This Woman Yelling at Gov. Rick Scott Is a National Hero
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When Florida Gov. Rick Scott entered a Starbucks in Gainesville, Florida, on Tuesday, he got more than a hot beverage. Cara Jennings, a 39-year-old former Lake Worth commissioner, scolded the governor over his healthcare policy and called him an "asshole" while Scott stood in line at the coffee shop.
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"You stripped women of access to public healthcare," Jennings said. "Rich people like you don't know what to do when poor people like us need health services."
Jennings accused the governor of cutting Medicaid. In technical terms, Scott refused to expand the social service program, which was a central tenet of President Obama's Affordable Care Act. The Obama administration has pledged federal funds to states that expand Medicaid, and Scott refused to accept the funds. If Medicaid had been expanded 800,000 low-income Floridians would have had healthcare coverage, The Miami New Times reports.
A Scott staffer attempted to placate Jennings to no avail, as the woman continued to shame the governor over his alleged failure to represent the working class. Scott responded to the criticism by saying that he's created "a million jobs" in the state, but the situation quickly escalated after he recommended that Jennings visit a "county health clinic" if she was concerned about health care coverage.
Jennings isn't alone in her frustration. A poll conducted last month found that Scott's disapproval rating hit a high of nearly 50 percent. His approval rating sits at 38 percent, seven points ahead of Marco Rubio, whose popularity in the state took a hit after he dropped his bid for the Republican presidential nomination last month.
When The New Times asked Jennings why she chose to publicly call the governor out, she said "The better question is: Why don't more people stand up to politicians like Rick Scott who make horrible decisions? I implore my fellow Floridians to do the same when they see Rick Scott."
