Video seeks to punish LaMarca, other lawmakers
Slams support for DeSantis’ virus response
A national super political action committee is out with a video highlighting South Florida Republican lawmakers’ support for the way Gov. Ron DeSantis has handled COVID-19.
It’s not favorable. The video, released Wednesday by the liberal American Bridge 21st Century super PAC, begins with a snippet of video that Democrats and their allies have become fond of using: DeSantis in Orlando on May 20 when he mocked people who had criticized Florida’s response to the coronavirus and touted what then looked like the state’s success in dealing with the virus.
American Bridge threw that back at DeSantis, now that the state is a world leader in coronavirus cases. The Florida Department of Health reported 10,181 new
COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the state total to 301,810 since the start of the pandemic.
The video includes audio from four lawmakers, state Rep. Chip LaMarca from Broward, and state Reps. Vance Aloupis, Juan Fernandez-Barquin, and Ana Maria Rodriquez from Miami-Dade County.
All are supportive of the way DeSantis handled the coronavirus outbreak. “We have to listen to the governor’s leadership,” LaMarca says. “Shame on those who have taken to air waves criticize this governor.”
Though it’s LaMarca’s words, like many political ads, the video lacks context. American Bridge said the LaMarca comment is from March 22 — relatively early in the pandemic and two months before the infamous DeSantis video mocking critics. Video concludes with on-screen text declaring that the four lawmakers are “Wrong about Gov. DeSantis. Wrong for Florida.”
In a statement, American Bridge spokeswoman Katie to
Parrish was even more critical.
“Voters won’t forget how these spineless Republican lawmakers pandered to DeSantis — cheering on his reckless rush to reopen while ignoring the risks it posed to their own constituents,” Parrish said. “Now, South Florida has become a pandemic epicenter and these Republican lawmakers’ shameless partisanship is costing lives. Floridians deserve better.”
Parrish said her group is pushing the message out on social media, and didn’t disclose how much it is spending. LaMarca said he’s dismayed at attempts to politicize the pandemic.
“You’re darned right I support Governor Ron DeSantis, and so do Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Broward County Mayor Dale Holness and Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner — all Democrats. Because the only way to get through this is by working together,” LaMarca said via text message.