Video: Sink cheats during FL gubernatorial debate
posted at 8:45 am on October 26, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
The first rule of Political Debate Club, at least in Florida’s gubernatorial race? No messages from staff. Second rule of Political Debate Club? Don’t get caught on camera breaking the first rule. It’s one thing to cheat during a debate, but Alex Sink commits the really unpardonable sin of being incompetent at it:
Alex Sink’s campaign violated rules Monday evening at the CNN/St. Petersburg Times Florida gubernatorial debate when her make-up artist delivered a message during a television break.
Sink, the Democratic nominee, was shown a two-sentence message on a cell phone that offered her advice during the debate. Republican nominee Rick Scott who was sitting next to her in this nationally televised debate, noticed the violation and notified a CNN official, who approached the make-up artist and Sink and confiscated the cell phone.
And the third rule of Political Debate Club? Fire the staffer after you get caught and find a way to blame your political opponent. Sink got this one right, at least:
After the debate, the Sink campaign released a statement from the candidate announcing that the advisor who sent the message has been removed from the campaign. The advisor was not named in the statement, but a campaign spokesman confirmed it is Brian May, who signed the rules agreement before the debate on behalf of the Sink campaign.
“After the debate tonight, one of my campaign advisors admitted he tried to communicate with me during one of the breaks,” Sink said.
“While he told me it was out of anger with Rick Scott’s repeated distortion of facts, it was a foolish thing to do. It violated a debate agreement and I immediately removed him from the campaign. “
Scott actually called Sink out for the cheat during the broadcast, a moment that few candidates get in a campaign. Hope Scott enjoys it.
Blowback
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Rules don’t apply to democrats. Rules only apply to non democrats. Why do you not understand this simple truth?
Skandia Recluse on October 26, 2010 at 8:49 AM
Sink is incompetent and an Obama wanna be. This is another case that had the established Republican won the primary it wouldn’t be a contest. I like Scott, but he is getting killed in the ad war.
Zaggs on October 26, 2010 at 8:50 AM
Sink is sunk.
JammieWearingFool on October 26, 2010 at 8:51 AM
So they got a choice between sink or swim…
the_nile on October 26, 2010 at 8:51 AM
Lastly, let the media get in the last snarky shot on your opponent… to keep things “objective” y’know…
Skywise on October 26, 2010 at 8:51 AM
Wow. Betcha they wish they hadn’t done that. No style points at all for them Dems.
ted c on October 26, 2010 at 8:53 AM
It is funny that she fired the assistant. I must have missed the part in the video where Sink objects to her coming by and giving her notes, lol.
jeffn21 on October 26, 2010 at 8:53 AM
Sink circles drain.
News at ten.
viking01 on October 26, 2010 at 8:53 AM
That can change very easily, thanks to this clip, which I am assuming is about to get a mass circulation throughout the state of Florida.
pilamaye on October 26, 2010 at 8:54 AM
Did Sunken Sink think she could really outperform LizzzzzzzMurkrfosossxxsky for the most coveted:
Nobel-cum-Pulitzer Price Award of the Dirtiest and Most Shameful Political Stint of the 2010 Midterm Election?
NO WAY! LizazassazardevilaMurkcossksy (she’s a name-shifter) would never surrender the battle without a fight!
I still go go go for Lizardherodsantonietteshelizardqueen Murksorksy!
NAMESHIFTER RULES!
TheAlamos on October 26, 2010 at 8:57 AM
I’m sure will start seeing parodies of this throughout the entertainment world… a chick candidate having to have notes sent to her smart phone.
myrenovations on October 26, 2010 at 8:58 AM
how long before newly unemployed assistant is outed as an insurgent working for the opposition???
ted c on October 26, 2010 at 8:58 AM
Wow. I had no idea democrats had to abide by rules. This must be a freak mistake or something by CNN. I’m sure they’ll come out later and apologize.
darwin on October 26, 2010 at 8:58 AM
Rules are for little people not your democrat overlords. But I thank you Mrs. McBride for your gaff.
Hopefully you will join your husband as a loser in the governors race a week from today.
meci on October 26, 2010 at 8:59 AM
Only smart gals write their stuff on their hand….
Dumb gals have their assistant bring it into them on an iPhone and make them lose debates.
ted c on October 26, 2010 at 8:59 AM
You know, this would be a resume enhancer in states like Connecticut, Massachusetts, or Illinois.
It takes a special policiaian to represent a special people.
MNHawk on October 26, 2010 at 9:00 AM
I love Scott’s face when she was reading the message. He looked like all of us who are fed up with cheating liberals.
gophergirl on October 26, 2010 at 9:01 AM
I get a large postcard size ad from her everyday decrying Scott’s Medicare swindle. A friend of mine said she didn’t want to vote for him. I tried to change her mind when I told her, “Even though local(state), this is really a referendum on Obamalinsky and the Communists throughout the country. I think I convinced her to vote for Scott.
I’m hoping he goes apes#@t with ads for the final stretch. Personally, even if he was fraudulent, I’d rather have a fraudulent free market Republican than another soldier in Obamalinsky’s army. This is the most important election of our lifetimes, no matter the age. It’s save the Republic time…..
adamsmith on October 26, 2010 at 9:02 AM
Well, at least Alex didn’t write on her HAND ! /s
stenwin77 on October 26, 2010 at 9:02 AM
odonnell or sink, which one do you think the msm rather focus on?
cmsinaz on October 26, 2010 at 9:02 AM
I hope so. But Scott has been letting Sink and the Dems lie their asses off about his taking the 5th 75 times without challenge. But at least I saw a Jennifer Carroll cameo.
Though so far in my area Boyd’s ads have been really bad (like don’t even make sense).
Zaggs on October 26, 2010 at 9:02 AM
This is my problem. Scott wasn’t even questioned in that, and no one went to jail. Sink’s latest ads about him pleading the 5th were not about a medicare lawsuit I believe.
Zaggs on October 26, 2010 at 9:04 AM
OT
MSNBC is leading all the shows today with a Jack Conway “supporter” who tried to harass Rand Paul being knocked to the ground and “stomped on” (someone aggressively holds him or her down with their foot). This leads the news. Savannah Guthrie: “I’m sure we’ll be seeing this clip all day.” Well, on NBC you will.
Marcus on October 26, 2010 at 9:06 AM
CNN would have done N-O-T-H-I-N-G if Rick Scott hadn’t said something about it when they came live again !
stenwin77 on October 26, 2010 at 9:09 AM
Marcus on October 26, 2010 at 9:06 AM
I think Rand Paul buried Jack Conway in last nights debate. The body language showed Jack to be a beaten man, a weakling, a piss ant and unworthy of higher office.
ted c on October 26, 2010 at 9:10 AM
CNN would have done N-O-T-H-I-N-G
stenwin77 on October 26, 2010 at 9:10 AM
Florida.
Saw the place off and sell it to Cuba, what the he1l is wrong with people down there?
Bishop on October 26, 2010 at 9:11 AM
CNN would have done N-O-T-H-I-N-G IF Rick Scott hadn’t said something when they were back live
stenwin77 on October 26, 2010 at 9:10 AM
stenwin77 on October 26, 2010 at 9:11 AM
Brian May, huh? I loved his work on A Night At The Opera but maybe he should stick to music.
LastRick on October 26, 2010 at 9:14 AM
Ad war aside – I do not see how he can possibly lose this election.
Florida is actually a very conservative state when conservatives show up to vote. You also have to remember that there’s a lot of Navy families in Florida – stationed in Florida – who become residents in order to free themselves from the state income tax in their home states. Many times they don’t vote in elections because they don’t feel that attached to the community.
I’m betting this time – THEY WILL.
HondaV65 on October 26, 2010 at 9:14 AM
NBC, MSNBC, and General Electric; enemies of a free people.
I can only hope that the Tea Party will demand investigations and prosecutions starting in January of 2011. Stealing elections with massive voter fraud, tax payer dollars being funneled into Democrat campaigns, voter intimidation at polling places… These Liberals are thug criminals who have the media covering for them. This must be dealt with.
Keemo on October 26, 2010 at 9:15 AM
It was on Fox News too… but uh… are you SURE they were really Ron Paul supporters?
Skywise on October 26, 2010 at 9:16 AM
Cheater cheater pumpkin eater.
vcferlita on October 26, 2010 at 9:17 AM
Like they were all over that Strickland weirdo who poured hot coffee down that vet’s back? It’s about time the stomping began if you ask me.
RepubChica on October 26, 2010 at 9:17 AM
If Scott has any more debates he needs first to walk over to Sink’s lectern live during the debate and check for passed notes, cheat sheets, et cetera.
viking01 on October 26, 2010 at 9:17 AM
No Ed, the first rule of Political Debate Club is don’t talk about Political Debate Club!
aengus on October 26, 2010 at 9:17 AM
Sorry, but Rand Paul is not your typical republican … having to say SORRY for nothing.
The clue there is MOVEON. The People are even cheering! Once, I was also in a position of thinking the damnest thing – tearing off a MOVEON protester on the street FOR PREACHING A LIE.
Darn, the guy on TV finally did it. And it feels great!
TheAlamos on October 26, 2010 at 9:19 AM
That proves that despite his flaws, Rick Scott is SMART, although he’s not my preferred candidate.
TheAlamos on October 26, 2010 at 9:22 AM
Good for Scott! We have to be alert to everything they will try between now and next week.With the media trying to depress us and the obots cheating,we have our work cut out for us but GREATER ARE WE THAN THEM!
ohiobabe on October 26, 2010 at 9:22 AM
As I said this morning
It seems to me the RIGHT thing to do was immediately say to the staffer trying to show you the message “what the hell are you doing? Get that thing out of here!”
Instead the video clearly shows Sink listening and pondering the message in clear, brazen, violation of what she agreed to. She only objected to it AFTER SHE GOT CAUGHT.
Rules only apply to us Little People.
VOTE VOTE VOTE next week, folks, as if our very way of life depended on it.
Because it does.
Mr. Bingley on October 26, 2010 at 9:22 AM
SUNK.
Rocks on October 26, 2010 at 9:22 AM
I’m glad they got the phone so we don’t have to hear any BS about how she was just letting her know her dog had been rushed to the vet or something.
And firing the campaign aid makes it even worse. Sink didn’t seem to have a problem looking at the message at the time, but when it became a problem for her, she fires somebody.
Not a good quality in a leader, and even worse than breaking the rule to begin with in my book.
forest on October 26, 2010 at 9:25 AM
He has great style as a politician….and great lustrous curls to boot.
RepubChica on October 26, 2010 at 9:26 AM
Hummm. I bet if we had a vote on this board, people would rather keep FL than MN? Disagree?
Scott won’t lose; early voting is being dominated by Republicans. He’ll win 51-52 or so.
TimTebowSavesAmerica on October 26, 2010 at 9:32 AM
To paraphrase a quote from just after the blue dress days of that lovable liar Bill Cinton. “He may be a liar, but he’s our liar!”
She may have cheated on the debate, but she’s our cheat.
Remember always; in the Alinsky code of conduct, hypocrisy, cheating, and lying are all badges of honor.
Don L on October 26, 2010 at 9:33 AM
Democrate rule book: apologize only if you get caught.
hoi polloi on October 26, 2010 at 9:34 AM
Well wahdoyahknow another Florida Sink-hole in the news.
Don L on October 26, 2010 at 9:35 AM
So….did CNN declare Sink the winner, inspite of this teeny weeny incy wincy lil f’up?
capejasmine on October 26, 2010 at 9:39 AM
Upside: Nobody will be seeing it.
JammieWearingFool on October 26, 2010 at 9:44 AM
This is why I am against rampant early voting now available in so many states. Reckon anyone who has already voted for Sink would like to take it back?
Brat on October 26, 2010 at 9:50 AM
She was inspired by TOTUS and Dear Reader.
Sink can’t think, let her read what we feed!
Steve Z on October 26, 2010 at 9:56 AM
I think the whole thing was staged. Why was the brunette carrying the sign wearing a blonde wig? Why disguise yourself to protest a candidate?
I smell a rat.
BTW, latest poll has Rand up 7 points.
fogw on October 26, 2010 at 10:11 AM
Done out of anger against unjust statements…nice try at deflection.
Honey, there is a button on the side of most phones, it turns it off and on…turn it off.
It is your fault, not the fault of an over enthusiastic aide, it is yours for grabbing the phone and reading the message.
But then you won’t take responsibility…
right2bright on October 26, 2010 at 10:14 AM
I don’t know why anyone who has integrity and cares about honor would ever identify themselves with the Democrats…they are liars and cheats. Sink should fire herself using the same criteria she used to fire the assistant…he sent it and should not have, she read it and should not have!
CCRWM on October 26, 2010 at 10:21 AM
My prediction: There is going to be voting fraud on a level UNSEEN in American politics.
If you are going to cheat with a running camera 10 ft in front of your face, what will your campaign do when it isn’t filmed?
kurtzz3 on October 26, 2010 at 10:34 AM
Imagine if Rand Paul had put the guy in a headlock and repeatedly asked him who he worked for? Man, if any candidate did that it would be all over the news….
Oh, wait…
Asher on October 26, 2010 at 10:37 AM
Scandal! How dare Scott get it wrong.
madmonkphotog on October 26, 2010 at 10:38 AM
I questioned that video too. Looked a little fishy if you ask me. I saw a gal with a clearly visible “jack conway” sign somewhat smiling as she went down to the ground and such a great video shot of an equally visible “rand paul” sign and a guy stomping somewhat lightly on her back? as he tried to get both the sign and the light boot stomp on camera….hmmmmm. ???
ted c on October 26, 2010 at 10:38 AM
One little difference. One’s a rocket scientist. The other…I’ll just take a guess at Poly Sci.
MNHawk on October 26, 2010 at 10:40 AM
FL ftw……my husband who is a MN native would also agree. We may have some issues, but we don’t have Al Franken as a senator, Jesse Ventura is an ex-governor and the dubious honor of being the one state that didn’t vote for Reagan.
Jasech59 on October 26, 2010 at 11:13 AM
should be Ventura AS an ex-governor…..arghh
Jasech59 on October 26, 2010 at 11:15 AM
So, blame the assistant because she just forced Sink to read the message she was holding? Next we’ll hear that the assistant had secretly slipped her a mind control device, I take it?
So typical, blame the underling. Crass.
evergreen on October 26, 2010 at 11:15 AM
The make-up artist should be fired too.
rivlax on October 26, 2010 at 11:20 AM
Oddly, the YouTube video of the cheat, although linked from the TOP of the Drudge Report, is stuck on a view count of 316, and apparently has been for hours.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spTHQU2Gkwc
Rick Scott is getting a bad rap on the fraud charges. People who know and have worked with him on BOTH sides of the table heap praise on the man as the smartest guy in the room and honest to a fault.
The Real Rick Scott
http://www.review.net/section/detail/10-15-2010-the-real-rick-scott/
Vote for Rick Scott, and “Let’s Get to Work!”
ornery_independent on October 26, 2010 at 11:23 AM
Tampa Bay Online tweeted it last night and it immediately went to their blog and on the news — have gotten email after email about what Sink did from a lot of places this morning.
Put it on my blog right it broke after I had received a phone call about what had happened. The email from the campaign chair has a picture of Sink on the phone with I Cheat! It would make a perfect campaign commercial.
What Scott brought up in the debate about Sink are facts backed up by evidence on her less than ethical banking career. A member of Emily’s List is about as liberal as you can get and she started a state group. Took her teenage daughter to a pro-abortion rally in 2004. Not someone you want as Governor who has lost millions in state pension funds due to her poor investing and using a middleman which was unnecessary to open doors.
PhiKapMom on October 26, 2010 at 11:49 AM
Speaking of dirty tricks, did you know that in many states–like mine–the people involved in Get Out the Vote projects have incredible amounts of power over the persons they transport to the voting booth.
First, GOTV “volunteers” are allowed to give the voter an amount of money equal to the cost of transportation to and from the polling site up to $20. If the volunteer also transports them, that cost should be zero, but who’s to know? Then the $20 fee becomes a payoff.
GOTV “volunteers” are allowed to assist any voter who requests assistance in the polling booth, even to the point of pushing the button or pulling the lever for the voter. Many are coached in the van to request assistance (in exchange for that $20!).
GOTV “volunteers” are limited to helping 8 persons (at a time or total??). So there is a limit to how much fraud one GOTV “volunteer” can manufacture, and certainly not all GOTV programs are manipulating their voters. However, you can also see how an efficiently-run GOTV effort can steal an election totally legally by manipulating persons who really want that $20 payoff and have been told it’s ok to take.
One van of 8 manipulated seniors from a nursing home cancels out the votes of 4 passionate, Gadsden-flag-waving, well-informed, Constitution-quoting families. All voters are equal.
Assuming the fraud in this election is manageable, we need to spend the next 2 years learning and developing tactics and counter-tactics. 2012 will be an Electoral War the US has never seen.
rwenger43 on October 26, 2010 at 12:19 PM
Heh…just saw an Alex Sink ad on the local Tampa TV news saying she will “hold accountable” anyone who lies or cheats…and this is VIDEO of Alex in her own words, not some detached voice-over.
ornery_independent on October 26, 2010 at 12:28 PM
Just saw the scuffle footage from KY. Ugly.
No question we were the guilty party with the foot actions.
But that girl is just happy for her moment in the spotlight, the provacateur who revealed the Rs to be thuggish. I’m sure she is mission-driven, and that’s why she thought it was ok to disguise herself and pretend to be a Paul supporter in order to get close to him. Too bad she’s a pawn in a very big Soros-played game.
It looked like most of the guys were smarter than she gave them credit for and were simply barring her from Paul’s proximity. Then the one idiot got carried away and now Paul is talking about scuffles instead of issues.
rwenger43 on October 26, 2010 at 12:39 PM
The text message said to “mention the CHILDREN all the time” Isn’t that what Democrats hide behind?
Hummer53 on October 26, 2010 at 12:44 PM
I do believe that we will not have honest elections until each of the two dominant parties suspects that the other is cheating more than themselves.
slickwillie2001 on October 26, 2010 at 1:13 PM
Its pathetic people even support Democrats. A 10 year old has better rational for doing what they do than grown adults do for supporting democrats.
jawkneemusic on October 26, 2010 at 4:11 PM
Does anyone remember the first presidential “debate” in 1960? It was the first and last political debate that I watched. The cardinal rule was the candidates could not use notes. Kenedy read a statement from notes and was never called on it.
burt on October 26, 2010 at 5:43 PM
The Kennedys never had great memories, remember Teddie’s Spanish exam at Hahvahd?
slickwillie2001 on October 26, 2010 at 6:33 PM
Democrats: The party of Cheaters, Training Wheels, and Teleprompters.
landlines on November 6, 2010 at 12:20 PM