‘Cheap political shots’: Congressional committee bashes ‘grandstanding’ Ron DeSantis
Image via AP.

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DeSantis' spokeswoman says they should focus on national security.

More fiery words were fired Thursday with Washington Democrats and the Gov. Ron DeSantis administration continuing not to align on much, including on the coronavirus response.

The U.S. House Homeland Security Committee took issue with Florida’s “grandstanding” Governor in a pair of tweets Wednesday and Thursday. The Governor’s Office, meanwhile, suggests these “cheap political shots” evidence misplaced priorities.

It is rare for a congressional committee to offer unsolicited critiques of governors on social media, but in a pair of tweets, the panel’s Twitter account remonstrated DeSantis, a former member of Congress himself.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida is averaging more than 20,000 new infections each day, with one of the highest rates in the country. DeSantis needs to stop grandstanding & listen to his constituents,” the account advised Thursday, linking to an article documenting “growing resistance” to the Governor’s COVID-19 strategy.

On Wednesday, similar hectoring came from the account.

Florida is experiencing the most devastating COVID-19 surge since the pandemic started, Gov. DeSantis. A Tropical storm is heading for Florida. It’s time to put politics aside and help your state,” it said.

DeSantis’ press secretary contended he was already helping the state, and the politicization is coming from Washington.

“The Homeland Security Committee should be more concerned about the crisis at our southern border, and the Taliban’s likelihood of taking over Afghanistan, than the situation in Florida. The committee members should be focused on national security issues, not taking cheap political shots at Governor DeSantis,” remarked DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw.

“I thought Democrats would stop blaming governors for COVID surges after California saw the most devastating winter surge in the country after months of Gavin Newsom’s lockdowns and mask mandates, but apparently, these Congress members have short memories and a poor understanding of COVID-19,” Pushaw added.

“Meanwhile, Governor DeSantis is focused on ensuring Floridians have access to life saving monoclonal antibody treatments. We appreciate that Biden’s COVID task force recognizes the value in MABs and hope all politicians, in the White House, Congress and here in Florida, will put politics aside to help ensure their constituents are aware of and able to access treatment for COVID.”

DeSantis’ one press event Thursday, in Jacksonville, saw focus on bringing monoclonal antibody therapies to people. Of late, he has strongly evangelized for them.

“There’s clear benefits to this early treatment for keeping people out of the hospital and reducing mortality,” DeSantis said.

Many Floridians may be in a position to benefit from this treatment. Data from the Florida Hospital Association shows 15,358 hospitalizations and 24,753 new daily cases as of Monday.

The back and forth continues an ongoing rhetorical battle between DeSantis and establishment Democrats. President Joe Biden and Press Secretary Jen Psaki have criticized DeSantis for opposing their virus mitigation strategies. DeSantis has responded in kind, and also fundraised off the controversy.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has written for FloridaPolitics.com since 2014. He is based in Northeast Florida. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


14 comments

  • Zhombre

    August 12, 2021 at 4:24 pm

    A congressional committee with a Democrat majority engaging in an attack, on an issue that is only tangental to Homeland security, at best, on a Republican governor who may present a challenge to them in 2024. No, nothing partisan there. How dare you even think it could be.

    • Tom

      August 13, 2021 at 9:56 pm

      As if you do you Dummycrat
      You are a pathetic tard!
      Figure your mental party out.
      Moron

  • Frankie M.

    August 12, 2021 at 7:31 pm

    I don’t get it. At first he does photo ops handing educators checks from the federal guvmint then he threatens to cut their pay? Is he some kind of Indian giver? Maybe this whole covid thing will just blow over like Trump’s presidency.

  • Alex

    August 12, 2021 at 8:01 pm

    The far right doesn’t understand themselves half the time.

  • Sonja Fitch

    August 13, 2021 at 5:28 am

    Monoclonal is not available for all. In most cases the Delta stages now proliferating in Florida it is to late. Most folks now with the Delta have not been vaccinated. But we have a moral duty to provide for the common good. But these folks have made the decision to get the Delta virus! Our children are the sacrifice Duffus Desantis is using to prove his political bs! Stay in Vegas Duffus Desantis! Lock him up for criminal negligent !

  • Tom

    August 13, 2021 at 8:01 am

    Frankie and Alex, two incompetent Manchurians. Yes, justify Dem attacks.
    Yes justify Dem Govs. Fondler Cuomo.
    Yes justify WH, CDC and Fraud providing false Covid.
    You Manchurian bots are pathetic.
    Clown show with you both replying.

    • tjb

      August 13, 2021 at 9:50 am

      Tom,
      Do you ever get tired of name-calling?

      • Alex

        August 13, 2021 at 11:15 am

        He’s got the maturity (and ignorance) of an angry 5 year old and he’s desperate for attention.

        Oh, and he lies like a five old too.

        • Tom

          August 13, 2021 at 5:04 pm

          Wah, Wah, Wah Alex, Frankie & Tjb,
          Wah. Aren’t you sore Alex.
          You can’t keep up with me Alex.
          Never with losers like yourselves.
          Get your crayons out Alex.
          LMAO.

          • Alex

            August 13, 2021 at 5:45 pm

            I don’t argue with proven liars, it’s kinda pointless.

        • Tom

          August 13, 2021 at 6:25 pm

          As if your educated Alex.
          You are a tool, partisan Manchurian.
          Loser, go read my two Joe Henderson outlines shared Wednesday, You will learn several things. Maybe not, you are ignorant. WAH.

  • Tom

    August 13, 2021 at 8:12 am

    A.G. I know you are shocked, cheap political stunts from Democrats.
    This after the cheap CDC, WH dis information On fake 30% Covid infections. Of course the Fraud was the instrument, how perfect. You can’t make it up. Alex, how’s your corrupt Dem Govs doing. Newsom recall? LMAO.
    This WH staff is building America’s Governor into a giant. A legend In Repub and conservative movement. What a bunch of fools.

  • Anna

    August 13, 2021 at 6:16 pm

    My neighbor’s aunt makes 62 every hour on the internet..ii she has been without work for eight months but the previous month her revenue was 19022 only working on the laptop 5 hours a day..

    check this…… http://PayBuzz1.com

Comments are closed.


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