Jason Delgado
Gov. Ron DeSantis defended Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo on Thursday, arguing the ensuing uproar around the maskless doctor is nothing more than a political attack.
Ladapo came under fire last week after he refused to don a mask inside the office of Democratic Sen. Tina Polsky, a Boca Raton lawmaker who was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in August.
Speaking for the first time about the dust-up, DeSantis mounted a two-pronged defense. There’s more to the incident than what it seems, DeSantis suggested.
“There’s pictures, very close with no mask, in other instances,” DeSantis said. “I don’t see people talking about that, so I think they’re trying to politicize this…”
Indeed, pictures of Polsky maskless on the day of the incident are making the rounds on social media. In one photo, the Democratic lawmaker is celebrating Sen. Shevrin Jones‘ birthday — maskless. In another, she’s maskless alongside Sen. Loranne Ausley during a committee meeting.
The Republican Governor also noted Ladapo offered alternatives to the maskless, indoor meeting. Polsky declined those alternatives, including the opportunity to speak outdoors.
“I think he offered a lot of accommodations and I think that that’s something that is appropriate to do — to offer accommodation,” DeSantis said.
Ladapo arrived on-scene in September and made a big entrance. On his first day, the Harvard University graduate bucked Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol and allowed parents to choose whether their children should quarantine — or stay in school — if they are asymptomatic after an exposure to COVID-19.
DeSantis also highlighted Ladapo’s “huge impact” in the Sunshine State.
“We know taking kids out of school for lengthy periods of time is disruptive for families and obviously hurts academic achievement,” DeSantis said. “(It) also hurts the ability to participate in activities.”
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried called for Ladapo’s ousting on Wednesday. Fried is among a trio of Democratic candidates vying to oust the Republican Governor, including Congressman Charlie Crist and Sen. Annette Taddeo.
14 comments
Ron Ogden
October 28, 2021 at 2:18 pm
Of course they are. Sen. Polsky could have just said, “We had a disagreement about the use of masks in my office and we parted amicably”–which is true. She could also have refused the Lawrence O’Donnell interview. The Democrats are politicizing Covid, just as they have done for nearly two years.
A concern citizen
October 28, 2021 at 3:29 pm
Ladapo could have simply displayed common decency and put a mask on. What was Ladapo politicalizing … that he is a DeSantis puppet? If he can not communicate effectively (Lapapo execute for not wearing a mask at the meet) , it is sad that we Florida has him in a leadership position. .
Tom
October 28, 2021 at 3:16 pm
Yes, she announced her illness and a few days later somehow had an appointment scheduledz
Of course it’s political its called a set up, “political” is their middle name. He should have been smarter as he did offer to go outside.
If Simpson is so concerned, go set up rules.
Also, why don’t you set up a hearing and have Nikki Fraud explain her cannabis financial empire. How many thousands can she earn as an elected official?
As for Joe Henderson, his column as others focuses on DeSantis and the Doc. ,but never the hate conveyed towards him.
tom palmer
October 28, 2021 at 5:20 pm
DeSantis has politicized all of this from the beginning. Who is he trying to kid?
Tom
October 28, 2021 at 6:46 pm
Palmer, you and the rest are ridiculous,
How, not being a tyrant blue state Governor?
How, by allowing schools opened?
How, by allowing businesses to be open?
How, by holding 50 vaccines inoculation centers. Biden’s HHS cited Florida for doing the seniors correctly. Highest senior inoculations.
How, by saving seniors lives by not
Forcing them into Senior centers if Ill.
How, by offering monoclonal Regeneron, 25 center’s. Unlike Biden.
How, by saving young people from suicide by keeping schools open.
How, by having 4.9% unemployment now. 85,000 new jobs this month.
You liberals are embarrassing.
Do you ever say thanks.
He’s not a blue state tyrannical Governor. He didn’t write a book and make $5 million or get indicted today like Cuomo.
You can’t stop Covid period.
DeSantis is America’s Governor.
He supports freedom and liberty.
You have nothing.
Good riddance.
How, he will be re elected BIGLY!
Enjoy
PeterH
October 28, 2021 at 8:25 pm
When you go into a public building ….. you wear a face mask.
There are ONLY TWO PEOPLE in Florida who has politicized face masks. Twice impeached Donald Trump and Trump’s bootlicker Ron DeSantis!
Tom
October 28, 2021 at 8:35 pm
You are the towel boy, ass kisser towards the Lincoln predator org.
Do not lecture anybody
Her illness was not publicized til a few days before.
You are a pathetic liar. Tax cuts paid for themselves. Fed Treasury announced record taxation revenue receipts. Over $4 Trillion collected by Feds. I repeat, $4 Trillion in revenue.
Over 2 million illegals coming in, southern border abandoned. You lie and say none.
You lie about all things.
Your guy McAuliffe is getting his hat handed to him. Trump, Trump, Trump! Whiner
Get ready for DeSantis kicking Dum aDolts in 22.
Go fold the towels, weasel peter h.
Tom
October 29, 2021 at 6:15 pm
You are an idiot liar, pops goes weasel peter h.
Ocean Joe
October 29, 2021 at 6:21 am
Tom, while you are waiting for your towel, some basic ‘locker room’ talk for you: the tax cuts did not pay for themselves, the debt and deficit went up under Trump as they have under everybody but Clinton, and worst of all our lack of taking covid seriously from the start cost us a fortune.
Credit Trump for personally inventing the vaccine, skipping all those rounds of golf, just for us and you guys still won’t get vaccinated, in fact you celebrate all those folks who were lulled by fake news not to take it. How many overweight rednecks have to die for no good reason? Even Trump has asked you guys to get the shot, he will need your votes, do it for Trump. And yes, you personally got the shot, but it’s OK with you if nobody else does.
Finally, credit Desantis and Moody: no prior governor or attorney general in our history of either party has ever turned the job into such a political soapbox, (Fried, too), They look to stir the sh-t all day long.
Tom
October 29, 2021 at 7:55 am
I get my own. I’ll leave that to the weasel.
The tax cuts did, the federal treasury has collected greatest amount in history. Over $4 trillion, repeat $4 trillion in fed revenue. GOP Tax cuts created more revenue to treasury! It’s a fact. They pay for themselves.
You liberals can’t have it both ways.
The federal spending is the problem. The last 20 years, 3 presidents and even more importantly Congress has refused to slow spending.
Clinton had Repub Congress working reducing the growth. The Gingrich revolution after 40 yrs Dem majority, brought fiscal control with Billy boy.
Don’t slander anyone on vaccines. Do not assume who has taken it and not. I am not anti vax. I support individuals to choose with doc. Not Rachel Maddox or Cooper Andersen telling you to. Don’t be a smug elite.
Again, Your commentary and others like you demonstrate your desire to have tyrannical rule with Governor. Not happening here.
Federal revenue has exceeded expectations due to tax cuts. No doubt.
Conservative always
October 29, 2021 at 11:23 am
Selected “faux outrage.” She can stand next to Jones for a photo op and sit next to Ausley, MASKLESS, yet now demands Ladapo wear a mask on the SAME day? Spare me your alligator tears….
Tom
October 29, 2021 at 6:17 pm
It’s called a cheap set up.
FP Monitor
October 29, 2021 at 5:00 pm
It’s a big mistake is to respond to anything Tom posts. He’s an ignorant Trumpster hack simply looking for attention. Do yourself and all of us a big favor. Ignore all of his return comments. Maybe the internet troll will go away.
Tom
October 29, 2021 at 6:14 pm
iF U C K tell her Y O U F P monitor.
FP monitor is toilet cleaner scrubber for Manchurians. Enjoy
LMAO
Comments are closed.