Scott takes appropriate precaution; UF president not altogether PC

Good for Gov. Rick Scott — declaring a state of emergency before white supremacist Richard Spencer spews his hate and venom in a speech Thursday at the University of Florida. 

Scott is acting responsibly, intending to avoid another Charlottesville and taking preventive measures. While that’s costing state and local governments $500,000 compared to the $10,000 Spencer’s group has paid to rent the auditorium, you can imagine the outcry if Scott and Alachua County officials did nothing and violence ensues.

Meanwhile, University of Florida President Kent Fuchs was also right last week when he emailed students and faculty, telling them that attending Spencer’s speech fuels the white-supremacist’s intent: to provoke a reaction and draw media attention.

He’s right. Agitators love it when you give them attention. A great antidote is to ignore them, like putting spittle on a candle wick.

“By shunning him and his followers, we will block his attempt for further visibility,” Fuchs wrote to students and faculty.

It would have been more appropriate for Fuchs to couch his email, acknowledging Spencer has the right to speak and students have a right to listen. And then add diplomatically, “You can avoid the potential for confrontation by making the choice to avoid the event altogether.” That would be more PC and less anti-free speech.