If there was a recipe for another Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, it might look something like this: Grab some bully off the shelf with a heaping teaspoon of scientific denial, a swig of racing baiting, and a dollop of LGBTQ fantasy for good measure.
If it sounds nasty, that’s because it is (recipe and politics).
As a former Floridian who visits as often as I can, and because I have a close family who still live there, I care deeply about what’s happening in the Sunshine State and worry about where DeSantis is headed politically.
Not everyone agrees with me. During the first and only gubernatorial debate with former Republican administration and now Democratic congressman Charlie Crist Monday night in Fort Pierce, DeSantis received alarming applause for his hateful, misleading and divisive remarks. Prior to the debate, DeSantis also led the polls and proved popular in Florida.
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After the debate, he was again preferred to be a GOP candidate running against former President Donald Trump (should he run) in the 2024 presidential election. With that in mind, I am writing about the debate. What kind of candidate would DeSantis be for the 2024 campaign? And, God forbid, what kind of president?
The debate was a good window into that.
What DeSantis Said During the Debate
I never thought I’d say this because I’m an atheist, but as I watched Monday night’s debate, I found myself praying for Crist to become governor again. As much as I hate that millionaires go into politics, DeSantis’ far-right ideology makes me nervous. But how will more centric and independent voters feel about his rhetoric?
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DeSantis made some very disturbing comments during the debate. He also has a record of disturbing, bigoted leadership that has no place in 2022 America, or 2024:
►To local news anchor Liz Quirantes’ question about his “Stop WOKE” law and his Florida Parental Rights in Education Act – which critics have called the “Don’t Say Gay” law because of its classroom teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity for students from kindergarten through third grade – DeSantis started with a dog whistle about keeping Florida free. He also stooped to his usual race fights, saying, “I don’t want to teach children to hate our country,” claiming it was false that the United States was built on “stolen land.”
►DeSantis proudly chided science, claiming that a 15-week-old fetus is “fully formed” (it’s not), and his abortion law makes no exceptions for rape and incest, even though 86% of Americans believe it should be . The governor also praised his rejection of health experts’ advice during the worst months of COVID-19 by insisting that he keep the Florida tourism industry open (he also banned mandates for school masks).
►He despised LGBTQ teens and their families seeking gender-affirming care, calling it “genital mutilation” and comparing it to a tattoo.
Let’s count: How many people does Dr. Involving Oz in an abortion decision exactly?
DeSantis is not mature enough to be governor or president
DeSantis, like others in his party, seems unable to realize that he is the governor of all Floridians, not just those who agree with him. But his radical stances send progressives, moderate Democrats and even independents in the opposite direction.
That doesn’t stop when he decides to run for president.
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DeSantis’ inability to answer Crist’s question of whether he would serve the full term, if elected, made it painfully clear that he doesn’t care about running for governor — he wants to run for president. Instead of answering the question honestly, he mumbled something and returned to his inner bully by calling Crist a “worn old donkey.” A “yo mama” joke would probably have had the same effect: collect the basics; make everyone cringe.
DeSantis doesn’t really want to be governor for much longer, and he doesn’t want to listen to American voters — he wants to run for president so he can push his radical agenda off the White House.
Carli Pierson, a New York attorney, is an opinion writer and member of the USA TODAY editorial board. Follow her on Twitter: @CarliPiersonEsq
More from Carli Pierson:
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DeSantis Runs in 2024? Debate reveals what kind of president he would be
