Scott Powers
Accused of promoting a Twitter post insinuating an apparent Nazi rally was faked by Jewish Democratic Attorney General candidate Daniel Uhlfelder, Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ press secretary said Tuesday she was only commenting on the masks worn by the demonstrators.
It is the second time this year that DeSantis’ press secretary Christina Pushaw has spurred controversy regarding tweets suggesting apparent Nazi rallies in Orlando might be fake.
“I just commented ‘masks?’ Because I found it odd that the demonstrators were wearing masks outdoors in the Orlando heat,” Pushaw said in an email, when asked for a response to Uhlfelder’s charge that she had “boosted” a tweet that accused him of being involved in a fake Nazi rally at Walt Disney World over the weekend.
According to WNBD News Daytona Beach, which first reported on the story Tuesday, the events unfolded after a video began circulating online of a small number of protesters waiving two Nazi flags and one that read “DeSantis County” outside an entrance to Walt Disney World.
A Twitter user with the handle @gwardhome tweeted, “I am gonna pull the trigger and call this a fake. A scam. First @DWUhlfelderLaw is pushing it, and all he does is lie and try to gun up drama. Second it is maybe 3-5 people, all wearing masks. No other signage past 3 flags.”
Pushaw commented on that tweet with “Masks ???” and an emoji of a mask.
Uhlfelder responded by pointing out he is a great-grandson of Holocaust victims. He denounced the tweet’s accusation that he organized a fake Nazi rally, and denounced Pushaw’s response to the tweet.
“The DeSantis regime once again showed they are more focused on attacking those who call out Nazis than condemning the actual Nazis,” Uhlfelder said in a news release issued by his campaign. “While DeSantis supporters proudly waved swastikas, his team baselessly blamed a Jew whose great-grandparents were killed in the Holocaust. If calling out Nazis is a problem for your agenda, maybe it’s your agenda that is a problem. Condemning those who invoke the worst moments of world history should be easy; but instead, they target me as a scapegoat. It’s shameful, and far beneath the office of Governor.”
When DeSantis’ press secretary was asked for a response to Uhlfelder, she blasted him for his comments, and she blasted the journalist for asking about them.
She insisted she did not retweet the @gwardhome tweet, as the journalist had suggested in an email inquiry.
“This is sheer desperation on your part and his,” she replied.
Then she went to Twitter to declare in her own tweet that the journalist and Uhlfelder were “getting dangerously close to defamation territory.”
When subsequently asked if she had intended to give credence to the tweet blaming Uhlfelder for the Nazi demonstration, she replied, “I most certainly did not tweet or retweet any accusation that Uhlfelder, or any other individual, was behind this protest.”
This is not the first time Pushaw has raised controversy after going on Twitter to comment on apparent Nazi demonstrations in the Orlando area with responses other than condemnations of the apparent Nazi demonstrations themselves.
In January, she responded to Twitter outrage over an Orlando Nazi demonstration by asking, “Do we even know they’re Nazis?” and suggesting it might be a fake Nazi demonstration.
14 comments
Mike Frank
May 10, 2022 at 10:09 pm
Yeah, everyone the Nazis aren’t real because they’re wearing masks. Sounds logical if you’re a braindead Righty sycophant.
Tom
May 11, 2022 at 9:36 am
Who the hell knows who they are?
This was a typical media fabricated story that was to demean the Gov that failed.
So apparently if they masquerade as some, it’s his fault? Are you serious.
Go face plant yourself in Nancy Pelosi’s and Nikki Frauds chest.
U Piece of garbage.
You Manchurians suffer from disorder. How’s your incompetent Potus & V Potus. Such a clown show.
Fraud & chameleon crisp right behind.
America’s Gov #1, do for America what you’ve done for Florida!
Mike Frank
May 10, 2022 at 10:11 pm
I do love the irony of your braindead comment that is nothing but lazy slander. Are you a Catholic priest? No one grooms like the Catholics.
Rrr
May 10, 2022 at 11:35 pm
De Santis is a hateful, bigoted, 100% NS politician that knows no shame. Florida only hurts itself electing such discussing conmen.
Tom
May 11, 2022 at 7:17 am
Shameful column.
FP stoops to the lowest level.
Charlotte Greenbarg
May 11, 2022 at 9:12 am
Parrot squawks!
3rd time
May 11, 2022 at 9:52 am
I’m not worried about people like her
The ones she’s with already lost two world wars she would again lol
Dan Haines
May 11, 2022 at 10:35 am
Your gov will end up in same place as you ex president, in jail. when all this clears and rational people start cleaning out the riff raff that has taken over our country, only then will the republican party begin to earn respect of true Americans.
Tom
May 11, 2022 at 11:53 am
Dan and the rest of you ignorant manchurians. LMAO related to true Americans.
So Franklin Roosevelt was an apparent communist when he loaned planes under cover to Stalin/Soviets in WW2. Please. He worked with Uncle Joe.
You Dem morons have us 1/2 step from nuclear war.
Just so you understand ass wipe Desantis has done nothing or alleged to have, go F yourself.
The fake mueller probe, dossier, fake whistleblowers are just lies, and harassment. Your Potus can’t even speak.
Your getting shellacked in Nov, enjoy.
Dums ass Dan.
slb
May 11, 2022 at 12:11 pm
She knows they’re fake because she works for Der Dwarf – an authentic Nazi.
Tom H
May 11, 2022 at 2:17 pm
Pushaw still won’t denounce the Nazis or even admit they’re real. She knows Ron can’t win without their vote.
Tom
May 11, 2022 at 6:21 pm
Crock of Adam Schiff Slb, Tom H on a 4×4 pole. Yeah right, that’s utter B S.
You mental Manchurians need massive qualities of meds.
America’s Gov leads the nation.
Beloved by all in Florida. Hispanics, independents, minorities all appreciate the Gov.
Chameleon crisp and n fraud no chance.
Do you morons understand Joe B is at 36% approval in Florida. No chance.
He’s burnt toast.
Eliot
May 11, 2022 at 6:42 pm
Il Duce DeSantis won’t denounce the Nazis because he’s an authoritarian white nationalist who needs their $/votes…his spokesperson is covering his dirty ass
Tom
May 11, 2022 at 9:04 pm
Crock of Adam Schiff, Eliot the idiot.
You are all out this evening.
So mental. The Bill Clinton, Obama, Biden, Hillary, Dr Rice Russia policy had been so effective, has it not. 1/2 step from nukes.
More Adam Schiff.
Comments are closed.