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.“
😂
Again this is old news. Trump put a dishonest spin on it. Which is his habit. Nobody cares except his dwindling faithful.
I do think Trump will be more effective in dismantling the deep state in a second term, if he gets one. My main concern is whether or not he will be able to overcome the election fraud we saw in 2020 and 2022. So far, I’ve seen little to make me optimistic.
“trump is insinuating we made the wrong choice and should’ve voted for the “globalist” charlie crist...”
More nonsense. Trump endorsed DeSantis in 2018 and helped him get elected. He also made it clear that he supported DeSantis over Crist in 2022.
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-vote-for-desantis-for-reelection-in-florida-2022-7?op=1
He didn’t have a seasoned winner to run against.
I did not vote for Jack Kennedy.. Was a sad day for the nation when he was killed.
He was a Democrat but today, compared to today’s Dems, he was a republican
This is unfinished business I’d like to see happen. If it doesn’t happen,.. They won that one. I can’t settle for letting all the corruption.. Our government has been used to keep their corruption active. What does that tell the next generation.
If we let it continue with no consequences, we didn’t try hard enough.
And No, we can’t just let it go. Biden was not elected. He doesn’t even know he is senile.. Or how bad it looks. He is a man in a suit, lying, unaware his mind is not what it was.. And he represents my country as an embarrassment.. I can’t bear to see him.. I’m asking myself, do the people see him as OK? Am I the only one asking.. You expect us to buy this setup you have as our US President?!!!!!
It’s true. Early 2015 when Trump was leading with about 12% the knock was that he wasn’t conservative. The “base” wanted Cruz, walker. Consultant class wanted Jeb, Romney. Rush knew something was going on with the Trump phenomenon but all throughout the primary wasn’t backing Tru.p (or anyone). He kept, however, calling Cruz the conservative in the race. “Traditional “ Conservatives saw Trump as at best a New York Republican
“That is Trump!
That is what some do not like.
That puts the brakes on enemies and let’s Trump be Trump”
He needs to be elected before he can do his good deeds and, at the moment, he is alienating voters and a good number of his base. He was an outsider when he came in and he has, to some, turned into another mud slinging politician.
“The pillow guy is taking DeSantis to the wood shed on Bannon show.
DeSantis had a guest he praised from the voting machines Lindell wants gone”
Lindell is sour grapes because he is being sued by the guest that Desantis praised so he turns on DeSantis. Mike is a loose canon and a loser.
“In this case he’s attacking a guy who has only ever praised and defended him, for no obvious reason other than paranoia that he will be a future rival.
I can’t get behind that.”
DeSantis has been raising lots of money from rich folk who don’t like Trump and are RINO’s for the most part. Establishment big money men. Obviously this points to DeSantis being interested in running for Prez against Trump.
Trump considers this a betrayal of loyalty, as DeSantis was a made man by Trump when he was relatively unknown even in FL, and won his election against a total Socialist in a squeaker. DeSantis only won when he was wholeheartedly backed by Trump who went to bat for him. DeSantis was a made man by Trump who pulled him over the finishing line in his first run for Governor of FL.
Trump feels DeSantis’ consorting with and receiving funding by those who don’t want Trump to run for Prez is an act of disloyalty for the one who “brung DeSantis to the dance.” Without Trump’s full-throated endorsement of DeSantis in his campaign for FL Gov, there would BE NO Gov DeSantis, as he barely won the contest.
Hence Trump sees DeSantis’ behind the scenes maneuvering as geared toward a run against him in 2024 and he doesn’t like it. Trump is big on loyalty and considers what DeSantis is up to as a very disloyal act. And he’s right.
I might add I live in FL and DeSantis is a great Governor whom I admire and love what he is doing for the State of FL. I would vote for him for Prez in 2028, but he needs to wait for his turn and not run against the man who gave Gov Desantis his career.
And I don’t like who he is getting large chunks of his campaign building money from; I don’t like it at all. He will end up beholding to them, mostly Establishment types, and they are not friends of Trump.
I didn’t vote for Kennedy either.
I was the outlier among all my young Catholic girlfriends who went for the handsome Irishman.
I chose the dark, homely guy with the bushy eyebrows and the brilliant mind.
“I chose the dark, homely guy with the bushy eyebrows and the brilliant mind.”
Nixon the brilliant was indeed a very smart man, did a very stupid thing; he created the EPA and now we suffer because of it.
Trump can sling insults, and most would rather he didn’t.
There are too many items on the dem side.. To complain about Trump.
Let me add one more thought.
Trump has a high IQ and thinks different than most of us.. Plus wealthy.
He does share.. But public doesn’t know or care
I have a son and a 10 yr old grandson with high IQ. Their minds go down different tracks (how to correctly say this) and at some age/time they know not all are as fast.
Maybe quick to clip. Trump works long hours. On one trip, one of his aides had a bad cold and was sitting down and quiet.. Worn out.
Trump didn’t ask.. Just said if he wasn’t up to the job...
The aide didn’t quit.. He kept working.. He didn’t get angry, he stayed the course.
At times Trump doesn’t think how to say the same thing with thoughtful care. He’s on to the next thing to fix.
Desantis has to stop being passive-aggressive and back out of the ‘24 election. HE NEEDS TO MAKE IT CLEAR.
**********
DeSantis doesn’t have to make it clear, he can be coy about his 2024 intentions, while his supporters rake Trump over the coals everyday.
They were doing the ‘dirty work’ for DeSantis before the midterms were even over, while DeSantis was taking the high road(Just doing my job) and continuing to pick “low hanging fruit.” (Bashing woke ideology in a red state)
Eventually DeSantis will have to suit up and pick his body armor, as well as letting us know his positions on foreign policy, trade, industry, manufacturing, agriculture, defense, etc.
Amen!
Thanks!
Double +
“I wonder if anyone ever told Jack Kennedy, “Don’t jump the line. Just wait your turn.””
Jack Kennedy had no moral compass.
Do not, but I’ll search some. Probably a column or article on American Thinker.
It’s been a year since I heard about the vetters he’s got vetting others.
I am the base and many like me wanted Trump from day one.
“trump is insinuating we made the wrong choice and should’ve voted for the “globalist” charlie crist...
and so are you...”rig
Bull. DeSantis is raising money right now, post his re-election, and he is raising it in furtherance of a future run for President from big money establishment donors. And the insinuation that Trump says Charlie Crist should have one is total deflection from what DeSantis is currently up to with his fundraising efforts and who is contributing to his campaign chest. Nice try, no soap.
“Again this is old news. Trump put a dishonest spin on it. Which is his habit. Nobody cares except his dwindling faithful.”
By this Fall when the 2024 Presidential campaign kicks into higher gear, your dwindling faithful will once again be a gigantic MAGA movement, and nobody will care what YOU say here that will be proven patently wrong. Never bet against Trump; you will lose.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.