For a governor who has a tendency to pay his staff much more than those who came before him, Rick Scott seems to be getting the least bang for the most bucks from his PR staff.
The hits just keep on coming from this crew, but this latest one is some piece of work if the goal is to rub the nose of Florida's unemployed in the fate that Scott's handed them.
Press release from the governor's office:
Making donuts, cleaning phone booths, delivering newspapers and selling groceries – all are previous jobs of Governor Rick Scott and tasks he will perform as part of ‘Let’s Get to Work’ Days.
Reviving the tradition started by former Governor and United States Senator Bob Graham, Governor Scott will work at businesses throughout Florida that mirror the jobs he performed on his journey from public housing to the Governor’s mansion.
For a guy who despises Democrats and everything they stand for, it seems he's not above ripping them off for ideas when it suits him, especially when the purpose serves no one but himself. If it does nothing for the citizens of Florida, employed or otherwise, well it serves him well there too.
If you have a strong stomach, here's the rest of the statement:
“Like most Floridians, I have worked hard all my life. I started school in public housing and my family struggled financially,” said Governor Rick Scott. “For that reason I went to work at a young age doing everything from delivering newspapers and cleaning phone booths, to selling groceries and working on a ship in the Navy.”
Governor Scott will aim to do at least one workday each month. The first workday kicks off this Wednesday with the Governor working at a Tampa donut shop, similar to the donut shop he started and his mom operated in Kansas City.
“I was always proud of the jobs I had and learned valuable lessons from each one. My goal as Governor is to be sure every Floridian has the same opportunity to get a job and live the American Dream,” added Governor Scott.
Gotta stop you there a minute, Gov. Does taking the fifth 75 times count among those "valuable lessons?" If so, that's a bit of a shortcut on the road to "living the American Dream" is it not? Maybe a member of the press can ask you that question at your next "historic" press event? (If there is another one.)
But do go on....
Governor Graham started doing workdays in 1977 as a state legislator and gubernatorial candidate in order to experience “the lives of ordinary Floridians firsthand by working their jobs.” Governor Scott is resurrecting this tradition in the hopes that all future Governors and elected officials will also follow in Governor Graham’s footsteps by walking in the shoes of working Floridians.
Those of us who actually lived here in 1977 are well aware all the good that Gov. Graham did for this state (much of which you're working hard to undo, Gov. Scott). Because of that, his reputation is well known even among those who weren't here at the time. Like your baseball buddy, George W. Bush, your recitation of this "history lesson" is given as if it's the first you're hearing of it. To you this may be breaking news. Perhaps you're hoping that those who didn't already know will mistake the tradition for one you started rather than Graham himself, maybe pass the misinformation along in the future? If that's your goal, nice try.
Rather than taking another shortcut, why not take a lesson from what Graham said in a quote you pasted into your own press release:
“I commend Governor Scott on his commitment to understanding the hopes and concerns of Floridians by working with them. I found the workdays to give me an unusual insight not only into how people earn their living, but how they live their lives, pursue their dreams and confront their challenges. I hope that Governor Scott will have the same rich experiences as he commences workdays. I would also encourage other public officials to adopt this means of better understanding the citizens they represent,” stated Governor Graham.
I wouldn't hold my breath on Scott gaining insight into the lives of those who work for a living in pursuit of their dreams. Given his track record for killing jobs and cutting benefits out from under the unemployed, it seems evident that he really doesn't care much about all that. Scott's compassion for others is about as genuine as his cut and paste press releases are.
More details will be announced the afternoon prior to each workday. To suggest jobs for the Governor’s workdays, send an email to Rick.Scott@eog.myflorida.com.
Stay updated on the Governor’s ‘Let’s Get to Work’ Days by following him on Twitter and Facebook.
Here's a suggestion:
What if you spent time in the job you already have: Governing? Sure, we hear you're already doing a spectacular job. We know that because your Republican Party robocalls tell us so!
No, by doing your job I don't mean killing regulations that reassure us those donuts you're pretending to make are actually safe to eat, or cutting the salary of the teacher who is delivering those papers alongside of you to make ends meet. No. I mean working for the people in Florida, not against them.
If you can't do that, then get a real job. Elsewhere.
Because we could really use a governor.
