'Political mercenary': Ana Navarro calls out former Republican, then independent, and now Democrat Charlie Crist to his face



Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, who has lost three statewide elections running in different parties, was grilled on his long record of political flip-flops by fellow Floridian and former GOP strategist Ana Navarro during an appearance on "The View."

Navarro, a longtime critic of Crist, called him a "political mercenary" and asked him to explain why skeptical voters should believe any of his positions are sincerely held.

"You've been in sixteen elections in the last three decades. In that time you've gone from a staunch Republican, to an independent, to a Democrat," Navarro said Friday. "Your own words, Charlie, have come back to haunt you, have been used against you."

"The View" cut to a clip of a robocall Crist recorded during his 2006 campaign for governor of Florida as a Republican. In the message, Crist says he is "pro-life," opposes "amnesty" for illegal immigrants, supports traditional marriage and opposes gay adoption, and opposes raising taxes and big spending.

"Floridians need a consistent, conservative governor that they can trust," Crist says in the robocall.

More than a decade later, as a Democrat, Crist has changed his position on all of those issues. Navarro demanded an explanation from him.

"Those are your words. What would you say to skeptics like me who think you've changed parties because you're a political mercenary and it was out of convenience?" Navarro asked. "How should we trust you?"

\u201cAna Navarro plays an old robocall Crist put out and calls him a "political mercenary and demands he explain his constant flip-flopping.\u201d
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@Nicholas Fondacaro) 1662738379

"I changed parties because my party changed," Crist replied. "It started with the rise of the Tea Party back in '09 and 2010, and it really has metastasized since then. And, you know, I just couldn't stomach it any more."

He gave an obligatory disclaimer that there's "a lot of good Republicans" in Florida and the rest of the country before saying "the party has changed dramatically from what it was when I was a Republican."

Then he accused the GOP and his opponent Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of being "anti-minority" and making it harder for people to vote.

But Navarro pointed out that Republicans still still support many of the policies Crist claimed to support in his 2006 robocall.

"You were embracing a lot of the policy issues back then that Republicans still embrace now, so what has changed?" Navarro pressed.

Crist repeated his assertion that the GOP has changed "dramatically."

Sunny Hostin then asked if Crist had changed his views on gay marriage. "Yeah, about the same time President Obama did," Crist responded. He also said he is "pro-choice" on abortion and pointed to votes he cast as a Florida state lawmaker preventing pro-life legislation from passing.

\u201cDespite Navarro noting that GOP positions have largely stayed the same, Crist keeps insisting it's the Republican Party that has changed.\nSunny Hostin pushes him on gay marriage and abortion.\u201d
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@Nicholas Fondacaro) 1662738379

Crist explained that he cast a tying vote on the state Senate health committee to kill a 24-hour waiting period bill. He also said that as a Republican governor he vetoed "an anti-abortion bill" that would have required a woman to view an ultrasound before seeking an abortion.

"In my six years almost now in Congress, I've got a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood," Crist said, touting his endorsement from the abortion provider in the race against DeSantis.

Previously, Navarro has made clear she is no friend of Crist's. In tweets from 2014 and 2015, she called the former Florida governor a "shallow, feckless, rudderless, spineless, disloyal, career politician."

\u201cCharlie Crist will be on The View today.\n\nHere's what co-host @ananavarro had to say about him in the past:\u201d
— Brendon Leslie (@Brendon Leslie) 1662731636

Fully vaxxed and boosted AOC tests positive for COVID, is experiencing symptoms after partying maskless at crowded Miami bar



Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing symptoms, a statement from her office announced on Sunday evening.

The news comes just days after the New York Democrat was seen in Miami, partying maskless at a crowded bar.

EXPOSED: AOC is STILL lounging it up in Florida, in large crowds and maskless. This time at a Drag Queen bar in Miami. \n\nRules for thee but not for me.pic.twitter.com/8l30GFA0GT
— Brendon Leslie (@Brendon Leslie) 1641160722

What are the details?

The statement announced that Ocasio-Cortez is recovering at home.

"Representative Ocasio-Cortez has received a positive test result for COVID-19. She is experiencing symptoms and recovering at home,” the statement said.“The Congresswoman received her booster shot this fall, and encourages everyone to get their booster and follow all CDC guidance.”

pic.twitter.com/woutfVCppZ
— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1641769732

At the time of this reporting, the CDC recommends that Americans who test positive for coronavirus and who develop symptoms as a result for the illness isolate for at least five full days. After five days, the CDC recommends that people stop isolating so long as they are free of fevers for 24 hours and other symptoms have improved.

"If an individual has access to a test and wants to test, the best approach is to use an antigen test towards the end of the 5-day isolation period," the CDC recommends. "Collect the test sample only if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved."

What else is there to know about this?

The announcement comes just one week after she was seen partying with her boyfriend Riley Roberts — sans mask — in Miami.

She raised eyebrows after former Trump campaign adviser Steve Cortes mocked her boyfriend's "gross pale male feet" in "hideous sandals."

He wrote, "1. If Leftists like AOC actually thought mandates and masking worked, they wouldn't be frolicking in free FL. 2. Her guy is showing his gross pale male feet in public (not at a pool/beach) with hideous sandals. 0 for 2."

1. If Leftists like AOC actually thought mandates and masking worked, they wouldn\u2019t be frolicking in free FL.\n\n2. Her guy is showing his gross pale male feet in public (not at a pool/beach) with hideous sandals.\n\nO for 2\u2026pic.twitter.com/SNqBqMwr12
— Steve Cortes (@Steve Cortes) 1640958486

The 32-year-old lawmaker fired back, "If Republicans are mad they can’t date me they can just say that instead of projecting their sexual frustrations onto my boyfriend’s feet. Ya creepy weirdos[.]”

She later added, "It’s starting to get old ignoring the very obvious, strange, and deranged sexual frustrations that underpin the Republican fixation on me, women,& LGBT+ people in general. These people clearly need therapy, won’t do it, and use politics as their outlet instead. It’s really weird[.]"

It\u2019s starting to get old ignoring the very obvious, strange, and deranged sexual frustrations that underpin the Republican fixation on me, women,& LGBT+ people in general.\n\nThese people clearly need therapy, won\u2019t do it, and use politics as their outlet instead. It\u2019s really weird
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1640979981

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez caught maskless at crowded Miami bar: 'You’re a lying hypocrite'



Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was recorded Sunday not wearing a mask while enjoying the warm Florida sun at a packed Miami bar.

The footage surfaced on social media just days after Ocasio-Cortez was first spotted in the Sunshine State. Her Florida vacation generated controversy because while she is soaking up rays in the freedom of Florida, her constituents in New York City are battling COVID-19 restrictions amid a sharp increase in infections, attributed to the Omicron variant.

What does the video show?

According to Florida reporter Brendon Leslie, Ocasio-Cortez was spotted without a mask while at a drag bar in Miami.

"AOC is STILL lounging it up in Florida, in large crowds and maskless. This time at a Drag Queen bar in Miami. Rules for thee but not for me," Leslie reported.

"For those of you with zero sense of humor: the whole point of this post is to expose hypocrisy," Leslie explained. "We don’t actually care she’s maskless. We care she fear mongers about Florida but then has the audacity to vacation here."

EXPOSED: AOC is STILL lounging it up in Florida, in large crowds and maskless. This time at a Drag Queen bar in Miami. \n\nRules for thee but not for me.pic.twitter.com/8l30GFA0GT
— Brendon Leslie (@Brendon Leslie) 1641160722

The Daily Mail also published pictures of Ocasio-Cortez taking pictures with patrons at the bar, meaning she was not social distancing. The patrons with whom she congregated were also not wearing face masks.

Despite being maskless and not social distancing, Ocasio-Cortez has positioned herself throughout the pandemic as someone who supports mandates and COVID-related restrictions.

Anything else?

After receiving criticism for her Florida trip last week, Ocasio-Cortez lashed out at her Republican critics, accusing them of being "mad they can’t date me" and claiming they have "deranged sexual frustrations."

In posting the video of Ocasio-Cortez at the bar, Leslie made reference to the strange accusations and clarified that he, in fact, was not posting the video because he wants to date Ocasio-Cortez.

"PS: @AOC I’m posting this because you’re a lying hypocrite and NOT because I want to sleep with you," Leslie said.

MSNBC's Joy Reid claims there's 'absolutely zero' evidence BLM has ever advocated violence. Videos and photos show otherwise.



MSNBC anchor Joy Reid claimed Thursday that there is "absolutely zero" evidence that Black Lives Matter has ever advocated violence.

"There is absolutely zero, none, zero evidence that Black Lives Matter has ever pushed for anything violent, pushed for anything violent to happen to police," Reid said Thursday night in response to comments made by President Trump during the presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee.

"Black Lives Matter is about one thing: Stop killing black people just because you pulled them over for parking or moving violation. Just stop killing black people," she said. "They have never advocated violence against police."

MSNBC's Joy Reid:"There is absolutely zero, none, zero evidence that Black Lives Matter has ever pushed for anyth… https://t.co/yKNskLBJfp
— Daily Caller (@Daily Caller)1603421812.0

Is that true?

Reid has apparently been living under a rock for the last five months as anti-police protests have erupted across the country following George Floyd's death in late May in Minneapolis — a vast majority being connected to the Black Lives Matter movement. While many of those demonstrations remained generally peaceful, it has been well-documented, to say the least, by social media footage and local news reporting, that several have also turned violent.

That said, it is possible that Reid is choosing to ignore the actions of BLM protesters and instead suggesting that BLM leaders have not actually called for such violence to occur.

The problem is, even that claim is on very shaky ground.

During the debate, Trump had made reference to a 2015 event in St. Paul, Minnesota, in which BLM protesters chanted, "Pigs in a blanket, fry 'em like bacon!" apparently in reference to police officers. A BLM leader who organized the protest later admitted the chant was real but attempted to explain that the whole thing was a misunderstanding.

'Pigs in a blanket' chant at Minnesota Fair riles police youtu.be

Reid explained the charge away by alleging the chanters were an "offshoot, separate group of people." But there are several other instances that would need some explaining away, as well.

In June, Hawk Newsome, chairman of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, told Fox News' Martha MacCallum that BLM would "burn down this system" if the country "doesn't give us what we want."

"I could be speaking figuratively. I could be speaking literally. It's a matter of interpretation," he added.

Martha Mccallum Interview with BLM Leader Burn It all down youtu.be

Then in August, a viral video circulated on social media that showed an unidentified Black Lives Matter leader calling for open violence against the police, saying, "I'm at a point where I'm ready to put these police in the f***ing grave!"

The activist appeared to be standing up in front of a crowd of BLM protesters in Washington, D.C., when he made the shocking remarks.

"I want to take the fight to them and at the end of the day, if they won't hear us, we burn them the f*** down!" he continued. "I'm one that talk real s***! I talk it in New York and I talk it in D.C. The same way I f*** police up in New York, I f*** cops up in here in D.C. The same way I bust police in the head in New York, I bust police in the head in D.C.!"

Content Warning: rough language

A BLM leader is encouraging this crowd of protesters to fight the DC cops on the frontlines. Saying he’s “ready to… https://t.co/hqt4Woyb0w
— Brendon Leslie (@Brendon Leslie)1598754497.0

Perhaps a more likely explanation for Reid's inaccuracy on the issue is that she, not President Trump, has blinders on about the Black Lives Matter movement.

This wouldn't be surprising since MSNBC has had a difficult time accurately assessing a violent situation before. Take for example, MSNBC reporter Ali Velshi, who said protests in Minneapolis in May were "not, generally speaking, unruly," as buildings literally burned behind him.

"This mostly a protest. It is not, generally speaking, unruly.But fires have been started."MSNBC reporter says… https://t.co/hFb3491MpH
— Washington Examiner (@Washington Examiner)1590726688.0

BLM leader calls for outright violence against police: 'Ready to put these police in the f***ing ground'



An as-yet identified Black Lives Matter activist and leader has called for the death of police officers as well as for action to burn down the White House.

The incident took place in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night at a Black Lives Matter event as tensions continue to grow across America over police brutality.

What are the details?

Reporter Brendon Leslie shared a now-viral video of the incident on Twitter, captioning it, "A BLM leader is encouraging this crowd of protesters to fight the DC cops on the frontlines. Saying he's 'ready to put them in their graves' — this may lead to another violent night in DC."

In the video, the demonstrator shouted, "I'm at a point where I'm ready to put these police in the f***ing grave! I'm at the point, where, I want to burn the White House down! I want to take it to the senators! I want to take it to the Congress!"

The activist continued, “I want to take the fight to them and at the end of the day, if they won't hear us, we burn them the f*** down! I'm one that talk real s***! I talk it in New York and I talk it in D.C. The same way I f*** police up in New York, I f*** cops up in here in D.C. The same way I bust police in the head in New York, I bust police in the head in D.C.!"

The activist concluded that the movement isn't for the weak or non-committal.

“Now, it's a lot of people and I'm going to be honest, it's a lot of people that's on this front line and one of the things that I always say, 'Don't get on this f***ing front line if you ain't gonna f***ing fight,'" he insisted. “Don't get on this front line if you ain't gonna take no hit. Don't get on this front line when the police f***ing push up, you push back. If you gonna be on this front line, and them racist a**, nasty a**, punk a**, f***ing police is pushing up, you push the f*** up!"

A BLM leader is encouraging this crowd of protesters to fight the DC cops on the frontlines. Saying he’s “ready to… https://t.co/hqt4Woyb0w
— Brendon Leslie (@Brendon Leslie)1598754497.0

Anything else?

The concerning call for violence apparently caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who tweeted about it on Sunday morning.

He wrote, "Disgraceful Anarchists. We are watching them closely, but stupidly protected by the Radical Left Dems!"

Disgraceful Anarchists. We are watching them closely, but stupidly protected by the Radical Left Dems! https://t.co/IvuIh6cRz5
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1598783774.0

(H/T: The Daily Wire)