Kathy Castor slams Ron DeSantis, Florida Republicans for rebuffing call for unity
Image via CQ/Roll Call.

castor Tom WilliamsCQ Roll CallNewscom
Joe Biden sounded a bipartisan call; Congresswoman says GOP responded with 'division and misinformation.'

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor slammed Florida Republicans, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, for ignoring a call for unity by President Joe Biden. That comes amid finger-pointing over treatment of the National Guard and slams on the President’s first actions since taking office.

“Joe Biden continues to call for unity as the nation confronts historic challenges. Everyone is relishing the return to normalcy – what a relief! President Biden specifically said ‘Let’s give each other a chance,’” the Tampa Democrat tweeted.

“So I was disappointed to see his generous outreach met by fear-mongering and dishonesty from Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican Party of Florida. Already, they’re staining social media with the same type of negative and divisive rhetoric that’s brought our country to the brink of this ‘uncivil war.’”

Biden made an explicit appeal for unity in his inaugural address, two weeks after rioters stormed the Capitol during the certification of his electoral victory. Biden defeated President Donald Trump, who maintains the election was stolen, and was impeached for inciting the attempted insurrection in a speech the same morning.

Two days after that speech, Castor said she was upset at rancor coming from Florida Republicans.

DeSantis early Friday called the Florida National Guard back from protecting the Capitol in what he deemed a “half-cocked mission.”

“These folks are soldiers, not [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi‘s servants,” DeSantis told Fox News.

But Castor seemed most upset by a fundraising appeal sent out by the state party. She shared a screenshot of an email blast that read:

“Unlike New York and California, where crime and unemployment continues to skyrocket as a result of oppressive government lockdowns, here in Florida we’ve kept our state open for business. But soon under a Biden administration, we may no longer have the choice. The Radical Left — including President Biden — want to close our businesses, open our borders, let Silicon Valley shadow ban opinions they disagree with, and ultimately control our lives.”

The email blast includes buttons to donate.

“They are fundraising off the division and misinformation,” Castor lamented.

Jacob Ogles

Jacob Ogles has covered politics in Florida since 2000 for regional outlets including SRQ Magazine in Sarasota, The News-Press in Fort Myers and The Daily Commercial in Leesburg. His work has appeared nationally in The Advocate, Wired and other publications. Events like SRQ’s Where The Votes Are workshops made Ogles one of Southwest Florida’s most respected political analysts, and outlets like WWSB ABC 7 and WSRQ Sarasota have featured his insights. He can be reached at [email protected].


11 comments

  • Ron Ogden

    January 22, 2021 at 4:54 pm

    “Not My President”: do you remember that phrase, Ms. Castor? Please cite a news article where you are condemning that sentiment and calling for unity in support of a newly-elected president in the autumn of 2016–or any time until yesterday.

  • Sonja Fitch

    January 23, 2021 at 6:06 am

    It is impossible for the goptrump death cult sociopaths to admit they have been used and abused! Trump was not my President! Impeached loser Trump was the 45th president of the United States. I tried to respect the piece of lying shit but I failed. I make no apologies ! Truth! The battle is over white supremacy and TRUTH! Desantis is at failure at the TRUTH !

  • Charlotte Greenbarg

    January 23, 2021 at 7:11 am

    Spot on, Ron Ogden! TRUTH!

  • Charlotte Greenbarg

    January 23, 2021 at 7:13 am

    Fitch never ceases to amuse 🤪😜🤥🎃🤡

  • James Robert Miles

    January 23, 2021 at 7:52 am

    Fitch at least gives reasons for her opinions. Charlotte just squawks as she is just another right-wing Nazi republican who is always good for a laugh!!

  • David

    January 23, 2021 at 8:31 am

    DeSantis and the Republican Party will and has always been against the improvement of out Country. They believe in the trump cult, basically they need a single corrupt leader.

  • Sonja Fitch

    January 23, 2021 at 9:03 am

    Charlotte. It is Ms Fitch to you! May god have mercy on your poor little soul in accepting the Truth! Peace and love.

  • Larry Gillis

    January 23, 2021 at 9:48 am

    Vote Libertarian.

    Larry Gillis (Cape Coral)

  • A. M. Yoakum

    January 23, 2021 at 11:50 am

    What so many republicans forget is that Trump may have won the electoral votes in 2016 but Clinton trounced him in the popular vote by over 3 million votes.
    Perhaps liberals were just sick and tired of having lost the office of POTUS 3 times when their candidate had clearly won the popular vote.
    Had it not been for the antiquated Electoral System the republican party would have had a far more difficult time of ascending to the White House – THEREFORE we had the right to claim Trump as; “Not Our President”.
    So this time is totally different since Biden won BOTH the electoral votes along with the popular votes. And that, my friends, is what rankles Trump and his base more than anything; the very thought that their adored Dictator is not beloved by the MAJORITY of the USA voters.

  • voncile1963

    January 23, 2021 at 6:39 pm

    Dream on Yoakum.

    HidenBiden, not my president.

  • voncile1963

    January 23, 2021 at 6:45 pm

    I wonder what comments Kathy Castor will be making when the day comes that she has to give up her congressional seat to an illegal alien let into our country by Joe Biden and her democrat pals.

Comments are closed.


#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704




Sign up for Sunburn


Categories