Posted on 02/08/2023 12:28:57 PM PST by Drew68
OCALA, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis responded to former President Donald Trump’s ‘ReTruth’ of a post claiming the Florida governor is a “groomer,” in reference to a photo from left-wing media outlet MeidasTouch.
The response is one of the most direct ones he’s offered since Trump’s criticism began in late 2022, sparking with the former president’s nickname of the DeSantis being “Ron DeSanctimonious.”
“Governor, former President Trump yesterday made a series of posts on TRUTH Social directed at you some were insinuating that…” a reporter asked. DeSantis chimed in, “I get it, I get you guys want the controversy.”
The reporter asked the governor how his ideas on defamation legislation – promoting a venue of private action for false media reports that harm the reputations of individuals – would relate to posts like Trump’s.
“I have a platform to fight back a lot of these other people that are more little. They don’t necessarily have a platform to fight back,” he replied.
DeSantis said as governor, he would not spend time fighting defamation lawsuits; he also said he does not spend his time “trying to smear other Republicans.”
“And I’d also just say this, I spend my time delivering results for the people of Florida and fighting against Joe Biden. That’s how I spend my time,” DeSantis said. “I don’t spend my time trying to smear other Republicans.”
The day prior, before Trump’s ReTruths, DeSantis defended the former president on what he called the “Russian collusion hoax.”
“Well, I think the swan song has been this Russia collusion hoax because they indulged in that for for two years,” DeSantis said to a panel of lawyers and others who said they’re victim of defamation, like Covington Catholic Nicholas Sandmann.
“I mean, it all eventually was debunked and even in real time people were saying this, but they just kept cycling in this. And I think it just raises the question, you know, this obsession with these anonymous sources, where did that come from?” he said.
“It used to be rare that you would do it, I mean, to assassinate someone’s character with anonymous sources would have been a total no-no. Now it’s just kind of like a normal and actually the preferred method of being able to deliver content,” the governor said.
DeSantis has not named Trump directly in response to criticisms, but in January responded to attacks by citing his electoral landslide in 2022.
“I roll out of bed, I have people attacking me from all angles. It’s been happening for many, many years,” DeSantis said.
One criticism Trump pointed to was DeSantis’ handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
“If you take a crisis situation like COVID, the good thing about it is when you’re an elected executive, you have to make all kinds of decisions. You gotta steer that ship. And the good thing is that the people are able to render a judgment on that whether they reelect you or not,” he said.
“And I’m happy to say, you know, in my case, not only did we win reelection, we won with the highest percentage of the vote that any Republican governor candidate has in the history of the state of Florida.”
DeSantis defeated Democrat Charlie Crist by nearly 20 points.
He pointed to his margin being the “largest raw vote margin” than “any governor candidate” in the history of Florida. The margin was around 1.5 million votes.
“And so what I would just say is – that verdict has been rendered by the people of the state of Florida.”
Earlier in January, DeSantis defended the former president on his handling of classified documents in comparison to President Joe Biden.
DeSantis slammed Biden for going on 60 Minutes late last year saying Trump was “totally irresponsible” in how he handled storing classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
“He said that it was ‘incredibly reckless’ to have classified – he said all this stuff, you know, on 60 Minutes […] Now you find out he had them stashed behind his corvette at his house that Hunter had access to, which is definitely a security risk in my book,” DeSantis said.
“They had all this stuff to say [about Trump], now they’re acting [like] it’s not a big deal. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. You can’t have two different sets of rules based on your political party.“
“You, DeSantis, are also endorsed by the likes of Establishment GOP and Globalist actors like Jeb Bush, Paul Ryan, John Bolton, etc., so there is that, right, DeSantis?
You mean all the people that Trump himself endorsed and hired?
Except, of course, Jeb Bush. Trump was a Democrat back in those days.”
Pubbie doesn’t mention Trump taking 160 million from Soros to build his Trump Tower in Chicago does he?
wonder if it’s side effects from “safe and effective”...
i’ve noticed a loss in sense of humor in the shot sheep...
In DeSantis's case, he publicly endorse Harmeet Dhillon for RNC Chair.
What a liar & a poser. He should seek out some other room to flourish his sanctimony & hypocrisy in.
DeSantis singles out the lawyer who is representing Dominion in over 100 suits against patriots and honest Americans to praise her as a champion of the first amendment. This guy, DeSantis, is turning into a train wreck.
It was stupid, said in jest & isn’t a rule; its a joke.
He’s going to be finished Nationally if he does.
“Unless Trump somehow knows that DeSantis is planning on running. And honestly, if he did run how does that differ from Reagan’s rule as then DeSantis would technically be attacking Trump by running against him, a former President who some might think earned his chance to be the party representative.”
Is it more effective to point our an opponents flaws or policy positions or throw mud and nasty allegations? Both point out the character of the opponent.
DeSantis has been paid to perform. Others will be deciding if it benefits their aims for him to run.
Not really. That itself was a smear.
I'd say it depends, but "negative ads" are very effective.
Dream solution. DeSantis foe Prez, Trump for VP, with DeSantis promising Trump a role in foing after the swamp hoaxers. If Trump would accept, it would prove his heart is in the right place.
Yep. Such a patriot/s
Trump's best appointment was Scotty Pruitt, hired to take a flamethrower to the EPA.
Unfortunately, Liberals believe the EPA belongs to them regardless of who is in the White House so they targeted Pruitt for wasting congressionally-appropriated EPA funds on endeavors other than enforcing job-killing environmental regulations. Trump, always trying to please his enemies, buckled and demanded Pruitt's resignation.
One of his few appointees who understood MAGA, was actually implementing it, and Trump sent him packing.
Only in your dreams, LOL.
Leni
Trump does not work for us. He’s an unemployed guy getting social security and pension. DeSantis works for us at least those of us in Florida. It’s easy for trump to sit around all day on truth social. DeSantis is too busy working.
No kidding. It’s sad what he’s become. Trump had it all and squandered it.
You never Trumpers need to give it a rest. All the legit polls shows Trump is far ahead by double digits. You people are the ones being divisive clowns. Mark my words, if DeSantis runs against Trump he’s finished (outside of Florida).
Trump was blatantly cheated out of the presidency and this cannot and should not ever be ignored. Trump deserves to be in office, and I can’t think of any reason why I shouldn’t support him. DeSantis is a traitorous neocon globalist deep state lackey, and I’m betting Trump destroys him in the primary. And DeSantis will pay for it in the future as many Trump supporters will remember what he did.
“I would respect him and vote for him when he runs AFTER Trump has finished his next term.”
Trump is doing his best by pissing on his own shoes to not have another term.
Take your head out of the sand and look at DeSantis.
He is no Maga man. He is working against Trump under the direction of the donors who want Main St enslaved for Globalist profit.
DeSantis friends are bad actors like Romney, Ryan, Sasse etc. Some ignoramus tried to attack Trump for supporting Sasse. Trump holds his nose & takes one for the team, to elect Republicans rather than Dems once the die is cast. That was his job as president.
Too many back seat drivers with tunnel vision & selective memories presenting narratives.
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