Ron DeSantis doesn’t respect Kamala Harris enough to say her name correctly
Kamala Harris continues to scratch out a lead over Ron DeSantis in a hypothetical matchup.

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'That's how I've always said it.'

What’s in a name? For Florida’s Governor, not much, at least when it comes to what to call Vice President Kamala Harris.

Told he was mispronouncing her name by saying it like the 80s pro wrestler Kamala’s name was said, instead of saying it as she says it (kaa·muh·luh), DeSantis told a reporter in Iowa it didn’t matter.

“Well, I mean, I don’t think it’s that much different. I mean, that’s how I’ve always said it,” DeSantis said.

It is uncertain why DeSantis would believe his pronunciation of her name is canonical or supersedes the correct pronunciation, but this is the latest in a series of microaggressions targeted from him to her.

The Florida Governor has been predicting Biden may not run, and has been saying Harris is the person most likely to replace the President on the 2024 ticket.

“I would probably say Kamala Harris will muscle into it, but I think you would have J.B. PritzkerPete ButtigiegElizabeth Warren. I think they’d all be scrambling for it,” DeSantis said on the “Clay & Buck Show.”

The elevation of Harris to pole position is interesting given DeSantis has spent her entire term as Vice President diminishing her, seemingly relishing the contrast between himself and the first Black woman to be VP. A November appeal to donors threatened to send “Kamala back to her liberal homeland,” a statement that belies the fact that California is as American as Florida.

The Governor has relished invoking Harris’ name to galvanize his base.

In August, the DeSantis campaign stole a page from bygone talk show host David Letterman, with a coffee cup and a T-shirt spotlighting “10 things Kamala Harris should focus her time on.”

Nine of those things involve “closing the border.” And the 10th? “Making sure Joe Biden doesn’t fall.”

The campaign texted supporters with a pitch.

“Gov. DeSantis is going to cause Kamala Harris to start job hunting; we understand why she’s obsessed with hurting our campaign. Still, we’ve put together some suggestions of what she could be focusing on instead. What do you think? Do you want to help us remind our Vice President to … do her job? Click here to donate, and we’ll send you a discounted 10-things tee or mug to start off your DeSantis merch collection,” the promotional text read.

DeSantis, who recently blamed the Vice President for national “decline,” spent weeks this Summer beefing with Harris over her critiques of Florida Black history standards, which contain language suggesting slavery could benefit the enslaved. He bemoaned her attacks on the trail.

“You can’t be operating in bad faith against your political opponents, 24/7,” DeSantis lamented in Iowa. “You can’t be doing fake narratives, and we have some Republicans that actually sided with Kamala’s lies just to try to get cheap shots in on me.”

The Governor has also focused on Harris as so-called “impeachment insurance” for at least a year.

“So, here’s the thing. I thought Biden picking her at first was the worst decision ever because she’s not great. But she’s like the best impeachment insurance and 25th Amendment insurance anyone could have,” DeSantis said in July 2022.

“Because as bad as Biden is, even though he can barely read the teleprompter, and as much as people disapprove of him, nobody wants Harris, and so they’d much rather stick with Biden floundering around than actually turn the wheels of power over to somebody that clearly is in over her head.”

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


38 comments

  • Tom

    December 28, 2023 at 5:17 pm

    He’s taking a leaf out of trumps playbook but with him, it just seems like ignorance whereas with trump, it’s vaguely amusing because he’s such a buffoon. That’s also why he’ll never get elected because, as someone said, he’s like ted cruz without the personality.

    • GOParty

      December 31, 2023 at 2:25 pm

      It’s only because she’s a woman, and black. It would be a desantis trifecta of disrespect if she was gay.
      Oh, and she’s taller, …a quadruple intimation.

  • Michael K

    December 28, 2023 at 5:44 pm

    What a loser. Remember when he made a big deal of correcting people, saying his name was DEE-Santis, not DUH-Santis? (Or was it the other way around?)

    Good thing this moron will never be on the world stage.

    • MH/Duuuval

      December 28, 2023 at 9:35 pm

      Duh-santis seems right.

      And, yes, it does look like Dee is the victim of DJT’s rope-a-dope tactics.

  • Earl Pitts "Sage Expert on Everything" American

    December 28, 2023 at 6:23 pm

    Sage wisdom there from Ron “The Ronald” DeSantis, The Next POTUS BTW.
    Why should Ron “The Ronald” give respect to a $Iut who BJ’ed & Swallowed her way to The Office of VPOTUS?
    Thank you America,
    This Sage and almost X Rated truth has been brought to you courtsey of ME, Earl Pitts America
    *WAKE UP AMERICA*

    • Earl Pitts "Sage Expert on Everything" American

      December 29, 2023 at 10:25 am

      Thank you Ken for reaching out for help. Its pretty normal for a leftist who has reached rock-bottom in their life of political depravity to be angry when asking for help.
      As you know: I, Earl Pitts American, operate a political de-programing School/Hospital at which we can evaluate your chances of either entering our de-programing/re-programing political school or in severe cases our much quicker frontal labodimy procedure.
      Relax your sphincter Kennie, either way you will get appropriate help and be able to re-enter the main stream population and once again become a productive asset to America.
      Doctor Earl Pitts American

    • rick whitaker

      December 29, 2023 at 2:27 pm

      ken dixon, that perv earl pitts said to you, “relax your sphincter so he can help you get the help you need”. i can’t believe how he talked to you. sounds like what earl’s talking about requires K-Y. can you believe that earl creep talks to people like that, and then expects respect for him and his chosen candidate. what a loser.

    • GOParty

      December 31, 2023 at 2:26 pm

      KLASSY comment

  • Dont Say FLA

    December 28, 2023 at 6:27 pm

    Ron DEE Santis says pronunciation of a person’s name does not matter.

    So, uh, why does Rhonda say Rhonda DEE Santis when referring to himself?

    That’s the problem with lying. You forget and confess that you’re lying exactly while you lie.

    LOL @ Lying Rhonda, the Littlest Biggest Loser

  • Julia

    December 28, 2023 at 6:49 pm

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  • Leonard

    December 28, 2023 at 7:01 pm

    You truly diminish the word “journalism” with a stupid story like this. This type of story wouldn’t even qualify for a middle school newspaper…and yet you bring down the quality of the content of Florida Politics. We get it—you hate DeSantis….and you hate Trump. The real question is—how can any sane person who loves freedom, who loves this country—support the current occupant of the White House?

    • Impeach Biden

      December 28, 2023 at 8:30 pm

      Leonard,
      There was a a prolific poster on this site that will tell you Gancarski is a registered Republican. Kaah Ma La is simply the dumbest human being to occupy the Vice position in this country. Thank you DeSantis for making fun of that moron. Meanwhile at the Southern Border. Paging Kaah Ma La!!! Where are you?

      • Ron Doesn’t Like Crowds 🧩

        December 29, 2023 at 5:50 am

        You poor Christian pearl-clutcher….you gonna ok?✅

        • Impeach Biden

          December 29, 2023 at 9:44 am

          Huh? You a Hamas terrorist? Religion has nothing to do with it. Demo moron.

          • Ron Doesn’t Like Crowds 🧩

            December 29, 2023 at 2:53 pm

            Is that you standing in front of Disney with those signs? Another Florida Nazi? Another?!?

          • Impeach Biden

            December 29, 2023 at 5:21 pm

            No, I don’t do Disney. If I want to ride roller coasters I go to Universal. 😄

    • Earl Pitts "Sage Expert on Everything" American

      December 28, 2023 at 8:32 pm

      Thank you Leonard for your “Sage Wisdom”.
      I caution you, Leonard, from trying to “Nice it all up” by being too €££IN Nice” and paint pretty lipstick on “Leftist Pigs”.
      Leonard, My Man, please refer to My, Earl Pitts American’s “Sage and Proven Method” of calling out stupid lefties Above.
      Thank you Leonard, you are kinda-Sorta-correct but you really need to study my “Sage” wisdom and be more like me.
      EPA

    • MH/Duuuval

      December 28, 2023 at 9:44 pm

      Dee or DJT make the news. AG follows with commentary. Pretty elementary. You may disagree and reply on the site.

      As for your conclusion: It’s not a “real” question since the 2020 election. The popular and Electoral College majorities went with Biden. And, after J6, the whole world knows DJT subvert a fair and free election if it doesn’t go his way. So, the real question is why folks would want to vote for someone who is clearly not in favor of representative government?

  • S

    December 28, 2023 at 8:23 pm

    Ron has to diminish any woman he can’t control…which is so weird because Casey clearly wears the pants in that family.

    • Impeach Biden

      December 28, 2023 at 9:57 pm

      How do you diminish the most incompetent male or female VP in modern history. Most of us know how she got there. Ask Willie.

      • MH/Duuuval

        December 28, 2023 at 10:25 pm

        You and this guy “Willie” must be tight as you continually defer to him.

        • ScienceBLVR

          December 28, 2023 at 10:50 pm

          It’s not a Willie obsession, Peachy hates girls, and specifically strong women. Must be a Mama boy thing…

          • Impeach Biden

            December 29, 2023 at 6:32 am

            You are wrong. I dislike incompetent boobs. She and “Dementia” Joe make a pair. Watch her interviews. She is stupid. How did she get through Law School? Even you Dems know why she was selected as VP.

      • Ron Doesn’t Like Crowds 🧩

        December 29, 2023 at 5:48 am

        You poor thing; Biden Derangement Syndrome has taken your mind.

        • Tom

          December 29, 2023 at 8:35 am

          Imagine how he’d have felt if Sarah Palin had been VP? Now she was/is a fool for the ages.

          • Impeach Biden

            December 29, 2023 at 8:43 am

            What about? What about?

          • Tom

            December 29, 2023 at 3:30 pm

            A what-about-ism is if I say something like “rhonda came into the primaries on third base and managed to steal second base” (desantis, baseball, you get the drift) and you respond by saying “joe biden has dementia” – there’s no connection between the two statements.
            A segue on the other hand is if you say something about kamala harris being incompetent and I say something like imagine if sarah palin had been VP – see the connection? Female VP’s is the theme except that mccain didn’t get elected probably because of his bad choice of running mates.
            Nice try though.

          • Impeach Biden

            December 29, 2023 at 4:45 pm

            Nice attempt at spin there Tom. You got caught with your own case of what aboutism and now you try to spin it that your version is different.

      • Don't Say FLA

        December 29, 2023 at 12:54 pm

        VP Harris is the most incompetent VP ever?

        First question, how does one discern a competent VP from an incompetent VP?

        Second question, did her President send a posse to try and hang her till she was dead due to failure to execute the duties of her office? If no, perhaps she could only be, at best, the 2nd worst VP ever.

    • Ron Doesn’t Like Crowds 🧩

      December 29, 2023 at 2:53 pm

      COTD

  • Elmo

    December 28, 2023 at 9:09 pm

    It’s not like no one knew he’s a racist who hates on anyone who’s not like him.

  • Sonja Fitch

    December 29, 2023 at 5:09 am

    “It doesn’t matter.” Is the Desantis motto! This man is a worthless human! Get out Desantis because IT DOES MATTER!

  • Ron Doesn’t Like Crowds 🧩

    December 29, 2023 at 5:47 am

    Ron is autistic. 🧩

    • My Take

      December 29, 2023 at 10:04 am

      DooSSantis with autocratic autism!?
      Months ago now, a national group focused on autism expressed the fear that Runty’s personality failures would be attributed by commenters to autism.

      • Ron Doesn’t Like Crowds 🧩

        December 29, 2023 at 2:54 pm

        The prophecy is fulfilled

  • Joe

    December 29, 2023 at 4:26 pm

    Words have meaning, and names have pronunciations, you twice-Ive-educated fake dunce, you craven cowardly loser, Tiny D. You deserve just as little respect as you give anyone else, you absolute buffoon, Meatball Ron.

  • dumbosrus

    January 1, 2024 at 12:07 pm

    Imagine believing a half Indian (as in India) and half Jamaican woman is the first US female black VP. Imagine even dumber thinking a half Kenyan/half white man was the first black US President. How about we get an actual AFRICAN AMERICAN in office? TRUMP/Hunt. Yes, Wesley Hunt. DeSantis is great as Governor. But he’s not ready to be President. And he blew his opportunity to be VP.

    • Black Bird Singing In the Dead of Night

      January 1, 2024 at 2:31 pm

      When a half-Black man walks into a room full of White strangers, they see a Black man.
      Obama was the first Black President.
      And you, sir, although your comment is half-assed, are an ass.

Comments are closed.


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