USA TODAY International Edition
President DeSantis? Look at his unhinged Florida culture war
Newly minted GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis promises to “Make America Florida.” To me, that sounds more like a threat than a campaign slogan, but I suppose it depends on how you like your democracy: plain or with a side of fascism.
The Florida governor made his formal presidential campaign announcement in the weirdest way possible, joining a Wednesday evening Twitter Spaces conversation with Twitter CEO and noted conspiracy theorist- coddler Elon Musk. The event was moderated by David Sacks, a wealthy GOP donor who is pals with Musk and supports DeSantis, creating a turducken of wealth, confirmation- bias and “very online” social awkwardness. There were also spectacular technical glitches, again raising questions of whether the governor is truly ready for a national campaign.
But don’t let the spectacle of DeSantis’ entry into the GOP primary distract you from what “Make America Florida” might actually mean. The governor has implemented a far- right, culture warheavy agenda in the Sunshine State and ruled like a power- hungry autocrat, bolstered by a Republican- controlled legislature. He views diversity as a societal ill, and seems focused on making the world better only for people who share his values.
But don’t take my word for it. Just look at the things he has done.
DeSantis has done a lot in Florida – and a lot of it should scare voters
For many Americans, folks lucky enough to not spend their days drinking from the fire hose of 24- hour political news, DeSantis remains an abstraction. He has been controversial among liberals and hailed as a hero among conservatives. A recent poll by the progressive think tank Data For Progress found about a third of likely voters view him unfavorably and a third view him favorably. But, important, nearly a third of likely voters “haven’t heard enough to say” whether they like or dislike him, and among independents that number jumps to 36%.
So now that DeSantis is in the running for a presidential nomination, voters are going to have to understand him, and that requires looking at what he has done in ( and to) Florida and asking: Is this a palatable model for the rest of America, and is this the kind of person I’d want in charge?
Let’s start with the Parental Rights in Education law, which critics have aptly dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law. The original bill barred Florida teachers in kindergarten through third grade from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity. It was then expanded so it covered students through eighth grade and then, in April, it became a complete K- 12 ban, which was presumably the goal from the jump.
Teachers who violate the vaguely worded ban could lose their teaching licenses, and the law has created widespread confusion, leading to the banning of seemingly innocuous children’s books that mention LGBTQ issues. The law also said a teacher “may not provide to a student his or her preferred personal title or pronouns if such preferred personal title or pronouns do not correspond to his or her sex.”
Disney, one of Florida’s largest employers and tourist magnets, voiced gentle disagreement with the “Don’t Say Gay” law, prompting DeSantis to launch a crusade against the company, dubbing it “woke.” Disney has now sued the governor for “a targeted campaign of government retaliation,” and recently pulled out of a planned $ 1 billion development near Orlando.
That mess ties in nicely with DeSantis’ borderline fanatical “war on woke.” His “accomplishments” on that front include:
● Signing a bill that bars Florida universities and colleges from using any state or federal money to fund programs that “advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion.”
● Signing an anti- drag- show bill that, again, is worded so vaguely that it may impact pride parades and other public LBGTQ celebrations.
● Signing a bill that bans gender- affirming care for minors and gives the state the ability to take custody of a child who is “being subjected” to gender- affirming care.
● Signing the Stop WOKE Act, which, among other things, prohibits businesses from diversity training or practices that might make an employee feel guilty or responsible for historic wrongs relating to race, sex or national origin. It effectively undercuts any steps a company might take to help employees of different backgrounds understand and appreciate each other. A federal judge has blocked the law, ruling it unconstitutional.
● Blocking an AP African American history class from being taught in Florida schools.
DeSantis has also: rounded up migrants in Texas and flown them to Massachusetts’ Martha’s Vineyard at Florida taxpayers’ expense in one of the more cruel anti- immigrant stunts; created an election police unit called the Office of Election Crimes and Security, best known for arresting 20 mostly Black voters and accomplishing nothing other than messing up those voters’ lives; signed a six- week abortion ban; and signed a law allowing people to carry a concealed gun without training or a permit.
Much is made about Florida’s strong economy and the fact that people and companies have flocked there because there’s no income tax for individuals and the state has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in nation. But lower taxes mean less money for other things.
● Florida ranks 42nd in the country for spending on public education, according to the Education Data Initiative, even though it received the thirdmost federal education funding for K- 12 schools.
● According to the U. S. Census Bureau, Florida ranks near the bottom in terms of uninsured residents, with 12.1% of Floridians uncovered. Only four states are worse.
● And AARP’s 2020 scorecard on long- term services and supports for older adults and people with physical disabilities ranked Florida dead last.
Don’t take my word for these things. Do your own research and see how DeSantis’ priorities and approach to government aligns with your own values.
But I’ll leave with one final development. In Miami- Dade County recently, a parent filed a complaint about a book that contains the poem “The Hill We Climb,” written by Amanda Gorman and recited at President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
On the complaint, the parent wrote – and this transcription is correct – that the book is “not educational and have indirectly hate messages.”
This is what’s on one of the offending pages the parent referenced: “We’ve braved the belly of the beast. We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace,
And the norms and notions of what ‘ just’ is
Isn’t always justice.”
Those words count as “hate messages” in Ron DeSantis’ Florida.
So ask yourself, as DeSantis steps onto the national stage and promises to “Make America Florida,” is Florida the America you want?