Former President Barack Obama took a passive shot at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) in an endorsement video Friday of DeSantis’ gubernatorial opponent Charlie Crist (D).
“Hey Florida, we have a lot of work to do. And it starts with making Charlie Crist your next governor,” Obama said, adding, “So if you’re ready for a governor who cares about people instead of bullying them, who will fight for voting rights, and a woman’s right to choose, who understands the challenges you’re facing every day, and who will fight for you — vote for Charlie Crist.”
Obama’s remarks are laughable considering Crist has referred to DeSantis using derogatory language, including calling the governor “DeSatan.”
Obama doesn’t mention Ron DeSantis by name here, but he does say Charlie Crist “cares about people, instead of bullying them.” pic.twitter.com/fsYMIgbbT5
— Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) October 21, 2022
WESH 2 News noted that DeSantis picked up numerous endorsements on the same day, including the National Federation of Independent Business Florida PAC, the Florida Trucking Association PAC, the Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida, and the Florida Home Builders Association.
“It’s wonderful to have these endorsements here today,” DeSantis said. “And I think particularly on this day when we have the state-by-state unemployment numbers put out. Florida’s unemployment rate is now 2.5%.”
DeSantis said that this was the first time in 88 years that the Florida Trucking Association PAC has ever made a political endorsement.
Obama previously campaigned for DeSantis’ last opponent, disgraced Democrat Andrew Gillum, in the 2018 election.
Just a couple of years later in 2020, Gillum, who is married and has children, was found in a hotel room with a male escort and suspected baggies of crystal meth.
Gillum was charged in federal court this summer with 21 felonies related to his failed 2018 Florida gubernatorial campaign.
“A federal grand jury has returned a twenty-one count indictment against Andrew Demetric Gillum, 42, and Sharon Janet Lettman-Hicks, 53, both of Tallahassee, Florida,” the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida said in a statement.
“The Indictment alleges that between 2016 and 2019, defendants Gillum and Lettman-Hicks conspired to commit wire fraud, by unlawfully soliciting and obtaining funds from various entities and individuals through false and fraudulent promises and representations that the funds would be used for a legitimate purpose,” the statement said. “The Indictment further alleges the defendants used third parties to divert a portion of those funds to a company owned by Lettman-Hicks, who then fraudulently provided the funds, disguised as payroll payments, to Gillum for his personal use.”
“Both defendants are charged with 19 counts of wire fraud,” the statement added. “Gillum is also charged with making false statements to agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
If found guilty, Gillum faces up to five years in prison for making false statements, 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and 20 years in prison per charge for wire fraud.