Rick Scott Not Good One On One

Rick Scott attempted to avoid asking reporters questions outside the Tiger Bat Club. The tbt* (print edition) reported a campaign staffer had to make Scott answer questions for 10 minutes. Scott then had this testy exchange at the GOP breakfast in Tampa with a woman asking him questions about his handling of the Columbia/HCA Medicare scandal. The Buzz has the audio.

WOMAN: “In one of your opening comments you said that you wanted to fix Medicaid/Medicare on the state level. Is that kinda ironic when we have the whole Columbia/HCA health care situation that you really haven’t explained quite well? My understanding was that you were an unindicted co-conspirator and that that 1.7 billion payback that your company had to do to the government?

“Could you explain how you want to fix it when you were a part of the problem?"

SCOTT: "Sure. Well first of all I was never even questioned, and I was never charged, so…”

WOMAN: [Interrupting] “That’s what an unindicted co-conspirator is.”

SCOTT: [Interrupting] “I’ll tell you what, let me talk first, ok? You told me your position, ok? I was never part of any investigation against me. Alright? So when Bill McCollum goes out and says that stuff, its outrageous. It’s completely untrue. Alright?

“I built the company. From scratch. That had the best outcomes, the best patient satisfaction, and the best prices. Health care inflation went from 18% to less than 1%. Now, you don’t go do that and do — and violate Medicate. It’s not consistent.”

WOMAN: [Interrupting] “Yes it is, actually.”

SCOTT: [Interrupting] “I'll tell you what. If you want to have a debate, we’ll have a debate. If you have a question, I’ll answer your question.

“So, what I told people from day one— people made mistakes at that company. When you’re the CEO you take responsibility. What I could have done better is more internal and external auditors. But that’s the difference. In business, you learn from mistakes. In government, they never do.

“So, there’s a website called RickScottForFlorida.com. Read it. And you will never say what you just said again.”

WOMAN: “I actually…”

SCOTT: [Interrupting] “Now wait a second. I answered your question. We’re going to go around the room.”

Scott is running on his business experience. The Columbia/HCA scandal was the biggest Medicare fraud case in United States history. Scott can't say his business experience makes him qualified to be Governor and then say he wasn't aware that his underlings were intentionally double billing Medicare for needless medical procedures. Incompetence isn't a desirable trait in a CEO or Governor.

It is also striking how testy Scott gets when he is questioned. Scott really thought he could go through the campaign without being vetted by citizens or the media. Scott is used to giving orders. Not having to explain himself to others.