Joe Henderson: Ron DeSantis should condemn violent, disgusting video

ron desantis
Fake video shows Donald Trump on a rampage against opponents and media.

There is a disgusting, violent video that Gov. Ron DeSantis should immediately, right now, without delay, denounce.

It shows a fake President Donald Trump on a shooting, stabbing, and pummeling rampage against media outlets and political opponents.

(For the record, as to Trump, “based on what he’s heard, he ‘strongly condemns’ it,” the AP reported Monday.)

The New York Times reported the video was shown last week during a political conference at the President’s National Doral Miami resort. DeSantis was scheduled to speak at that three-day event, which was sponsored by American Priority.

In a statement, the group said: “It has come to our attention that an unauthorized video was shown in a side room at #AMPFest 19. The video was not approved, seen, or sanctioned by the organizers of #AMPFest 19.”

The statement noted that the conference included a panel discussion condemning political violence.

There was no immediate word that DeSantis saw or even knew about the video before the Times report. And no one is remotely suggesting the Governor would condone something this outrageous.

But he should make that clear in the strongest possible tone.

Did I say he should denounce?

That’s not strong enough. DeSantis should scream, shout, shake his fist, and demand that people cut out this crap.

Not only is a video like this one tasteless and vile, but it’s also a signal to the lunatic fringe of the President’s supporters. It tells them that this how men of action handle opponents.

Remember, Trump says the media is the enemy of the people.

Apparently his political opponents are enemies as well, and that includes U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney. Fake Trump took him out in the video.

That brings us back to DeSantis.

He supports the President, but his style is far less abrasive. DeSantis works with Democrats and strikes a tone of inclusion. It won’t surprise anyone if he runs for the presidency eventually. That’s another reason he needs to stomp on this video and put a hundred million miles between himself and its creators.

Forget the politics, though.

Make this a time to say, “Enough!”

This garbage has to stop, and DeSantis needs to say so.

It’s the most important thing he should have on his schedule today.

Joe Henderson

I have a 45-year career in newspapers, including nearly 42 years at The Tampa Tribune. Florida is wacky, wonderful, unpredictable and a national force. It's a treat to have a front-row seat for it all.


11 comments

  • John Kociuba

    October 14, 2019 at 9:48 am

    Dear Citizens ~

    Take a good long hard look at these leftist Communists pieces of trash at Florida Politics! They praise Antifa which is a violent, destructive of property, known Bolshevik Communist Organization going back to 1920s Germany that scared the national civilization into voting for Adolf Hitler because the German People didn’t know that “DEMOCRATIC-SOCIALISM” was MENSHEVIK COMMUNISM!

    Freedom of speech and freedom of expression! The only speech unlawful is SEDITIOUS SPEECH to overthrow the Constitution! Communist judges must be arrested or defrocked! Yates V U.S. 1957 is unlawful.

  • Ray Blacklidge

    October 14, 2019 at 9:55 am

    I personally strongly believe that videos like this one have no place in civilized society, that being said why don’t I often see the media condemn and ask politicians to condemn horrific videos showing our President being shot, stabbed, or as a big baby balloon? What is good for the gander is good for the goose. Biased media has no place only attacking one side regarding these tasteless videos.

  • Dylan Nuxoll

    October 14, 2019 at 10:09 am

    When are we gonna stop pretending trump supporters and republicans are good people? How much of this are we suppose to see before we stop giving a damn about treating them as our “Fellow Americans”. They support this president again and again after all of this shit. Nazis marching in the streets. Bombs sent to former presidents and current members of congress. Mass shootings in the name of trump. Bombs sent to media. And our “fellow Americans” still support this president. When are we gonna stop giving them the benefit of the doubt? And do something about them? How much terrorism must we see from the far right mob before we take action?

    • Ray Blacklidge

      October 14, 2019 at 11:03 am

      Dylan, it’s closed minded bigots like you who stereotype entire groups of people based upon a few bad peoples behavior that cause so much hate and discourse among good people. Your mind appears to be so limited that you seem not able to tell the difference between a small groups actions and whether or not half the Country are good or bad people. How may I say this so that a Nuxoll would understand it? The American Civil Liberty Union fights for the constitutional rights of all Americans. Those include the right of Freedom of Speech and the right to peacefully assembly. Many of the Jewish faith financially support the ACLU. That said the ACLU stood on the side of the American Nazi Party to March in Skokie, Illinois, a city with more Jews in it than the entire Nation of Israel. Why you might ask, given the history of Nazi’s and Jews? It’s because despite, their and my great hate for Nazi’s if you limit their rights under the US Constitution you limit everyone’s rights. The President and the Republican Party do not cause Nazi’s to march in the streets. Also it’s not just Democrat Politicians who are attacked. With a small mind I am sure you must have forgotten that it was a Democrat who shoot a bunch of Republican Congressmen on a Baseball field in DC. It was a Democrat who shot Republican President Ron Reagan. It has been left leaning kids shooting up schools. It often isn’t even the far left anymore, it’s mainstream left that like you spew out hatred and violence towards their fellow Americans.

      • Linda Walker

        October 14, 2019 at 12:33 pm

        John, Trump wants to control all media and your okay with that. That is the first step to becoming a communist country. So as long as Trump and the Republicans can say whatever they want to it’s okay. If a Democrat speaks then it is communism and they should be arrested. Who is the true communist in that scenario? Ray, Republicans are the bigots and hypocrites. People are sick and tired of Trump. He’s thinks he is a dictator like Putin. He loves his dictator friends. And hopes to one day be the same controlling force in the U.S. You mention 2 shootings one of them from 40 years ago.Then forget to mention the 100’s of shooting more recently by those inspired by Trump. I bet you go to church pray and act holy. Inward you are a closed minded evil person with hatred as you own personality trait.

        • gary

          October 14, 2019 at 1:45 pm

          So it’s ok that the Democrat party is all media Linda? You know so little, you could be dangerous!

          • Robert

            October 14, 2019 at 2:14 pm

            No, the media, with the exception of Fox News and Sinclair Broadcasting, are telling the truth. That is why your cult leader wants the media eliminated (just like in Moscow, where there is only one truth-Putin’s.)

        • Ray Blacklidge

          October 14, 2019 at 2:37 pm

          Linda, much like Dylan, you are delusional and a bigot. Unlike you just because of few Democrats are wackos I don’t jump to the conclusion that all Democrats are wackos. It’s people like you who stereotype entire groups of people that spread hate and violence. I don’t hate you or Dylan, I pity you. Sure I probably threw in some snide remarks about Dylan, however his comments justified the response. You also conveniently forgot to mention the Democrat that shot a bunch of Republican Congressmen. I hope people see me as acting holy, because it’s not what one says, it’s what one does that counts. I will pray for you.

          • Edda Neurauter Santiago

            October 14, 2019 at 3:08 pm

            Ok everyone, we seem to all be sinking into ugly holes where we each think our beliefs are the only right ones. That’s wrong! It’s time to come to our senses and agree to disagree decently! Bottom line videos such as the one in question should be condemned by anyone with a sense of decency! We are ALL Americans! It’s time to act as such!

  • Sonja Fitch

    October 14, 2019 at 3:25 pm

    Racist Ron has had a big drink of the goptrumper Cult kool aid!! No surprise Racist Ron would probably shoot someone on 5th avenue for Evil Cult leader Trump?!!! You are not a good and decent human if you support Evil Cult leader Trump!!!

  • Ed V

    October 14, 2019 at 4:00 pm

    Sonja, Dillon and Linda since you all believe that “You are not a good and decent human if you support Evil Cult leader Trump” and “When are we gonna stop pretending trump supporters and republicans are good people? How much of this are we suppose to see before we stop giving a damn about treating them as our “Fellow Americans”” and “When are we gonna stop giving them the benefit of the doubt? And do something about them? How much terrorism must we see from the far right mob before we take action?”

    So what are your preferred plans for what to do with millions of these evil Republicans? Take away their citizenship and right to vote? Take away their free speech? Put them into reeducation camps? Remove their children from their homes and permanently place them to live with Democrat families? Put them into prisons? Deport them? Commit genocide and kill them all? With the hatred in your heart towards people with whom you disagree surely you have a plan right? So share it with everyone so we can all decide if we want to go further down the road you want us to travel or not. Do tell.

Comments are closed.


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