On Wednesday night, a Florida political debate unraveled into seven of the most absurd minutes in U.S. politics.
Florida Governor Rick Scott refused to come to the floor because his debate opponent, Democrat Charlie Crist, had placed a small fan at his feet by the podium, in violation of the debate handbook.
As the moderators announced this, they awkwardly tried to recover, Crist stood grinning peacefully next to his fan, and audible “Really?”s and boos echoed from the audience.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have an extremely peculiar situation right now,” the moderator began. “We have been told that Governor Scott will not be participating in this debate. Now, let me explain what this is all about. Gov. Crist has asked to have a fan — a small fan — placed underneath his podium. The rules of the debate that I was shown by the Scott campaign say that there should be no fan. Somehow, there is a fan there, and for that reason, ladies and gentlemen, I am being told that Gov. Scott will not join us for this debate.”
After a long delay, Gov. Scott finally appeared on stage.
It remains a mystery why Scott hates fans so much.
But Crist’s fan is something of a Florida celebrity, accompanying him everywhere he goes. Apparently Crist has a sweating problem, and is obsessive about remaining cool and perfectly coiffed at all times.
The Washington Post’s Terrence McCoy has a hilarious account of the one time he worked out with Crist, and Crist attended to his grooming even on the treadmill:
Crist’s fan even has its own parody Twitter account:
Like my companion? I’m getting some action these days! “@adamsmithtimes: It was a 2-fan day today for @CharlieCrist pic.twitter.com/Asv6VOqtoX”
— Charlie Crist’s Fan (@CCristFan) July 29, 2014
Tanman brought me on the set of @CNNsotu today. Thanks @KevinCate for the photo. pic.twitter.com/j3TQiBx6wj
— Charlie Crist’s Fan (@CCristFan) March 9, 2014
Gov. Scott is now attempting to deny Fangate, claiming that he “never refused to take the stage.”
