida won't miss him, and the rest of America will now be harmed by him.
3
Oh PLEASE. To "monkey" something up is a common phrase and probably one that DeSantis just pulled out of his head as a stream of consciousness choice while speaking in public. Do we honestly have to ascribe the very worst possible interpretation of everything to everyone? How tiresome -- and that's my opinion as a minority!
10
@GSC
Nonsense. I've never heard the phrase "monkey (something) up — and I'm 72 years old. I've heard "muck it up," "eff it up," "screw it up" and "mess it up." This is clearly a racist comment.
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@GSC in this case we do have to ascribe the worst. If he didn’t know he should have. As an attorney he is apparently looking for an ambulance to chase
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@Philip S. Wenz
If this is the first time you've heard the phrase, how do you know what it means?
1
So who are the ones who don't hear the whistle?
Please identify yourselves. I'd be happy to pay for a few hearing tests. Maybe we can start a Kickstarter campaign to have these people's hearing tested...???
One more deplorable rises from the swamp. How nice.
85
Disgusting. But what else can you expect from a Trump-backed candidate?
207
Having apparently served in the U.S. Navy, DeSantis has associated himself with the Navy SEALs, saying he was an advisor, though it appears he was a lawyer not a warrior. Maybe he fixed parking tickets. Perhaps bone spurs kept him from joining his advisees in receiving the coveted SEALS trident. Certainly, he would like their luster to rub off on him. I am equally confident of two things: 1) a shameless opportunist like DeSantis can be elected governor in a mixed-bag state of sensibilities like Florida 2) the SEALs don't deserve to be soiled by his chest-beating appeal to racists.
120
The reporter needs to provide the complete list of words and phrases that a candidate competing against a African-American candidate is allowed to use. The list should be long enough so that each candidate in such a sensitive situation has some slim chance of not offending this reporter but yet can still speak recognizable English in complete sentences.
7
@Peter Johnson: when i read the headline,
my first remark [to myself] was: "of all the figures
of speech american english abounds with ..."
it is not just "this reporter" who feels uncomfortable
with the expression desantis used - and i do understand
that plenty of people get annoyed at "all too much PC!"
you are trying to "boil this down a bit" using some irony.
fine with me. when it comes to complete sentences ...
i haven't heard too many of those from, well, you know,
there's this current occupant of the white house who ...
@Peter Johnson. You may find this astonishing, but it is actually possible to communicate in American English without implying racist slurs. I have done it my entire life.
4
@Emily Pickrell
I doubt that your claim is valid -- it is near-impossible to do this for your whole life. You have just not had a team of reporters following you around your whole life, trying to reinterpret each word or phrase as a dog-whistle. That is a different claim, and certainly true. No one could speak carefully enough to never utter any word or phrase that could be misinterpreted by the PC police. You would need to spend your entire life with a team of speechwriters, poring over each word or phrase. Impossible.
Ruh-roh! Can't wait for more comments.
3
Why took Republicans so long to play the race card?
16
How utterly vile. I guess we'll learn in November what the good people of Florida think of having this man as their representative.
47
Ron DeSantis should go into the back of his clothes closet and dig out his "Glory Suit" to wear at his next rally, so that the people of Florida will know who and what he really is.
41
Trump, DeSantis..they represent the lowest of depths to which the Republican Party has now sunk. Overt racism and bigotry are their strongest cards. The GOP readied their hard core base for Trump and DeSantis with eight years of anti-Obama hatred.
These racists and bigots have always been there. Donald Trump has now legitimized them and they are now coming out from under their rocks. Those who remain Republicans adore Trump, a lifelong racist and bigot who has become their voice. They won't go back under their rocks until we get Trump out of the White House by voting out his Republican lackeys across the land.
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@jefflz Exactly. Great comment.
1
Or, just maybe, he was referencing the "quit monkeying around" we all heard from our parents growing up. Poor choice of words given our hyper sensitive penchant for finding racism and drama in every statement. I'm sure if he ordered white crackers as a side dish someone would find a way to make it ugly.
7
@Midwest Josh
In the past, I would agree with you. People sometimes make odd word choices that can be misinterpreted. But when you align yourself with a clearly racist president, this is what you get. Every word you speak will be seen through that lens. And don't tell me Trump isn't a racist. Save it for someone who only watches state run tv.
9
@Midwest Josh. Yes, it was indeed a poor choice of words. Waiting for the apology ...
Oh! Wait! He's not going to give one because *he's* the victim of political correctness?
We all heard lots of things when we were growing up, but now that we ARE grown up, we don't say them ourselves. At least most of us don't.
7
@Midwest Josh: yes, some people might get annoyed
at the constant references to "political correctness".
is it so hard to accept that we think everybody
deserves to be treated with utmost respect?
out of all the figures of speech american english
abounds with, desantis picks the ONE with the animal.
even if he did it inadvertently ... [and exposed his bias?],
the fact that some people are rather far from amused
should be enough reason to pause and reconsider,
don't you think?
well, that escalated quickly!
7
The symbol of the GOP should no longer be an elephant but a white capirote.The southern strategy is alive and well and more overt than ever. Let all good people of all colors, religions and ethnicities join hands and renounce these racists. Vote in November to end the Republican reign of terror.
31
Trump's disciple. How low can he go? Disgusting.
16
I think it's conceivable that DeSantis didn't intend his comment as a dog whistle, but is simply racist and it just comes naturally to him to use such racist language.
19
@Joe Exactly - intent is NOT required to be racist.
2
As someone famous would say, "Woa Nelly!". The ink on the newspapers' election results are not dry yet, and De Santis has shown his ugly head in a racist comment. It's going to be a bumpy fall in Florida. A hurricane coming from Tallahassee is growing.
38
OK Depiggly, tell the jury to not hear what has already been said. I'm losing patience with the GOP and their enablers.
10
disgusting but par for the course in the age of trumpism ...
12
You can tell DeSantis is really just your average racist Trump supporter...I hope the non-racists show up AND are allowed to vote AND that the votes aren't hacked...Trump really is the best of Russian assets.
9
Gotta love a bunch of nervous white democrats so anxious to prove they're really, really not racist that they hear the word "monkey" and the first thing they think of is "black person"!!!!
Seriously folks, it's the 21st century. Assuming the word monkey is some how related to black people is disgusting.
1
@Gaul Bladder I expect there are a lot of readers here who are old enough to remember when that type of slur was commonly used in open conversation, and not just in the south. It is bothersome to see it not only coming out again, but condoned by people who are trained in more subtler forms of racism and denigration of others.
3
Someone needs to ask the trump [sic] clone, DeSantis, what year this is, 2018 or 1918? Sitting in my frig now is a container of Florida's Natural OJ, and it will be the last one, too, if the overt racism of DeSantis prevails in Florida. Can I get a list of other Florida products to boycott?
11
Wish the press would stop being so genteel. It is not a dog whistle. It is out-and-out racism, same as that practiced by Trump and all Republicans every single day. They are the epitome of evil.
37
Of all the words DeSantis could have used, he chose 'articulate' and 'monkey'.
At best, this means DeSantis is a sheltered white man who's never had a single conversation about race.
12
@circleofconfusion
wrong. he used this type of talk in the navy. but only when no one of color was within earshot.
this type of talk is rampant in the military when you are with your buddies.
3
Looks like Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis is the New Roseanne Barr.
34
Only a moron would interpret this as racist. Or, plenty of morons desperate enough to hammer the same tired sentiment home to virtue signal where no virtue is present. There will be no 'blue wave', so stop patting yourselves on the back while foaming at the mouth. "Absurd" is right.
2
Dog whistle, you say? More like a fire siren. How can any patriotic American or, for that matter, considerate person still tolerate this kind of garbage? If you want to vote for the GOP because you hate taxes (of which Florida has very few), make the economic argument. But, please, try letting go of the low-class race baiting mantras.
52
C'mon Florida, you've got this. Make Florida blue again!
24
I look back fondly and wave at America in the rearview mirror.
Through the front windshield I see flames, Nazi banners, and MAGA hats.
48
Ms. Jacobs, You are too forgiving. "Racist dog whistles" can be be subtle enough that you may have some doubt about their real intent. Mr. DeSantis' comment that voters should not “monkey this up” by electing his black opponent is not at all subtle. As Mr. Gillum correctly said, “They’re now using full bull horns.”
46
"Monkey it up" is no dog whistle. It's a bullhorn cranked up to volume 11.
DeSantis knows exactly what he's doing, and he knows the demographic he wants to target with that racist remark.
105
When you win, Mr. Gillum, and he goes to shake your hand in congratulations, hand him a banana. Vote Gillum!!!!
18
Unbelievable. There’s absolutely nothing leftists won’t find “racism” in. I’ve used and had that term used around me in a school and professional context. This kind of PC nonsense is why Trump got elected.
2
All I can think is "What a complete idiot". To think that would even be acceptable. Can someone be that clueless ? I think not.
14
Despicable. Of course he has DT's support. Birds of a racist feather flock together.
10
“To characterize it as anything else is absurd.”—DeSantis spokesman.
Well, as they used to say on the streets of Roxbury, “the (stuff’s) on now.” Monkey?”
Really, Mr. DeSantis, are you really scared of being scarred as “the last white governor of Florida,” the one who might go down in the history books as “the guy who lost Florida?”
How different is this from Donald Trump’s birther nonsense?
How different is this from South Carolina’s Joe Wilson yelling “You lie!” as President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress on his health care plan?
How different is this from Mitch McConnell’s plan for a “one-term president
How different is this from refusing to put to a vote Judge Merrick Garland’s name?
Oh, and how about the West Virginia official who described First Lady Michelle Obama as “a (sic) ape in heels?” No; “monkey” was ice-pick deliberate. As you meant it to be. A dog-whistle on Day One.
What does “monkey” have to do with the above brief list of disrespectful behavior toward the black president (and his family)? It moves race and racial characteristics into the political arena for a specific purpose: to inflame white voters to (a) fear; (b) resentment and (c) anger, all of them tried and true staples of Donald Trump’s playbook.
Mr. DeSantis, you wanted “monkey” out there from Jump Street.
43
I don't think that DeSantis has ever had to worry about his use of patronizing, dehumanizing terms for a black man before the general election began today. It's only a plus with the Republican party base.
Right wing media and Republican operatives spent years denying that Obama earned his degrees and could speak without a teleprompter, and then the base turns and elects a patently stupid man like Trump....it's racism. Always was.
35
Dog whistle? Seriously? That was straight up racist.
124
Mr. DeSantis' statement is shameful, disgusting and vulgar. He has showed the true person he is. President Trump must be so proud of him. Two disgusting, vile and hateful birds of a feather.
30
Sorry to be so negative, but if the Trumper wins in November, Florida seals it’s fate as a flyover state, home to “stand your ground” killers and Deplorables. Ana Navarro will have to move to D.C. or out West where the sun will still be shining.
24
Hopefully, his supporters won't go all crackers over the media attention.
12
@Lew
Or maybe you should have said, "hopefully, his supporters won't go all bananas over the media attention"?
1
The meaning of the quote is ambiguous. It could be monumentally offensive or it could have been entirely innocuous. I am tired of all the reporting of what may or may not be news. The media should report what matters and should handle what may or may not matter as essentially meaningless. I don' care for maybe news that may be offensive or may not be. I like hard news, the kind of stuff I can take to the bank. When the media tells me it's up to me what I think, they are calling for speculation and they should pay me $15/month to tell them what the news is.
4
@michjas There is no ambiguity here. The common phrase is don't monkey around which would not make sense given the context. Don't mess this up or don't blow this opportunity would have worked. DeSantis instead chose to juxtapose voters potential choice of Gillum with the word "monkey". The whistle was so loud, dogs had to cover their ears. Stop pretending otherwise.
25
DeSantis, with his obvious racism, thinks he's so clever. His misplaced assumption of his own deft wit only highlights his laughable -- if only the subject matter weren't so serious -- ignorance.
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@Jim Steinberg: right.. I'm trying to figure out in what forum if any would you use the phrase "monkey it up" and was unable to come up with one... I am quite sure Trump was behind it..any Republican that is elected will be a "yes man" someone trump can control.. and we as AMERICAN PEOPLE not DEMOCRATS needs to stop it..we need people (Democrats or Republicans) who will get in there and not let a racist, narcissist greedy man that's only in there to help his "base" which means the millionaires and billionaires (sorry but that's what he means when he said that, not the working class Republicans.. y'all are his fan base) friends of his destroy our country anymore than he has already... he's running scare and playing on people's fears by saying that if the Democrats get in there come November that they will "VIOLENTLY" UNDO EVERYTHING HE HAS DINE..but yet Trump you had no problem aggressively undoing all that Obama has done.. didn't mean to make this so long..thanks for taking the time to read this
21
What a silly thing to get upset about. “Obvious racism”. Give me a break. Not a Trump or DeSantis supporter, but this kind of attack is just pure, unadulterated party politics. NYT, you’re better than this.
7
@Jim Steinberg
Amazingly, as I look at the current list of "NYT Picks" five of the seven are people trying to deny there is anything racist about DeSantis saying that voting for his black opponent would be "monkeying things up", whereas few people out of the 167 that have commented thus far are trying to deny it.
It appears that the NYT staff is cherry-picking them to get them more views and votes.
6