FAN-GATE: The Most Insane 4 Minutes You'll Ever See At A Political Debate Just Happened In Florida

[kpete]

UPDATED TO ADD TOON:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/15/rick-scott-debate-fan_n_5993412.html

Rick Scott Almost Refused To Debate Charlie Crist Over A Fan

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a an extremely peculiar situation right now," debate moderator Elliot Rodriguez of CBS Miami told the crowd, as the camera panned to two empty lecterns onstage. Seconds later, Crist walked onstage, but Scott was absent.

"We have been told that Governor Scott will not be participating in this debate," Rodriguez explained. "Governor Crist has asked to have a small fan placed underneath his podium. The rules of the debate that I was shown by the Scott campaign say that there should be no fan. Somehow there is a fan there, and for that reason, ladies and gentlemen, I am being told that Governor Scott will not join us for this debate."

Members of the audience booed loudly.

"That's the ultimate pleading of the Fifth I've ever heard in my life," Crist said.

Former Florida Charlie Crist brought a small table fan to the Florida Governors' debate tonight and Governor Rick Scott tried to invoke "stand his ground" by refusing to take the stage.

Governor Scott relented after a few minutes of extreme awkwardness and finally took the stage to a mix of applause and boos.

..............

much more & GREAT tweets, comments, etc, etc, pass it along:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/15/rick-scott-debate-fan_n_5993412.html
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2014/10/15/3580470/rick-scott-fan-debate-tantrum/http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/10/15/1336897/-Breaking-Rick-Scott-invokes-stand-your-ground-over-Crist-Debate-Fan

[OregonBlue]

1. Was Scott mic'd up and his people had to check to make sure the "fan" didn't interfere with

his reception? Just sayin.

[ThoughtCriminal]

2. If the fan was on the ballot

it might win.

[Takket]

4. Nah, the fan blows!

[bigwillq]

10. bwah!

[Rod Beauvex]

28. Well turn it around then. :p

[xfundy]

3. What a reptile.

[shenmue]

7. Oh yes

He looks like something out of the original "V" series. 😹

[Hassin Bin Sober]

27. I guess Scott figured he would have the upper claw with aquarium level heat and humidity.

The plan was to make the human sweat while Scott's cold blood basked under the heat lamps.

[Aerows]

5. What a petty asshole

Rick Scott is.

[Cha]

6. Brawaaaaaa.. I kept reading these headlines and was thinking of a wee fan of

Scott's..

[Cha]

8. "That's the ultimate pleading of the Fifth I've ever heard in my life," Crist said

[stevenleser]

9. And with that I think we can say goodbye to Governor Skeletor/Voldemort. nt

[Major Hogwash]

31. Naw, Crist didn't use a silver bullet.

Scott will be back, he'll crawl out of the grave and make another attack on Christ.

Weirdlings like Scott usually make their attacks right after dusk falls.

[alp227]

11. even though this incident is pretty funny, the rules do not allow a fan under podium. nt

[madville]

13. If the written rules said no fans

Why was Crist allowed to have a fan in the first place?

I don't get it, why not just send a crew member out there to remove the fan per the rules?

[Hissyspit]

29. Why in the hell would fans not be allowed?

[Roland99]

20. They don't? Guess the WaPo is lying

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/10/15/charlie-crist-rick-scott-and-a-fan-in-one-of-the-most-bizarre-debate-moments-ever-video/

[Major Hogwash]

32. Scott's face should be on wanted posters!!!

Fuck the rulez!

[Thor_MN]

35. What I've read was no electronics, which the douchy host was saying as no fans.

Fans are not electronic, they are electric.

[Zambero]

39. Electronic devices could be used to feed facts to a tonguetied debater

Fans, on the other hand do not do this. They move hot air around, the type of hot air generated by the Rick Scotts of this world. Scott was willing to stake his candidacy on a far-fetched literal interpretation of the rules, and it blew up in his face. He no doubt made the snap decision to rejoin the debate after witnessing a few embarrassing minutes of air time with Crist waiting at the podium, realizing that the whole staged scene was not going well for him. And when his highness the emperor finally appeared, he was naked as a jaybird.

[samsingh]

47. yes you are right

[cwydro]

12. What an idiot.

But with the hot flashes I endure, I would HAVE to have a fan.

Maybe he has male menopause?

Or doesn't want to be caught sweating in a lie...

[JaneyVee]

16. Crist had the fan, not Scott.

[cwydro]

17. Oh dear. My bad.

Now I'm going to have another hot flash.

[cwydro]

18. Lived in Florida for over 20 years.

Not wild about either of them. Met Crist in person and was not impressed.

Florida is a corrupt backwater of a state (as are so many others).

I still love Florida. I didn't live there for the politicians.

I lived there for the birds, the diving, the fish, the coconuts, the peace in my kayak on the water.

I miss it.

[ChiciB1]

41. We've Had Many Democratic Governors...

Two very notable... Lawton Chile AND Senator Bob Graham who decided not to run for re-election after he cast a vote NOT to support War in Iraq!

Moderate yes, but Democrats.

[PAProgressive28]

14. Scott wasn't holding out over the fan

He was just stuck in line waiting to vote and ran late

[BrotherIvan]

15. What a fucking idiot

Bye bye criminal.

[progressoid]

19. OFFS.

[Sparkly]

21. So that's what was under W's suit during that debate with Kerry...

It was a FAN all along...

[zentrum]

23. Good one! n/t

[nirvana555]

26. I don't understand. Seriously. Is there a reason why an individual can't have a fan?

Could someone enlighten me?

[Jamastiene]

34. Here is the best answer I have found:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5672732

[samsingh]

48. it still perplexes me that there has been no answer and no other media questions about that clear

issue

[Marr]

22. What a weirdo. Has Chuck Todd weighed in on whether or not this "disqualifies" him?

[geardaddy]

40. +1

[IDemo]

45. No

It means he understands the impact of technology on political discourse.

/sarc

[SoapBox]

24. Scott...stupid fuck.

Florida...really? Seriously? This who you would want to lead your state?

I hope you wise up.

[Rex]

25. Imagine what would have happened if there was no mint on the pillow?

Do you think Scott would have hidden in the bathroom, until one was properly placed? Scott can barely perform above robot level. Typical repuke elite.

[Jamastiene]

30. What a spoiled rotten asshole.

That is so incredibly silly. Does he think he's a rock star or something?

[SmittynMo]

33. A couple of things come to mind?

Was it "fans" that were specifically stated? Or was it any/all electronic devices? And why? Isn't a microphone an electronic device? I'd like to see these rules that Scott set forth by the moderator? And who is Scott to set the rules. Why didn't Chris know about them?

The end of the video looks like dipshit finally showed up. What was said after that? I'd really like to see that?

Too many questions and not enough answers.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

36. It turns out the Christ crew amended the contract prior to signature to add a fan "if necessary"

[kpete]

38. lol

[vadermike]

37. haha

This should be his final nail in the coffin.. this will probably hurt his campaign.. and if he was trailing before.. he will fall further behind.. what a unforced error this turned out to be for scott!! LOL

[ChiciB1]

43. Don't Bet On Anything Until After November 4!

I'm not letting my guard down, I live here.

[geardaddy]

42. Face it, Skeletor, you have no fans. n/t

[JCMach1]

44. My take on the fan

[NJCher]

46. that is so perfect and so funny

Cher

[barbtries]

49. on the local news here in NC

it was all about how the fan was not allowed, and how the lights make you sweat, and someone was trying to play unfairly.