Miami's Beacon Council released a video Thursday that appeared to show Marlins President David Samson “actually said most of what was reported in local business publication Miami Today,” according to Diana Moskovitz of the MIAMI HERALD. Small bits of Samson’s talk before the Beacon Council on Tuesday “were lost because the video was broken into 21 parts," and the clips released Thursday “did not contain the reported swipe at locals.” Miami Today quoted Samson as saying, “We’re not the smartest people in Miami. If you’re in this room, you’re instantly in the top 1 percent.” The closest to that quote came when Samson was recorded “talking about how many people were too busy to stay informed on every single issue.” Samson is heard saying, “I don’t think anyone in this room has the ability to speak completely intellectually on every issue that confronts the local government, and that’s not saying we’re not the smartest people in Miami. My guess is if you’re in this room we’re immediately in the top 1 percent.” Moskovitz notes the clips show Samson “making several other controversial statements.” Samson took a “swipe at politicians in Tallahassee, saying he would never run for office.” He said, “I don’t know what they do up there.” But the entirety of what Samson said about Tallahassee “could not be heard on the video because it was cut in the recording” (MIAMI HERALD, 3/9).
