Gov. Scott talks to King Juan Carlos of Spain about elephant hunt, creates international stir

[Sancho]

Source: Tampa Bay Times

Gov. Rick Scott became a Spanish punch line this week after a televised gaffe with the king of Spain, who's reeling from an elephant-shooting scandal.

"I've ridden elephants, I've never tried to shoot one," Scott said, smiling as he walked in and shook the hand of King Juan Carlos.

The 74-year-old monarch was pilloried for hunting elephants in Botswana, where he injured his hip. Spaniards were infuriated because the king took such an expensive hunting trip at a time when the country is in such dire economic straits. About one in four Spaniards are unemployed. Also, Juan Carlos is an honorary president of Spain's branch of the World Wildlife Fund.

"All the news outlets highlight the absolute lack of tact of the Florida governor, which can only be attributed to poor preparation for the meeting," TV personality Sandra Sabatés says on the satirical news show El Intermedio (Halftime). "Gov. Scott continues, obstinate in his error. He adds insult to injury and asks the king increasingly uncomfortable questions about the details of the hunt."


Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/bizarre/article1231789.ece

---

The article includes a video. At any rate, Rick Scott is the worst governor in the history of Florida.

[jberryhill]

1. Meh

Fuck the guy's "discomfort". These elephant hunting trips are bullshit.

This is the first thing that pRick of a governor has ever done that I've liked.

The superannuated fart of a king got what he deserved.

[Sancho]

2. No one cares about the King's discomfort...

if he was condemning elephant hunting or trying to make a point. Scott was just too stupid to think before he spoke.

It certainly won't drum up business to appear foolish.

[Swagman]

3. why would anyone kill a harmless animal?

especially such a large target? . Makes me ill.

[wordpix]

18. because their dicks don't work & this makes them feel bigger

[Mc Mike]

4. +1, Thanks.

I think Gov. Voldemort was trying to make a joke, one aristocrat to another. He appears to think he's King of FL, but that's just an outside observer's opinion. I'm under PA repug Gov Barney Rubble.

[DCKit]

9. Nice guy Barney Rubble takes offense at your insensitive comment. nt

[Mc Mike]

15. Whoops. Unforeseen collateral damage.

It appears I've made a powerful enemy, by shooting off my mouth like that.

[Chakab]

5. I find it bizarre that Michelle Obama

touching Queen Elizabeth's back was lumped in with the other incidents at the bottom of the page. That wasn't even in the same ballpark when it comes to the level of embarrassment.

[Sancho]

6. If you read the whole story...

the governor's wife continued by telling about their own safari when they were chased by an elephant, and suggested that they would have been safer if the elephant-hunter King had been with them in the jeep! They look for any excuse to politicize a kind gesture from Michelle.

Meanwhile, not only do they lack sensitivity to hunting and killing intelligent animals like elephants, but they joke about it.

Down here in Florida, we seeing a record number of dolphin deaths and lots of unusual activity where dolphins beg for food from boaters (of course, you shouldn't feed them but people do). Some of the experts think the food sources in the Gulf were depleted by the oil spill and dispersants, if not directly causing the deaths.

These rich idiots don't care about the environment or conservation or wildlife - the only thing they care about is money. It's like Romney and putting the dog on the roof of the care. The attitude is the same.

[goclark]

17. Absolutely

[rocktivity]

7. Actually, Governor Scott,

you HAVE just shot an elephant...


rocktivity

[MsLeopard]

8. DUzy!!

[UTUSN]

10. Notice that the people's ire was over the expense rather than the welfare of the animals

[wordpix]

19. it may have been over both, but the animals' welfare wasn't reported

[CreekDog]

11. One of the better moments in Scott's governorship

actually.

it's better to be criticized for not being tactful than to be criticized for missing an opportunity to tell the truth.

[yellowcanine]

12. Very lame. First of all, no one tries to ride African elephants. They can't be domesticated.

Get your scrawny butt thumped trying to ride an African elephant. African elephants and Asian elephants are not the same animal. They are not even in the same genus.

[Roland99]

13. Nice one, Governor Bat Boy. Nice one.

ugh.

[ornotna]

14. Worst governor in the history of Florida

You got that right. Where is He-Man when you need him.

[itcfish]

16. King Juan Carlos

Is a 74 year old man who should NOT have been hunting elephants or any other animal. But with this, I will forgive his sin because he led Spain from a dictorship to a constitutional democracy without shedding a drop of blood. As monarchs go, he costs the people very little compared to other European Monarchs.

Scott should worry about his state instead of the King of Spain.

[wordpix]

20. ugh, I'm embarrassed to be American when I see that clip

what an awful US representative to greet any foreign leader, even one who was ( ) on an elephant hunt.

[and-justice-for-all]

21. Trophy hunting is fucking disgusting...

and so is Walker.

[Sancho]

22. I agree...

Walker needs to go..I wish we had recall here like Wisconsin.

[wordpix]

24. +1000 it's disgusting

[lib2DaBone]

23. Gov. pRick Scott looked in the mirror.. and there was no reflection?

He then mumbled something about having to be back to his hotel before daylight?

The 74-year-old King of Spain held up a silver bullet used in the Elephant hunt.. and pRick Scott reeled in pain.....