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‘Dangerous Florida man!’ MSNBC panel frets over ‘wannabe dictator’ DeSantis’ plans for free speech

December 9, 2021 | | Print Article

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An analyst on MSNBC, a network that often advances conspiracies theories, has accused Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, without evidence, of being a “wannabe dictator” who, by implication, is attempting to set up a “fascist autocracy” to declare war on free speech.

These comments on an episode of The ReidOut were made during a longer segment that reacted to a Miami Herald story that claimed professors at the University of Florida were told not to criticize Gov. DeSantis’ COVID-19 policies when interacting with the news media.

“And faculty at UF Health expressed concerns over funding being in jeopardy if they did not adopt the state’s stance on pandemic regulations in opinion articles,” the Herald explained about various allegations contained in a faculty senate committee report.

To the chagrin of the corporate media, the GOP governor and possible future presidential candidate has effectively balanced Florida’s public health needs with economic and educational considerations as well as preserving individual liberty. DeSantis is pro-vaccine and pro-therapeutics, but steadfastly anti-mandate. As a result, Americans from across the country are relocating to Florida in droves.

MSNBC host and Harvard University graduate Joy Reid, someone who Tucker Carlson has nicknamed “the race lady” and Jason Whitlock has renamed Racial Maddow, claimed on the broadcast that Gov. DeSantis “doesn’t believe” COVID is real.

She then tossed it to analyst Fernand Amandi to weigh in on the Florida politician’s alleged attempt to stifle free speech by allegedly pressing academics to stay quiet. Amandi prefaced his comments by describing DeSantis as the “wannabe dictator, dangerous Florida man.”

“This is part and parcel with Ron DeSantis. Imagine on the heels of the announcement last week, where he now wants to build his own private paramilitary militia. This is an autocrat acting in the manner of an autocrat,” Amandi declared.

“What surprises me candidly about the actions of the University of Florida is, where are the resignations and protests by the university president, by members of the board of regents, by others who are calling out this assault, this declaration of war, on academic freedom,” he continued.

“For that matter, the other public institutions across the state of Florida and the country acting in solidarity. We know these commandments, pronouncements, are indeed coming from above. You’re hearing the professor talk about it now. The message is very clear. Don’t criticize, don’t say anything untoward, don’t make the ‘dear leader’ look bad because if you do, we will pull your funding, and we’ll pull your job and in the future, we may do worse. And that, my friends, is what fascism and autocracy sounds like.”

In his comments, Amandi was referring to his co-panelist Danaya Wright, the UF law professor who is one of six members of the faculty committee.

Christina Pushaw, the governor’s high-energy press secretary, responded to the MSNBC segment on Twitter. “MSNBC analyst suggests Florida college professors could be jailed or fined for criticizing DeSantis. Ummm…does he not realize that 90% of professors are left-liberal and criticize our governor all the time? And no one cares?”

Amandi’s remarks also reflect the ongoing hyperventilating on the left for DeSantis’ plan to reinstitute the Florida State Guard, which even for which liberal comedian Sarah Silverman called out Joy Reid.

As BPR has previously noted, DeSantis’ proposal is hardly unique, and that nearly two dozen states already have their own versions of a state guard separate from the National Guard, even in deep-blue strongholds.

As many on social media have noticed when responding to Pushaw’s observation or in various other instances, progressives have reached peak projection.

That is, authoritarians lament authoritarianism, misinformers complain about misinformation, censors masquerade as free-speech advocates, includers engage in exclusion, political cultists accuse others of cult membership, bullies bemoan bullying, conspiracy mongers condemn conspiracy theories, and the list goes on.

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Robert Jonathan
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