Republican lawmakers in Florida like to say they stand for freedom, for parental rights, for the voices of those marginalized by “woke” liberalism. But behind the curtain, their actions smack of something else — hypocrisy, opportunism and a cynical belief that Floridians will buy whatever they’re selling. Three reports this past week underscore the bubble in Tallahassee and the two-faced nature of some Republican priorities.
Take Gov. Ron DeSantis’ escalating war against The Walt Disney Co. Last week, the governor called for a new era in Florida where Disney no longer enjoys any outsized political influence. To illustrate his point, DeSantis singled out a special carveout that legislators approved for Disney in a 2021 bill that aimed to crack down on “Big Tech” social media companies. DeSantis blasted the carveout, which the House sponsor acknowledged was meant to help Disney.
“At the 11th hour when the Legislature was doing this, Disney got them to put in a carveout for theme parks,” DeSantis complained during a news conference Thursday. “I’m thinking to myself, ‘This is ridiculous.’ Honestly, it was embarrassing.” So much so, the governor said, he considered vetoing the legislation.
