Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
DeSantis Must Be Over the Target
You might know that I am President of the Ron DeSantis fan club (or at least I should be). He has been fearless in fighting for the rights of Floridians in multiple areas of the state: the economy, health, education, and gender issues, just to name a few. You can read more of my writing about his work if you’d like to by going here, here, here, here, and here.
The current onslaught of attacks from the media (and yes, I am writing an opinion piece so I can be as outraged as I wish) appeared in this article of the Orlando Sentinel, which is usually behind a paywall. But for now, it can be found on an internet search.
The reason I’m writing today is the hysteria has reached a new fevered pitch. The writer of the article does a decent job of trying to demonstrate some objectivity about the governor’s actions; I suspect he believes that gives him permission to use hyperbole and distortion when telling his story (and I assure you that it is his story, not mine). This article was on the front page, top half of the Sunday newspaper, although it sounds nearly as frenzied as the opinion page. If you are curious about his particular style, that I think exceeds the bounds of respectable journalism, I’ll give you a few examples. In case you think I’m overreacting, I’m putting in bold those words or phrases that I think are inappropriate or extreme:
Gov. Ron DeSantis has mounted an all-out assault on what he calls “trendy ideologies in education, vowing to defund programs designed to increase minority enrollment and retention at the state’s universities and colleges as he considers a run for president in 2024. . .
This agenda and other new Florida measures he has pushed through. . .
Florida has become this petri dish of policies that other conservative states are looking at. . .
DeSantis has demanded from universities an accounting of all money spent on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, training and classes and critical race theory, promising that they would “wither on the vine” without state money. He has directed the Legislature to prohibit schools from funding such programs.
DeSantis escalated his attack by making an example of New College. . .
The frenzy of the last several weeks prompted Black lawmakers and civic leaders, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, to march on Tallahassee on Wednesday in protest of not just DeSantis’ educational decisions, but also his administration’s steps to ban medical treatment for transgender youth.
There were more examples, but you can see where this writer was heading. He repeatedly left out key information and made no secret about what his preferences were.
The reasons I wanted to highlight this latest article are multifold: (1) they demonstrate that the state of journalism continues to skid off the rails; (2) there is no discernable distinction between the news sections and the opinion page; and (3) the attacks on DeSantis have increased in number and intensity in their tone, and yet he is not deterred. The bad news is that the general population, even in Florida, may believe the distortions presented.
On the other hand, the increased frenzy on the part of the media may reveal an anxiety, maybe even a panic, about what is transpiring in this state. My hope is that he continues to be successful with only minor setbacks, that more and more Floridians come on board, and more state Governors, particularly in red states, join the movement.
He is most definitely over the target.
Published in Politics
Wait until one of the candidates gets the nomination, if you want to see hyperbole.
I find it astonishing that there are people who thought that Donald Trump was vilified by the media because he was a horrible person.
Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and many, many others would point out the obvious: The media will attack anyone who appears to be helpful to Republicans at the moment.
Heck, they’re vilifying Elon Musk and Joe Rogan, and they’re not even Republicans. They just appear to be helpful to Republicans at this moment. That’s enough. The media will attempt to destroy them. Whoever they are.
Every time. It doesn’t matter who it is.
It wasn’t about Trump before. It’s not about DeSantis now.
How much more obvious can they be?
I must admit that I get a certain satisfaction out of the distress of the media toward DeSantis, especially over the fact that they brought these actions on themselves. But part of my reaction to the article surprised me, suggesting how accustomed I have become to the outrageous behavior of journalists. At one time, I would have been incredibly angry about what is being said about him; instead, I was sickened and disappointed, but my outrage is turning into resignation. I don’t think that is a wise attitude to take.
Dr., they apparently don’t care how transparent their motives are. All they care about is ranting and raving. I keep hoping the public will finally stop and say, really? that bad? I’ve also noticed that DeSantis is not tempering his tone at all, nor are the people who work with him. The new trustees at New College, in particular Christopher Rufo, mince no words at stating their own outrage. I’m lovin’ it.
It’s interesting that he’s presented in the article as if he’s already declared. Sad.
Also, we only get the paper on Sunday, but get the digital during the week. I’d be curious if anyone, especially in a red state is seeing any courage being demonstrated by your governor, or if there’s been any change in the tone of the media. It’s possible that everyone is just trying to act as if everything is normal. Right.
Just wait for them to realize that they’re wrath is better than any endorsement they might care to make. The secret is to treat them as what they are: the Democratic Party’s steno pool.
I don’t think steno pools get much attention. How about advertising agency?
Precisely. If they can call George W., Mitt, and McCain “good Republicans” and then turn on a time to call them all Nazis, Facists, misogynists, homophobes,etc. (which they did), nothing they say about DeSantis should surprise anyone. Nor should it be taken seriously by a sane, thinking human being.
That’s not even the most recent unhinged rant.
https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2023/02/11/ron-desantis-acts-lot-like-roman-caesar-column/
Squishy Bush-Boy Larry Hogan also attacks RDS; basically saying real conservatives should support schools indoctrinating children into socialism, racialism, and queer radicalism.
https://twitchy.com/jacobb-38/2023/02/19/not-a-good-position-erick-erickson-and-rich-lowry-respond-to-larry-hogans-comment-on-gov-ron-desantis-and-education/
Good grief, VTK! Your example is many times worse than mine! “Unhinged rant” is too kind! Thanks for posting the link!
Conservative, my foot!
Sure hope he runs for President. Hard for me to see him losing to Trump. The California primary should be a doozy. Gov. let the schools open and have a budget surplus with no state income tax vs. the failed state of California. Hard to see Trump coming out ahead hear especially since so many of us can’t wait to move to friendlier states.
Well, c’mon and join us, navyjag!
Don’t like hurricanes and alligators. Will test out the Colorado rattlers first.
I loved living in CO–except for those nasty snowstorms. I’d look around carefully. They’re turning blue . . .
I’ve mentioned that to him before too. Plus all the legal-pot users driving around… I suppose it would be a huge improvement over the People’s Republic of California, but I rarely agree with half-measures. I left Oregon 30 years ago (my youngest brother is still there, but might finally be coming to his senses) and left Arizona almost 3 years ago.
Politically, Florida is agreeable to me, but it’s too hot, too flat, and too crowded. I am content to watch the Fall of the Republic from a red state in the midwest; what the elites derisively call “The Rustbelt.”
If I were younger . . .
But the black ice worries me, never mind getting stuck in a snow bank!
Susan, the other odd thing about this sort of “reporting” is that you would never guess, from the way the stories are framed, that DeSantis is doing what his constituents want him to do. The people of Florida—by huge margins—voted for him, and Florida is one of the states that other Americans are flocking to. One would think they’d at least mention this?
Oh no, the ones who voted for him were clearly deluded or brainwashed. There are so many omissions that it boggles the mind. Sigh.
Plus I’m sure they accuse DeSantis and other Republican office-holders of the election fraud that the Dimocrats actually practice with great enthusiasm.
RDS is literally the only reason the Republicans have a majority in the House.
I think Ron could be a great President, and would certainly be a good President.
Lately, I’m compelled to write “journalist” using quotation marks lest someone think I am referring to a professional journalist instead of a political hack.
I think Donald Trump is a horrible person.
I also think he was often unfairly attacked by the media.
Both things can be true. And maybe rather than call Trump “horrible,” my personal view is that Trump is just a moron who inherited a lot of money from his Dad and it went to his head so he thinks he’s really smart.
Well, it is hard to beat the Trump business model of inheriting a ton of money from your Dad.
In any case, the media didn’t spend much time attacking Ted Kennedy, even though he was a horrible person.
This is absolutely true.
The first time we heard any public allegations of sexual harassment directed by Clarence Thomas was after he was nominated to the US Supreme Court.
Same for Brett Kavanaugh.
If public allegations had been made against either of them even a few months before they were nominated to the US Supreme Court, those allegations would have had more credibility in my eyes.
The fact that both of those men were subject to 11th hour allegations indicates to me that these allegations were simply a desperation move to try to sink their nominations.
My point exactly. Ronald Reagan and Mitt Romney were nice people, but they were attacked just like Trump was.
Again, Trump wasn’t attacked because he was a horrible person. He was attacked because was helping the Republican party.
In reality, to whatever extent Trump is actually a bad person, he can’t hold a candle to the likes of the Bidens, et al.
You’ll get days to get out of the way of hurricanes.
Gators might be a problem, though.