Disney would face 48 hours of outrage if they didn’t comment on the bill, and then another 48 hours of outrage “mostly online” once I signed it. Then there will be some new outrage that the woke mob will focus on and people will forget about this issue, especially considering the outrage is directed at a political-media narrative, not the actual text of the legislation itself.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (advice to Disney’s ex-CEO)
When Democrats James Carville and Bill Maher say DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) has gone too far, it means the GOP presidential nominee will counter with CMF (choice, merit, families). This plank is rooted in pragmatism and politics. After 50 years of affirmative action and equal-opportunity laws, Blacks aren’t happy. And, voters increasingly see “woke” liberals as petulant (bad-tempered and sulky – like you in 8th grade) losers.
When Lori Lightfoot won 74% of Chicago’s vote to become mayor in 2019, she praised the “Chicago Dream – as I stand here, inaugurated as Chicago’s first black woman and first openly gay mayor.” After losing 83% of Chicago’s vote last week, a reporter asked if voters had treated her unfairly; soliciting this retort: “I’m a black woman in America. Of course” (source: AP). Then, she accused the top vote-getter of wooing the “racist” president of the Fraternal Order of Police, and his campaign slogan (“taking back our city”) of being “the ultimate dog whistle.”
Lightfoot is an example of the woke fragility that’s making America less open and honest. She began as a profound statement; the “Chicago Dream.” Then, after her incompetence led to soaring crime, closed schools, and division, she was unaccountable; refusing to acknowledge exit polls that found she lost multiple Black wards and only won others by “unimpressive margins” (source: Brookings).
This is the woke problem in America: ignore what you’re elected or hired to do in order to satisfy a political-media narrative. To wit, Jamaal Bowman, The Squad’s newest member, just sent Ron DeSantis (R-FL) a DEI “care package” that included a copy of White Fragility. Ever heard of Bowman? Likely not, which is why he took a shot at DeSantis, whose new book is now #1 on Amazon – and whose state is “where ‘woke’ goes to die” after he kicked Dems and Disney’s CEO into Neverland last year.
If Bowman (D-NY) thinks white fragility is DeSantis’s weakness, he should ask himself why gays and non-whites are still moving to Florida, and read Ron DeSantis’s biography. How fragile is a teen who works his way from a small-town high school to Yale (magna cum laude) and Harvard Law (cum laude)? How fragile is a man assigned to Seal Team One, sent to Iraq, and awarded four military medals, including Bronze Star? Not very, which is why DeSantis won a US House race at 34, gubernatorial election at 40, did right by his wife during her cancer fight AND won a landslide re-election.
Suffice it to note over 57% of Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans would have not have voted for a “racist” DeSantis, 57% of Gen Z would not have voted for a “homophobic” DeSantis, and 57% of women would not have voted for a “sexist” DeSantis. What they did vote for were laws that limit race and gender activism in businesses and schools – because THAT is what Floridians don’t want.
In February, a black 6th-grade teacher in Orlando concocted a “classroom skit” as part of Black History Month, in which white students knelt and bowed to seated black students. He was suspended after airing the skit on TikTok (where the woke go to party). Maria Vazquez, Orange County Schools supervisor, didn’t buy his claim that the skit had “no political agenda behind it” and “was in good fun.” Her statement: “I am appalled at the behavior and judgment of the teacher. This is not free speech. It is the exploitation of our students for political purposes, and it will not be tolerated in our school district.”
The teacher, of course, said he was “truly sorry” and “deeply apologetic toward the students and parents” – and then claimed victim status by insisting his video was “maliciously used” against him and did “not match up” with the “example” he is “for his students” (source: Washington Examiner). That’s the two-step shuffle performed by identity activists whenever they’re busted for going too far.
Like Disney’s shuffle that began as a woke war with Florida’s GOP: “our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts.” That attack cost Disney its rich Reedy Creek deal and got CEO Bob Chapek fired. Then, after Florida re-elected Gov. DeSantis in a big red wave, Disney woke up to reality: “We are focused on the future and are ready to work within this new framework.” There’s a lesson in there somewhere.
It’s obvious DeSantis sees woke fragility on the left. He sees social wrongs he must end; universities stifling free speech and teachers picking on little kids. He sees political weakness he can attack; Disney’s CEO bullied by partisan employees, and Lightfoot playing the “victim” card. He knows they are NOT making America better, which is why his book’s last chapter (and probable campaign slogan) is called “Make America Florida.” Two facts for the woke.
One, nobody is leaving Florida for New York or Oregon, because who leaves peace (safe neighborhoods) and prosperity (gainful employment)? Florida’s metro areas all rank out of the top-40 for US murder rates (source: Global Peace Index). The state ranks #6 in employment rate, #8 in racial diversity, and #1 in Americans moving there. Bowman giving DeSantis governing tips is dumber than Eddie Haskell giving Wally Cleaver dating advice.
Two, nobody moves so their kids can hear stories read by a drag-queen in the local public library or attend a public school that teaches critical race theory. DeSantis won 64% of non-gays, 64% of non-blacks, and 61% of parents in 2022. The political-media spin on Florida’s “anti-woke” laws is not America, not after polling found Americans by two to one “agree with the actual language” of the Don’t Say Gay bill (source: The Washington Post).
The pitfall for DeSantis is that he’s perceived to be uncaring to black and gay Floridians. Winning only 19% of the black vote and 23% of the gay vote says as much. I live in Florida, which feels less divided than other states. Hence, I believe DeSantis rightly states, “the outrage is directed at a political-media narrative.” He can’t stop that, but he can avoid mean tweets (he does) and foster peace and prosperity (he has).
What has America to lose in electing DeSantis? Not much, if the options are Biden or Trump. And, if Florida is any example, Americans – of every race, creed, and gender orientation – might like President DeSantis.