Yesterday a firestorm erupted when Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis said during an interview on Fox News, "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."
His Democrat opponent Andrew Gillum and his friends in the leftist media immediately pounced, saying the use of the term was a "racist bullhorn."
DeSantis has fired back, saying his use of the term had nothing to do with race.
“It has zero to do with race” -FL gubernatorial candidate Rep. Ron DeSantis responds to outrage over his ‘monkey this up’ comment pic.twitter.com/CX5iTMwXtz
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) August 30, 2018
But despite their outrage, Democrats haven't had any trouble regularly using a similar term: "monkeying around." This includes Democrats working directly for President Barack Obama.
Rich Weinstein has compiled a long list:
Dick Durbin “Monkeying Around” pic.twitter.com/SJZbQVomba
— Rich Weinstein (@phillyrich1) August 30, 2018
Jay Carney “Monkeyed Around” pic.twitter.com/pBWvzL2eYG
— Rich Weinstein (@phillyrich1) August 30, 2018
Josh Ernest “Monkeying Around” pic.twitter.com/KUIFQNZ9mf
— Rich Weinstein (@phillyrich1) August 30, 2018
Angus King “Monkeying Around” pic.twitter.com/nKYhnQvjfu
— Rich Weinstein (@phillyrich1) August 30, 2018
But wait, there’s more
— Rich Weinstein (@phillyrich1) August 30, 2018
Chuck Schumer “Monkeying Around” pic.twitter.com/rlW73e2Qab
From WH podium, Clinton Press Sec says "Monkey Around" https://t.co/Fxl8jPukPz
— Rich Weinstein (@phillyrich1) August 30, 2018
Former Dem Presidential Candidate and Sec of State John Kerry thought it was ok to say "Monkey Around" https://t.co/or7baG2nby
— Rich Weinstein (@phillyrich1) August 30, 2018
Democrats thought it was ok when Dem and Former Klansman Robert Byrd used the term "Monkey Around" https://t.co/hk9NGKOWCD
— Rich Weinstein (@phillyrich1) August 30, 2018
I guess its not so racist when Bernie Sanders says "Monkey Around" https://t.co/1VmsgXEgJu
— Rich Weinstein (@phillyrich1) August 30, 2018
7 prominent Democrats- including Bernie Sanders- using the term “Monkey Around”. https://t.co/sLQ4EqeBWR
— Rich Weinstein (@phillyrich1) August 30, 2018
Huge Dem donor Comcast’s Brian Roberts pic.twitter.com/DVVTGgy5TN
— Rich Weinstein (@phillyrich1) August 30, 2018
Are these Democrats also using racist bullhorns? Or are they just politically opportunistic hypocrites?