TALLAHASSEE — Before Matt Gaetz burst onto the national political scene as the sharp-tongued, attention-grabbing defender of Donald Trump, he was best known in Florida as “Baby Gaetz.”
“He was a force of nature,” said former state Senate President Joe Negron, a Republican who was budget chairman under Don Gaetz. “Don held himself to an incredibly high standard of ethics, preparation and performance and demanded no less from those around him. If you’re going into a tough battle, there is no ally more loyal and unflinching than Don Gaetz. It’s not surprising that the historical figure that Don most admires is Winston Churchill.
Don Gaetz initially declined a request for an interview. But the elder Gaetz, who inserted himself into his son’s legal troublesin connection with the federal investigation into Matt Gaetz, did agree to talk about his falling out with Sansom during a brief visit to Tallahassee Friday. He explained his reticence by saying, “I raised Matt through a lot in his life and I don’t want to add to his miseries.
In the Legislature, Don Gaetz became known for his oratory skills — and just like his son — the ability to come up with a snappy comeback or a tartly-worded reply. Don Gaetz, famed for lengthy speeches replete with historical references that were even parodied during the annual press corps skits, was no less blunt when he pushed for a crackdown on swamp-like behavior in Tallahassee.
Sometimes his tactics backfired and created ill-will. He got involved in a failed leadership coup when he tried to help a scheme to usurp a central Florida Republican in line to succeed him. Gaetz also led redistricting efforts to draw up new Senate districts that were thrown out by the state Supreme Court.that it violated anti-gerrymandering laws when drawing them up.
The charges were eventually dropped, but Sansom also came under fire for getting a high-paying job with a community college that got help in the state budget. His use of a Republican Party of Florida credit card also came under scrutiny. Samson eventually resigned, paving the way for Matt Gaetz to win the House seat in a special election.
Matt Gaetz, when asked about Sansom’s assertion that he didn’t show up for work, called him a “bitter defeated politician who has lost more races than he has won in the community that still strongly has my back. That must be hard for him.”
Well, now he’s known as a sex-trafficker and proud supporter of MTG’s “America First” caucus. History will remember he proudly supported the deplorable she-man’s racists agenda.
I’m sure Baby Gaetz is still poo pooing in his diapers
Just another political opportunist who realized that repeating tRump's rants would get him the votes.
🤮
Baby Gaetz lol
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