Looks like Miami Beach may have its own version of George Santos in Fabián Basabe | Opinion
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From the Tallahassee party circuit to Miami Beach political circles, the “it” weird politico of the week is South Florida state Rep. Fabián Basabe.
The gossips at the Capitol are calling him the George Santos of Florida.
Being investigated for an alleged act of violence and drunken conduct, his life is now under scrutiny, and storylines are falling apart.
Who is the Republican newbie legislator really and what does he stand for?
Hard to tell.
Truth doesn’t seem to be Basabe’s forte.
Elected in a redrawn Democratic-leaning district made up of Miami Beach and adjoining coastal cities, Basabe campaigned as a moderate promising to protect LGBTQ rights under attack by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the extremist Florida GOP.
He won, with help from Democrats, over his Democratic opponent by a mere 232 votes.
Yet, Basabe has voted with DeSantis and his legislative posse most of the time — and clearly against gay rights. He supported the crackdown on drag shows and, more egregiously, he voted to extend the loathsome “Don’t Say Gay” education law’s prohibitions to all grades. It’s nothing short of sending gay ‘tweens and teenagers back into a dark, closeted existence.
For this, Basabe was booed during last weekend’s Pride parade in Miami Beach when he arrived atop a convertible waving and ingratiating himself with the gay crowd.
They didn’t buy it. He faced protesters calling for his resignation.
Asked for comment on why he’s voting anti-gay and holding up a Pride flag, the backstabber called gays “my people,” and said “I only see love.” He then threatened to expose in Tallahassee “what’s really going on behind these advocacy groups.”
Very George Santosian of him to try to turn the tables when he’s the one under investigation.
Basabe, in fact, appears to be so dim-witted that he was the only House member to vote against a bipartisan Florida Kidcare Program Eligibility bill that allows a larger pool of poor children to qualify for healthcare coverage. Tens of thousands of families with children will benefit.
And this guy is a father.
The record shows he missed the initial Kidcare vote, but voted after roll call that night. First, “Yes,” but 36 seconds later, he changed to “No.”
Then, after this column was published Wednesday, he changed the vote back to “Yes.” He claimed the no-vote was an aide’s error.
He also campaigned on being pro-choice, yet sat out the anti-abortion vote to impose a six-week ban. He explains that one with a convoluted, preposterous story, blaming Democrats for the Republican ban.
Even his television reality-star status — some talk him up as being “the male Paris Hilton” in New York — seems hyped.
I found one substantial credit. Basabe appeared in the 2005 show “Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive and Faking It,” which featured rich kids being idiots. He’s the son of a native-born American woman and a wealthy Ecuadorian businessman who moved from Manhattan to Miami in 1987.
It’s hard to find a single good reason why he was elected to public office.
A slap widely seen
The legislative session hadn’t even started — and Basabe was already in trouble.
The 45-year-old, CBS4 News first reported, is under House investigation for allegedly slapping an aide in the face at a lobbyist’s social function after DeSantis’ inauguration in January.
Basabe is said to have then sent the aide to stand in a corner at the party like a punished child. There were witnesses.
But he’s the one suffering the consequences now as his alleged antics have unleashed media investigations into his past.
Like Santos, the record, including other alleged criminal acts, was all there to be found.
A no-experience candidate elected to public office for no other reason than the Miami-Dade GOP ran a better ground game and the Democratic Party is, to put it mildly, struggling.
Reached by phone Tuesday evening, Basabe said he was at an event and requested questions be sent via text. He kept promising to answer. Three hours later, Basabe texted: “So sorry I just read the entire message and that you’re just learning about this. I’ll let you know when something new and exciting occurs that may interest your readers.”
The Fabián Basabe lesson
Can’t be said enough these days: Be careful who you vote for.
What a candidate tells you he stands for isn’t worth a dime. Lying has become the acceptable price of entry.
In a world where hysterical people in comical attire ranting on social media are elevated to political “influencer” status and treated as credible, where truth and lies have become harder for voters to decipher, let Basabe’s election, with the help of duped Democrats, be a lesson.
If Donald Trump taught the nation anything, it’s that reality-TV stardom isn’t proof that one is qualified to hold public office.
In Florida, democracy itself is on the line, vote after legislative vote.
There shouldn’t be any room for reality-star foolishness.
