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.“
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.
No, he’s a politician. A pre Trump politician at that and this is how they roll. They take the high road so they look Presidential, while stabbing you behind the scenes and sending their surrogates after you. You might have heard the idea of the VP being the attack dog. That’s how it always was pre Trump. Trump, a real person, is the only one man enough to sign his name to the things he says and does. That makes Trump different and the rest of them...politicians....Kari Lake may have some of that too...time will tell on her.
Before the last election, I thought the Rats would throw everything at DeSantis, but they held back, it seems.
My hope was, when DeSantis won, he would be bullet-proof because the other side would have exhausted themselves during the gubernatorial campaign.
Now I’m not so sure of that. Another reason why I am waiting to see how it all works out.
Ha. He speaks
Not before getting busted for publicly schmoozing some bad actors (see skb late show 2/8) and not before exposure of some weird teacher-he- and many girl students partying
Other repudiated one thing. Rival pres candidates in primary season is another
Grooming refers to the sick perverted practice of queers preying on children in order to convert more perverts.
Drag Queen shows for children.... Walt Disney Inc.... these are examples of what groomers do.
A young DeSantis with other young girls is normal healthy behavior. Not an example of grooming.
Not exactly. Trump's behavior historically was to be nice to people unless they attacked, then he hit back mercilessly, only to be nice to them again if they kissed up to him. It was like he was training them like pets.
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.
Trump is funny that way.
“And now Ben is at UF, where he belongs.”
That one went right over your head!
Apparently many FReepers don’t realize this is political warfare, and it ain’t pretty. I like DeSantis. I really do. He is, however, a politician and, should he be elected, will be held to the same no good, rotten GOP establishment that Trump faced. Those that think DeSantis will do something more magically delicious than Trump are deluding themselves. Trump has a 4 year track record now and we are well aware of how he will handle himself as President. I have no complaints. DeSantis is a noob, and a politician. Although, as I mentioned before, I do like the guy and would like to see him run in ‘28.
See if you like it when he does it in a debate when Crowley interferes...oh...wrong guy
DeSantis would be fool NOT to take their money, or anyone else’s.
Presidential campaigns cost a billion dollars (at least) these days.
He with the biggest War Chest wins!
A photo of 18-year old high school graduates, one of whom is holding a brown bottle with no label.
The same photo Andrew Gillum's campaign used in 2018 to try to attack DeSantis and that the New York Times dredged back up in November 2020 before the election.
Didn't work then, won't work now. Not surprising, however, to see Trump recycle Gillum's failed campaign hit pieces.
Again, no matter what you think the mental state of Trump is it is beyond question that he knows a lot more about DeSantis then we do. It makes ZERO sense to criticize DeSantis UNLESS he plans on running and UNLESS he plans in some way to undo the MAGA movement.
All you are doing is playing into the hands of the enemy. You need to do better. Think of what is at stake.
You post this exact claim most every day, but have never once provided any proof, despite being asked repeatedly. So, do you have any actual proof, yet? And beware of glass houses.
You, DeSantis, are also endorsed by the likes of Establishment GOP and Globalist actors like Jeb Bush, Paul Ryan, John Bolton, etc.
Another constant claim you make, even though there is no evidence of it being true, and you've been called on it several times as well.
How in the world could they have even endorsed him, even if they wanted to, when DeSantis hasn't even declared any intent to run yet?
“Before the last election, I thought the Rats would throw everything at DeSantis, but they held back, it seems.
My hope was, when DeSantis won, he would be bullet-proof because the other side would have exhausted themselves during the gubernatorial campaign.
Now I’m not so sure of that. Another reason why I am waiting to see how it all works out”
______________________________________
yup. Look at what they did with Trump in 2016. We thought his anal exam was all but complete...then came the billy bush tape 3 weeks out from the election. I guarantee you there is a treasure trove of crap on DeSantis, no doubt some is made up...but the dems are locked and loaded.
“Before the last election, I thought the Rats would throw everything at DeSantis, but they held back, it seems.”
Before the last election I knew that they had been destroyed and wouldn’t waste resources in Florida.
That would be the best thing DeSantis could do.
I would respect him and vote for him when he runs AFTER Trump has finished his next term.
If he runs this election... I will not vote for him. I want to see Trump finish the last step in this mess... fire those turncoats and those playing like they are the ultimate law force in the country! They have to be cleaned out or this country will never be what it once was! they got into the bad habit of thinking they could make their own laws... and live with their own corrupted mess they have turned it into. corrupted way too long and way too many.. give them an inch and there is no stopping them.
Republicans!!! learn to fight back!!!
Catty?
At least it is not downright slanderous, like Trump’s vicious attempt to paint Ron DeSantis with the “groomer” brush.
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