Ron DeSantis doesn’t want to ‘hear a blip’ from Joe Biden on COVID-19

Biden DeSantis
DeSantis said he was 'standing in [Biden's] way' when it came to mandates.

The war of words continues between the Governor and the White House regarding divergent visions of coronavirus response.

Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted President Joe Biden in Panama City, saying the President “rejects science” in pushing masks and proof of vaccination and warning Biden not to offer unsolicited advice on COVID-19 response.

DeSantis’ comments came after a roundtable with hospital leaders, in which the Governor attempted to show he was still on top of the policy of the fight. In Panama City, it was clear the politics weren’t over either.

“We can either have a free society, or we can have a biomedical security state,” DeSantis said. “Florida, we’re a free state.”

The Governor said Biden was unfair to Florida to distract from his failed border policy, adding that federal mandates wouldn’t fly in the Sunshine State.

“Joe Biden has taken it to himself to try to single out Florida over COVID,” DeSantis said. “This is a guy who ran for President saying he was going to quote shut down the virus. And what has he done? He’s imported more virus from around the world by having a wide-open southern border. You have hundreds of thousands of people pouring across every month.”

“And it’s not just from Mexico; in fact, it’s rarely from Mexico,” DeSantis continued. “You have over 100 different countries where people are pouring through. Not only are they letting them through there, they’re farming them out all across our communities across this country, putting them on planes, putting them on buses; you think they’re being worried about COVID for that? Of course not.”

“So he’s facilitating who knows what new variants are out there, but I can tell you whatever variants around the world, they’re coming across that southern border. And so he’s not shutting down the virus; he’s helping to facilitate it in our country, and what is his big solution? What is he so upset about Florida?”

“His solution is he wants to have the government force kindergartners to wear masks in school. He doesn’t believe the parents should have a say in that. He thinks that should be a decision for the government. Well, I can tell you in Florida, the parents are going to be the ones in charge of that decision,” DeSantis said, to whoops and applause.

But the Governor was not finished.

“And one of the major medical people in his administration just recently told parents that they should be wearing masks at home when they’re around their own children. This is insane. Joe Biden also believes that vaccination should be mandated by force of government and that you should have to show vaccination status to be able to participate in society now,” DeSantis said, going on to say Biden “rejects science.”

“He rejects science because he denies the fact that people that recover from COVID have long-lasting immunity, and that’s been proven time and time again,” DeSantis said. “The data is very clear, so his vision is just like in New York City (where some people think) restaurants should ban young kids from being able to go in because they’re not eligible for vaccination and law-abiding citizens have to produce proof of their medical records, just to go to the gym or attend events, or just to participate in everyday society.”

“He wants that, but yet if you want to vote, he thinks it’s too much of a burden to show a picture ID when you’re voting. So no voter ID, but you have to show your medical papers just to be able to live in everyday life? Give me a break,” DeSantis thundered.

“And so I think the question is, is, we can either have a free society, or we can have a biomedical security state, and I can tell you, Florida. We’re a free state, people are going to be free to choose to make their own decisions about themselves, about their families, about their kids’ education, and about putting food on the table, and Joe Biden suggests that if you don’t do lockdown policies, then you should ‘get out of the way,'” DeSantis said

“Well, let me tell you this,” DeSantis said. “If you’re coming after the rights of parents in Florida. I’m standing in your way; I’m not going to let you get away with it.”

“If you’re trying to deny kids a proper in-person education, I’m going to stand in your way, and I’m going to stand up for the kids in Florida. If you’re trying to restrict people, impose mandates. If you’re trying to ruin their jobs and their livelihoods and their small business, if you are trying to lock people down, I am standing in your way, and I’m standing for the people of Florida.”

“So why don’t you do your job? Why don’t you get this border secure, and until you do that, I don’t want to hear a blip about COVID from you.”

DeSantis’ extended remarks came after Biden dismissed him and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as virus obstructionists in comments Wednesday at the White House.

“I say to these governors: Please help. But if you aren’t going to help, at least get out of the way,” Biden said to reporters. “The people are trying to do the right thing. Use your power to save lives.”

At the end of his news conference, a reporter asked Biden why he doesn’t call DeSantis.

“To say happy birthday? What?” Biden responded. “He knows the message. We had a little discussion when I was down there. He knows the message. He’s decided.”

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. He writes for the New York Post and National Review also, with previous work in the American Conservative and Washington Times and a 15+ year run as a columnist in Folio Weekly. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


29 comments

  • zhombre

    August 4, 2021 at 2:15 pm

    Shouldn’t pick on poor Prezzie Joe. The frail old guy is only reading from the notecards his staff gives him.

    • Frankie M.

      August 4, 2021 at 2:53 pm

      Maybe if Trump had stuck to the teleprompters & stayed on message instead of going off on stream of consciousness rants he’d still be in office. It’s prolly a moot point since he’ll be reinstated later this month.

    • Renee

      August 5, 2021 at 6:58 am

      let all the kids and old people die Eugenics just like the Nazis Yeah@@

      • Patriot

        August 5, 2021 at 3:19 pm

        What do you know of Nazis? If you knew any history you would know the Democrats are acting as Nazis and ANTIFA/ BLM Social media and MSM are the brown shirts.

        • Tom Palmer

          August 5, 2021 at 3:21 pm

          Bullshit

          • DALE BEAVER

            August 5, 2021 at 5:49 pm

            The Patriot is absolutely correct

          • DALE BEAVER

            August 5, 2021 at 5:49 pm

            The Patriot is absolutely correct. The Democrats are acting as Nazis and ANTIFA/ BLM Social media and MSM are the brown shirts.

  • Matthew Lusk

    August 4, 2021 at 2:36 pm

    Every Crime organization puts the expendables on the front line. Abuse the elderly and in the case of Kamala, I will use the old school terminology– retarded.

    • Renee

      August 5, 2021 at 6:56 am

      I agree. Florida exploits the elderly so much it is like a bad habit. Why care if they suffer and die its just more money for the nursing homes and hospitals for the revenue of Florida. Sick Just like Rick Scott and his ripping off of nursing homes for years, Will they cover the hospital and funeral costs of those who get the Delta variant from not wearing masks or having any protection? Should the military go into combat without any protective gear either?

  • Frankie M.

    August 4, 2021 at 2:46 pm

    Old Joe told lil Ronnie to lead or get out of the way…lmao. Joe is like Nolan Ryan and he just made Ronnie his Robin Ventura. When you step to the king you best not miss son. In the absence of leadership Joe has filled the vacuum. Instead of talking about “scyence” & then quantifying the joy in a 5 year olds eyes as data Joe is actually doing something by actively encouraging employers to get their workers vaccinated. Ronnie’s bringing up the cocktail of drugs nobody but Trump has had access to while Joe is giving common sense advice. At no point in Ronnie’s incoherent rambling did he come close to a rational thought. (He might want to see somebody about that.) I award him no points and may God have mercy on his soul.

    • DALE BEAVER

      August 5, 2021 at 5:59 pm

      Frankie, so you by into the Marxist non-sense. At $2.95, India has a better handle on all of this. The government, especially the progressives (repackage Marxism) nor the FDA, CDC, big pharma have our best interest in mind. Go read about how many big pharma in this country have become billionaires since the release of this so -called vaccine. The data against what is happening is right in front of your eyes. Only the sleepy, sheeple who have actually drank the koolaid believe otherwise. Again, India for $2.95 worth of supplements they are handing out to their citizens are doing a better job. Wake up people. Oh, and by the way Joe is not running anything

  • Andrew Finn

    August 4, 2021 at 4:04 pm

    HaHa !! Emperor Ronnie DeSantis has “warned” the President. I bet Joe was up all night worrying about challenging his Royal Highness, the “Fuhrer of Florida” !!!!!! Somebody with a brain should take away DeSantis’ edict signing crayon and warn him that the people will remember his bungling of the Covid19 crisis come election time and he ought to keep his mouth shut.

    • Ed

      August 4, 2021 at 4:24 pm

      Andrew in case you are completely unaware Covid is up in almost every State. So why is it so high in Florida? Europe, South America, and Asia are pretty much closed. Everyone is coming to Florida to vacation. What would you do? Shut down the State? No thanks. Thank God for DeSantis. Meanwhile on the Southern Border.

      • Frankie M.

        August 4, 2021 at 5:07 pm

        Nobody comes to Jax to vacation and we lead the state. We don’t have tourists but you know what we do have? If you guessed low vax rates then winner winner chicken dinner! All these mouthbreathers who won’t get a shot and/or mask up are filling up the ICUs. Thank you Mouthbreather DuhSantis!

      • Andrew Finn

        August 4, 2021 at 7:54 pm

        Yep – if that’s what it takes, then shut it down again. Lives are more important than dollars, in spite of what the Emperor DeSantis says. My wife and I and our family survived the last shut-down just fine and we can do it again easily. They do it in other countries without a lot of whining and complaining because it is told that “that’s the way it is” and it gets done. Do it here and it will get done too.

  • Tom Palmer

    August 4, 2021 at 9:17 pm

    Let me get this straight. DeSantis does not want federal mandates. but he is OK with state mandates.

    • Andrew Finn

      August 4, 2021 at 9:21 pm

      Yep, that’s exactly right Tom. The “Florida Fuhrer” does not like any mandates that are not his own. I wish there were a way for Joe Biden to override his moronic mandates and maybe then Florida would not be #1 in virus cases.

  • Tom Palmer

    August 4, 2021 at 9:20 pm

    Let me get this straight. DeSantis is opposed to federal mandates.but OK with state mandates.

    • Tom

      August 4, 2021 at 11:20 pm

      Once again Palmer you and your aristocrats are misleading the public.
      America’s Governor did not mandate masks, nor is he for children being mandated to wear them. BTW, I know this will shock you Palmer and your Gov haters but Nikki Fraud supports America’s Governor position on masks and children. LMAO. But to reiterate he gave the decision to parents to decide because the science says children are safe.

      • Tom Palmer

        August 5, 2021 at 3:26 pm

        Alfred E. Neumann for president

        • Andrew Finn

          August 8, 2021 at 7:17 pm

          Neumann is not a bad idea. Then we can have a truly “Mad President. I’ve gotten out my “Nixon – Agnew ’68” shirt to wear myself.

  • Renee

    August 5, 2021 at 6:52 am

    Ron D should pay for all the childrens funeral and hospital costs from his pocket then and look at their smiling faces from their hospital beds!!!

    • Ed

      August 5, 2021 at 7:35 am

      Drama Queen. I wonder if your boy Cuomo is paying funeral expenses for the people he sent to their death sentence in the senior care facilities.

  • Ron Ogden

    August 5, 2021 at 7:16 am

    Thank God for Ron DeSantis and the sovereignty of the people! Vaccines risky, shut downs are disastrous, and masks are ineffective. Balancing risks in my life is my business, not that panty waist from Delaware temporarily and fraudulently occupying the WH. DeSantis and liberty, not Biden and the Fouch and their autocracy!

  • zhombre

    August 5, 2021 at 9:54 am

    Dementia Joe will prove a failed president, his administration will implode, and DeSantis will be elected in 2024 to clean up the mess and restore some semblance of order.

  • SenileJoe

    August 5, 2021 at 11:46 am

    Biden is literally senile. I dont want to hear from an incompetent communist. Dumbest and weirdest president in American history. It is truly embarrassing watching that moron on the wold stage.

    • Tom Palmer

      August 5, 2021 at 3:24 pm

      What’s embarrassing are you people who have no clue what competent governance looks like.

  • American

    August 5, 2021 at 6:11 pm

    It’s about time someone stand up to this clown. Everyone in the whole world knows Biden is on borrowed time. He is only playing the role they have given him. The more he messes up the more likely the one they wanted will be on the thrown and just like Biden she will fail. The true winner the one that should be taking care of this sh*t show is waiting patiently to pick up the pieces and fix what these Democrats have allowed to happen.

Comments are closed.


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