Fla. gov. fires back at "latte liberal" who scolded him at Starbucks
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A political committee set up by Florida Gov. Rick Scott is criticizing the woman who shouted at him in a coffee shop and blasted his support of an anti-abortion law, saying she's a "latte liberal."
Video of the confrontation has been viewed more than 2 million times on YouTube and shows 39-year-old Cara Jennings calling the governor "an embarrassment to our state." She tells him her health care costs had increased because of his policies.
Scott replied that he has created 1 million jobs, before turning around and leaving the Starbucks before getting his coffee.
On Friday, Scott's "Let's Get to Work" committee fired back in its own video that espouses Scott's job creation in Gainesville, where the confrontation occurred. The video begins "You may have seen this video of a terribly rude woman in a coffee shop cursing and screaming at Gov. Rick Scott ... "
Jennings told The Associated Press the governor's video is disappointing and a form of intimidation.
In an interview on Thursday, Jennings said she had been very upset about a bill Gov. Scott signed last week. She said the bill hurts low income women and their access to reproductive healthcare services.
"I've been thinking about that a lot so when Rick Scott walked in I thought 'oh great, this an opportunity to talk to the governor about the bill he signed,'" said Jennings.
She said what people can't see on the video, is that the interaction started out with Jennings turning to Scott and asking him why he signed the bill that, "is damaging for women's healthcare choices."
"He had a very politician, typical politician reaction. He lied," she said. "He said that he doesn't vote on any bills, which is technically correct, but misleading. Because he signed the bill into law. So then I corrected him that he might not have voted on it, but he signed it into law."
Jennings said she then proceeded to explain to the governor that his decision to sign the bill is damaging to low income women, like herself, who rely on public healthcare options.
Jennings said the governor then "very inappropriately" responded by telling her where to receive her healthcare, "As if I shouldn't make that decision myself."