Critics blast Ron DeSantis for 'monkey this up' comment about Andrew Gillum agenda

Jeffrey Schweers | Tallahassee Democrat

Show Caption Hide Caption Andrew Gillum, Ron DeSantis disagree on 5 things, agree on 1 One is backed by President Donald Trump, the other has Sen. Bernie Sanders' support.

Ron DeSantis, the Republican nominee for Florida Governor told Fox News this morning that Florida shouldn't "monkey this up" by embracing the agenda of Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum less than 12 hours after both won their respective primaries.

"The last thing we need to do is monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting the state," DeSantis said in an interview this morning on FOX News about running against the Tallahassee mayor.

The Florida Democratic Party responded immediately.

A historic win and a fiery beginning:

Day 1 of DeSantis vs Gillum and DeSantis on Fox News uses the phrase “monkey this up” describing the race. pic.twitter.com/khKg6OA64J — Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) August 29, 2018

"It's disgusting that Ron DeSantis is launching his general election campaign with racist dog whistles," FDP Chairwoman Terrie Rizzo said in a news release.

Gillum spokesman Geoff Burgan said the campaign was letting the FDP respond. "DeSantis' comments speak for themselves," Burgan said.

Ana Navarro, a Republican strategist and political consultant who frequently contributes to Telemundo, took to Twitter to criticize DeSantis.

"As a Floridian, it was my hope this Governor’s race would be about the pressing issues facing our state -rising tides, algae outbreak, trade, economy, jobs," Navarro said. "I had hoped it would not be one were racism was front and center. That hope lasted all of 10 hours."

Stephen Lawson, communications director for the DeSantis campaign, said in an email that “Ron DeSantis was obviously talking about Florida not making the wrong decision to embrace the socialist policies that Andrew Gillum espouses. To characterize it as anything else is absurd."

After the Desantis campaign issued its clarification, FOX News Anchor Sandra Smith of American Newsroom issued the following statement:

FOX News' Smith issued the following statement after the DeSantis campaign issued the clarification:

“A little while ago, we had Ron DeSantis, the Republican nominee for governor in Florida on for an interview to discuss the Florida election. During the interview, he made what some are calling an inappropriate comment about his democratic opponent, Andrew Gillum.

"We do not condone this language and wanted to make our viewers aware that he has since clarified his statement. Also, Mayor Gillum will be on with Shepard Smith today at 3PM.”

"IT'S ABSURD..."

Congressman #RonDeSantis responds to controversial comment, in regards to his black opponent, #AndrewGillum, in the Florida governor's race.

DeSantis said: "The last thing we need to do is to monkey this up."

*WATCH* HIS RESPONSE HERE. #Fox35 pic.twitter.com/By7qopsbTh — Stephen Hauck (@FOX35Stephen) August 29, 2018

DeSantis would later tell a Fox affiliate in Orlando he was talking solely about Gillum's policies.

"I want it to be about issues. I don't want it to be about personalities... It's absurd to think I'm trying to take a jab at anyone for ethnic or racial reasons."

Contact Schweers at jschweers@tallahassee.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffschweers.