Every so often, the left reminds us that the widely held belief that children should be left out of politics is not necessarily applied evenly.
The latest example of this was seen this week with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who recently signed an executive order banning schools from mandating masks, opting instead to give parents the right to make that decision. DeSantis warned he may cut funding to schools with mask mandates — some schools in Democrat-run areas are deciding to require masks, but are giving parents the choice to opt-out if they jump through the proper hoops and provide a note.
The state and national media were quick to vilify the Republican governor over the action. A county school board member and a former Democratic county chair took it further when they began to inquire about where his children will be going to school.
DeSantis is the father of three young children, which likely explains his staunch belief that parents know what is best for their children.
Interestingly, even some liberals like Peter Schorsch, a “mini-media mogul” who runs a political news website in Florida, pushed back on involving the governor’s kids in the political jousting.
Leon Co. School Board member Rosanne Wood, who seemingly was trying to make hay about @GovRonDeSantis & where his kids go to school amid the ongoing mask wearing controversy, now says she was “misinformed." pic.twitter.com/d0cqtfIoOU
— Peter Schorsch (@PeterSchorschFL) August 8, 2021
In general i agree. But would really like my grandkids not to be dragged into this. Would like a small government republican to govern like one. Apparently, none of us are getting what we want.
— Lisa King (@kingforJAX) August 8, 2021
Democratic state Sen. Shevrin Jones also weighed in to say back off,
Here’s what’s off limits in politics – families and children. If your problem is with @GovRonDeSantis policies, deal with him, and leave his kids out of it.
— Shevrin “Shev” Jones (@ShevrinJones) August 8, 2021
There are those moments when a figure on the right is so reviled that all bets are off. The nation just saw four long years of this when former President Donald Trump ran into an unprecedented wall of hatred, where the liberal media abandoned any and all pretense of partiality to grant themselves the moral authority to take him on.
DeSantis is currently the only other figure on the right who’s hated almost as much as Trump. In addition to the obvious reasons of being a white male Republican, the left fears the vast potential DeSantis represents. Much like Trump, he sees the media as the political opponents they are, and when appropriate, he is willing to punch back.
The difference between DeSantis and Trump is the governor does not have a Twitter hang-up, and he understands the importance of message discipline. Perhaps this is a result of his military background.
A Yale University graduate who also graduated with honors from Harvard Law, the governor earned a commission in the U.S. Navy as a JAG officer. He deployed to Iraq as an adviser to a U.S. Navy SEAL commander in support of their mission in Fallujah and Ramadi. DeSantis also served at Guantanamo Bay.
He was awarded the bronze star medal for meritorious service and the Iraq campaign medal for his time served in the Middle East.
DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw responded to a social media user tagging her to warn about the governor’s children being targeted.
“Our office is aware of this despicable behavior,” Pushaw replied. “The kids’ safety is the highest priority. It’s appalling that anyone would risk endangering them, even if this isn’t the school they attend, this whole topic of discussion is way over the line.”
Our office is aware of this despicable behavior. The kids’ safety is the highest priority. It’s appalling that anyone would risk endangering them, even if this isn’t the school they attend, this whole topic of discussion is way over the line.
— Christina Pushaw (@ChristinaPushaw) August 8, 2021
On Friday, a lawsuit was filed in Leon County Circuit Court challenging the constitutionality of the governor’s executive order precluding mask mandates — the left has turned to the courts repeatedly to challenge DeSantis.
Par for the course, the uninformed left runs with false information, rabidly attacking with no consideration for accuracy.
Exhibit A:
I agree I do NOT want his children to suffer, or him or his family in any personal way.
But if his children are safely tucked away at private school w/ mask requirements & he’s demanding “mask-optional” for other people’s children, it’s not the kids who are problematic it’s him.
— KB (@WhosYourDetti) August 8, 2021
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
[email protected]
The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
