26 OCT 2022
ICYMI: Miami Herald Disqualifies Ron DeSantis for Using Venezuelan Migrants as “Pawns,” Endorses Charlie Crist as “Best Choice”
WASHINGTON, DC – The Miami Herald endorsed Charlie Crist for Florida governor this week, calling Ron DeSantis' Florida “a place of meanness.” The Herald highlights how DeSantis' first term in office has been defined by “self-aggrandizing publicity” stunts, “made-for-Fox-News grandstanding” to exploit the politics of division for his own gain. Specifically, calling attention to DeSantis’ willingness to upend the lives of vulnerable Venezuelan migrants as “pawns'' to quench his “thirst for attention.”
While the Herald denounces DeSantis for failing to help Floridians, the Herald hails Crist for being a “seasoned, smart and reasonable” politician who has detailed plans to tackle the most pressing issues for Floridians from the affordable-housing crisis to reproductive justice to law and order and the environment. Crist has also been a staunch advocate for immigration reform policies, including delivering a path to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, farm workers and undocumented immigrants, and ensuring unaccompanied immigrant children are reunited with their families.
The Herald to Florida voters: “Charlie Crist is the best choice. He'll work to unite us -- Democrats, Republicans and independents alike. He's what Florida needs -- now.”
Herald recommends Charlie Crist for Florida governor
By Miami Herald Editorial Board
October 21, 2022
Gov. Ron DeSantis' Florida is a place of meanness. It's a place where dissent is muzzled, where personal rights triumph over the greater good, where winning is more important than unity -- especially if that victory moves him closer to a White House run.
That's not the Florida we had four years ago. And it's not a Florida that voters should tolerate for the next four years. There's a far better choice in the Nov. 8 election: Democrat Charlie Crist.
DeSantis' first term in office has been defined by stunt after stunt and made-for-Fox-News grandstanding as he claims successive wins in the culture wars created by the politics of division that he exploits for his own gain. Meanwhile, real crises such as the lack of affordable housing and property insurance are barely addressed.
There was the recent taxpayer-funded flight of Venezuelan asylum seekers from Texas to Martha's Vineyard. The migrants reportedly were duped into believing they would get jobs, but instead ended up on the Massachusetts vacation island, pawns in DeSantis' thirst for attention. His willingness to upend the lives of vulnerable people for self-aggrandizing publicity appears to have also been behind his boastful announcement in August of the arrest of 20 people, ex-offenders he said voted illegally. However, those arrested have told the Herald that their county election supervisor's office said they could cast ballots after Floridians approved the restoration of voting rights for some ex-felons.
DeSantis' own administration was responsible for flagging ineligible voters, but didn't. Friday, a Miami circuit court judge threw out a criminal case against one of the people DeSantis accused of committing election fraud in the 2020 election.
There's DeSantis' crusade to protect white Floridians from alleged reverse racism at the hands of so-called "woke" teachers and workplace diversity trainers. His targeting of drag queens and a Miami bar because a parent brought their child to a popular drag brunch. His use of "parental rights" to create a new culture war surrounding the teaching of LGBTQ+ issues at schools. His exploitation of the COVID pandemic and masking of children as political tools to proclaim Florida as the "free" state -- as long as your version of freedom agrees with his.
[...]
Except for some high spots, DeSantis has deeply damaged our state in four years. Instead of bringing us together so that, united, we can confront and solve our biggest challenges, he has pushed us apart. Instead of working for the betterment of everyone, he has worked only for the betterment of himself and his drive for higher office. Instead of encouraging us to reach for our better selves, he has sown suspicion and scorn. He has marginalized, penalized and ostracized entire groups of people -- his constituents -- though he spurns them relentlessly.
Four more years of this, and what will be left of civil society in Florida? We'll become unrecognizable.
Charlie Crist is the best choice. He'll work to unite us -- Democrats, Republicans and independents alike. He's what Florida needs -- now.
The Miami Herald Editorial Board recommends CHARLIE CRIST for Florida governor.
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