A.G. Gancarski
Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to justify his moves to check the power of The Walt Disney Company, dismissing criticism from the Right that he went too far.
During an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” the Florida Governor again defended his decision to check Disney’s privileges in the wake of the company’s objections to the state’s Parental Rights in Education law, by framing it in conservative terms.
“Is it free-market economics to have a corporation run its own government and be exempt from laws and be treated better than all its competitors? Of course not. That’s corporate welfare,” DeSantis contended.
He continued by describing his battle as a David versus Goliath of sorts.
“This was something that had really been embedded in Florida’s DNA because Disney was so powerful for many, many decades, nobody even questioned this, and basically Disney ran the show in this state for a long time until I became Governor,” DeSantis said.
“And we said, you know, we’re going to side with the people of Florida. We’re not going to kowtow to a woke company based in Burbank, California, but make no mistake about it … we have a more competitive market today than we did when they were operating their own government, enjoying those special privileges.”
The comments come after DeSantis on Monday named five new board members to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the new name for the reconstituted Reedy Creek Improvement District that governed Disney since 1967 and allowed the theme park to expand and drive growth in the Orlando area for decades. That new board includes donors and politically connected players.
Potential 2024 opponents have criticized DeSantis for overstepping the boundaries of a purportedly conservative Governor.
Former Vice President Mike Pence pilloried DeSantis last week.
“I have concerns about the follow on,” Pence said. “Disney stepped into the fray, they lost, but then the taxing authority — that was beyond the scope of what I, as a conservative, limited-government Republican, would be prepared to do.”
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu lumped DeSantis in with “big-government conservatives,” saying moves like the Disney diss set the “worst precedent in the world.”
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan also said last year the fight with Disney was “crazy.”
13 comments
MK
February 28, 2023 at 8:52 am
Desantis is all pro capitalism until it affects his power and his campaign money. Corporations are people until they don’t like what politicians are doing and take away there money then the are so called “woke”. It is hard to believe Florida’s governers get worse ever few years but here we are.
DeSantis DeSucks
February 28, 2023 at 9:41 am
Ah yes, the picture of “limited government.” God help us he makes Pence seem normal.
Ron DeFascist
February 28, 2023 at 10:03 am
🐂💩
Keystone Keys
February 28, 2023 at 10:40 am
Larry Hogan, corpulent and dimwitted.
Rob Desantos
February 28, 2023 at 10:58 am
Now do The Villages, you lying liar.
Old people
February 28, 2023 at 4:18 pm
The villages eliminate themselves
I just wish they would do It faster lol
Ron DeFascist
February 28, 2023 at 12:32 pm
The Villages operates the same way that Reedy Creek does.
Come on Ron, don’t be a hypocrite. Strip The Villages of those rights too.
Beth
February 28, 2023 at 4:47 pm
Immature toddler Little Ronnie acted because he was called out by Mickey Mouse for the disgusting racist bigoted creep that he is. Can you imagine little Ronnie as President? He would have us in world war 3 in 5 minutes. He is so pathetic and weak he can’t tolerate any criticism. He is a walking disaster in every way possible. He and trump need to be placed on the trash heap of history where they belong.
Grazie
February 28, 2023 at 5:21 pm
He’s Ron the “Don”, a dangerous formula of power, abuse, retribution and revenge. Don’t elect a Don, ever again.
Love,
The Godfather
rad
March 1, 2023 at 8:00 am
Oh Rona, our great champion of the “free market” please, please explain how that grand principle applies to our property insurance market in Florida!!! When are you going to do away with Citizens property insurance, our State insurance for risky development where private insurance companies are too smart to insure the property because it’s a fool’s bet? We who choose to live in safer areas get to pay for the insurance of those fools who live in wetlands and coastal areas. Let’s make the free market principle apply Rona!!!!
Pancho Villar
March 1, 2023 at 11:06 am
Reedy Creek is still tax exempt. The Mouse still wins.
Liza
March 2, 2023 at 11:57 am
Are we understanding what Dillbeck said after all?
Andrew Linko
March 3, 2023 at 12:17 am
That is the joke of the year! My insurance rose 82% while he is using the lobbyist insurance funds to travel for his power trip on ‘FREEDOM’?
Comments are closed.