The contentious special congressional election in Florida's 6th District is over with Rep. Randy Fine (R) defeating Democratic nominee Josh Weil, but the bad blood between Trump-endorsed Rep. Fine and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) continues thanks to State Rep. Mike Caruso's wife Tracy, who has expressed her disdain against Fine for his recent insinuation that Gov. DeSantis was antisemitic.
Mrs. Caruso, who is running to replace her husband in State House District 87 and writes for a very questionable West Palm Beach-centric blog (Jolt), decided to target Rep. Fine over what he said about DeSantis in an interview with us, The Floridian.
The entire post reads like a DeSantis press release, or reads like it was written by someone who is willing to scrape their knees and elbows in order to defend the popular governor's agenda and reputation.
Here is what Caruso wrote:
"The latest accusation occurred when Fine strongly implied in a video that the Governor’s criticism of Representative Cassel’s policies was antisemitic by stating that he finds it “troubling” that the Governor is going after two legislators who happen to be Jewish."
In serving up more proof that questionable reporting and journalism still exists, Caruso blatently refuses to credit the source of the "video" and statement Fine made about DeSantis.
Let's help her out.
Here is what Fine said in the video we shot and posted earlier this week:
“I do find it troubling that two politicians in Florida that he has chosen to take issue with in a very vitriolic way the last few weeks are both Jewish,” said Fine.
But did someone put her up to it?
The Caruso's are solidly on Team DeSantis.
Did Gov. DeSantis and his people reach out to Caruso and ask her to, or impress upon her to take a swipe at Fine?
That is correct. In responding to the verbal attacks and dismissive remarks DeSantis made against him before and after he was elected to Congress, Fine has stepped up his rhetoric.
Caruso also accuses Fine of being on a "revenge tour" against DeSantis due to his responsive to DeSantis' attacks against him. In addition, the image she uses in her opinion piece against Fine could be perceived as fat-shaming and antisemitic.
I don't think the image is antisemitic, but I could see how some could take offense to it. You be the judge.
I wouldn't go as far as to call DeSantis antisemitic by any means, but this is politics, and everything gets politicized.
Is Caruso's media ramblings politically motivated. Could her defense of DeSantis lead to an endorsement for her candidacy?
Rep. Caruso is said to be on the shortlist to be tapped as the next Lt. Governor, as was reported earlier this year, and has been pushing the DeSantis agenda, as has Mrs. Caruso.
