Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis ripped President Biden Wednesday, accusing the White House of trying to implement a “biomedical security state” and warning that “I don’t want to hear a blip about COVID” until the administration’s border policy changes.
DeSantis was scheduled to deliver remarks on Florida’s economy at an event in Panama City, but instead unleashed a four-and-a-half-minute diatribe against the president, accusing him of trying to “single out” Florida over its rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
Here’s what DeSantis said:
But let me tell you this, if you’re coming after the rights of parents in Florida, I’m standing in your way, I’m not going to let you get away with it. If you’re trying to deny kids a proper in-person education, I’m going to stand in your way, and I’m going to stand up for the kids in Florida. If you’re trying to restrict people, impose mandates if you’re trying to ruin their jobs and their livelihoods and their small business if you are trying to lock people down, I am standing in your way, and I’m standing for the people of Florida. So why don’t you do your job? Why don’t you get this border secure? And until you do that, I don’t want to hear a blip about COVID from you.
DeSantis’ refusal to institute mask or vaccine mandates is a sore point with the administration, which has repeatedly pointed out this week that one-third of all new coronavirus cases have occurred in Florida and Texas — both states with prominent GOP governors who are considered potential White House contenders in 2024.
Biden had stated, “Just two states, Florida and Texas, account for one-third of all new COVID cases in the entire country. Just two states. Look, we need leadership from everyone. If some governors aren’t willing to do the right thing to beat this pandemic, then they should allow businesses and universities who want to do the right thing to be able to do it. I say to these governors: Please help, but if you aren’t going to help, at least get out of the way of the people who are trying to do the right thing. Use your power to save lives.”
On Wednesday, DeSantis accused Biden of wanting to copy New York’s sweeping vaccine mandate, in which “restaurants should ban young kids from being able to go in because they’re not eligible for vaccination, and law-abiding citizens have to produce proof of their medical records just to go to the gym or attend an event, or just to participate in everyday society.
“He wants that, but yet if you want to vote, he thinks it’s too much of a burden to show a picture ID when you’re voting,” the governor went on. “So no voter ID, but you have to show your medical papers just to be able to live an everyday life? Give me a break.”
DeSantis added that America faces a choice between being a “free society, or we can have a biomedical security state. And I can tell you, Florida, we’re a free state.”
Below are the reactions of some of the conservatives after hearing DeSantis’ response:
Newsmax’s Steve Cortes: “This is the way. Governor Beast Mode, fighting for the citizens who elected him. A LOT of squish Republican governors around America could learn from Ron…”
This is the way.
Governor Beast Mode, fighting for the citizens who elected him. A LOT of squish Republican governors around America could learn from Ron… https://t.co/hM3mxw2bqn
— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) August 4, 2021
Fox News’ Lisa Boothe: “One of the only good ones.”
One of the only good ones ? https://t.co/DTCdvkWQg1
— Lisa Boothe (@LisaMarieBoothe) August 4, 2021
Editor-publisher Roger Kimball: “The great governor of Florida @GovRonDeSantis is a hero.”
The great governor of Florida @GovRonDeSantis is a hero. https://t.co/Xiuf7GiE5j
— Roger Kimball (@rogerkimball) August 4, 2021
Another conservative: “The absolute gold standard republicans have to offer in the pushback against the insane progressives of today.”
The absolute gold standard republicans have to offer in the pushback against the insane progressives of today. https://t.co/5Tb3KRgOLr
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) August 4, 2021
In a speech that lasted less than five minutes, DeSantis ripped Biden on various issues, noting that Biden had claimed he would “shut down the virus” as a presidential candidate, but had imported more of the virus with his lassitude regarding illegal immigration at the southern border; that a member of Biden’s administration had told parents that they should be wearing masks at home when they are around their own children — a notion DeSantis called “insane”; that Biden believes that vaccination should be mandated by force of government, but DeSantis believes the decision ultimately should be left to the individual; that Biden believes law-abiding citizens should have to produce proof of their medical records just to go to the gym, or attend an event, or just to participate in everyday society, but “if you want to vote, he thinks it’s too much of a burden to show a picture ID when you’re voting, so no voter ID, but have to show your medical papers just to be able to live in everyday life.”
Sources: Daily Wire, New York Post
