During an appearance on Showtime’s The Circus, U.S. House candidate Anthony Sabatini, who currently serves in the Florida legislature, mocked the female reporter as she questioned him on COVID-19 vaccine passports and other restrictions, and repeatedly asserted her own views to debate the candidate.
In a two minute clip of the interview posted to Twitter, Sabatini explained that he views it as his duty as an elected official to protect the rights and freedoms of his constituents. “I’m not here to micromanage every aspect of their lives,” said Sabatini, “Maybe you don’t understand that because you work in journalism, but that’s the role of the government, that’s actually the founding principle of the government, is to protect rights, let decisions be made by individuals concerning their own public health.”
The reporter, Alex Wagner, immediately parroted the left wing side of the COVID-19 debate. “But there is another side to this, okay? And there are people that say, if the federal government doesn’t step in in the event of mass death in America, a widely transmissible virus that is laying waste to the economy, that is shuttering schools and businesses, that is putting hospitals at capacity,” said Wagner, before being cut off by Sabatini.
Sabatini challenged, “What world are you living in? Are you vaccinated?” She replied that she was vaccinated, prompting Sabatini to question, “Okay. Are you encouraging people to get vaccinated?” (READ MORE: Gosar Endorses Florida Rep Sabatini for Congress, ‘A Proven Soldier in the War to Save America’)
Wow… this interview is something else on @SHO_TheCircus with @alexwagner and FL Rep. @AnthonySabatini who is an interesting figure in FL politics. I admire Alex’s professionalism and resolve when handling this interview. This is just a glimpse how FL politics is in our state. pic.twitter.com/IYo2xBMJd2
— Albert Harris (@Alby88a) September 20, 2021
The reporter then asserted that she was “not here to tell you what I think” but was instead trying to help her viewers understand his thought process, “because there’s a lot of people that just don’t understand.”
“They’re stupid. They’re stupid,” Sabatini interjected. Wagner quickly replied, “You think they’re stupid?” Sabatini answered, “Yes.”
Eventually, Wagner appeared to understand that Sabatini was not wholly against the vaccine, but rather a vaccine passport system or mandate that requires individuals to accept one of the controversial vaccines or risk losing basic freedoms or employment.
Sabatini explained, “I mean, listen if you’re really old and really unhealthy you should probably go and take the vaccine, right?”
Wagner then attempted to turn the conversation to the wider ideological battle within the Republican Party, condescendingly asking Sabatini whether he believes the Republican Party is moving “toward” him and other America First Republicans. (READ MORE: Sabatini Says We Need to “Wipe Out” RINO GOP Leadership in 2022)
“I would say McConnell is way, way outside the step of the party, he’s almost anti-base at this point,” said Sabatini, adding that most elected Republicans “haven’t woken up to the proper role of what the Republican Party should be today.” He added, “That’s a smaller group, that’s Matt Gaetz, Paul Gosar, Marjorie Taylor Greene, myself, people like that.”
“Then you have what I would consider a liberal Republican like Mitch McConnell, he’s basically a liberal, he’s almost a Democrat. And they know, they’re just biding their time before they’re removed from the party,” Sabatini added, prompting Wagner to compare it to “survival of the fittest.” Sabatini laughed in agreement, “That’s right.”
Asked to predict how “history is going to write this chapter” of American history, Sabatini explained that he believes the United States is entering a period of intense balkanization that will see some states become radically far left and other states move toward the right.
“I think there will be geographical realignment to the point where you’re going to see California get even more blue. Everyone was shocked by this week, the Larry Elder result, I was not shocked,” said Sabatini. “People like Florida and Texas are going to get more Republican. So we’ll really have two countries from within, and the question is how are those two countries governed.”
Wagner then expressed shocked and ask how these two countries would be governed. Sabatini replied, “Hopefully peacefully.”