Ron DeSantis Posts Pitch-Perfect Response to Media Pearl-Clutchers Over School Mask Nontroversy – Opinion

Florida governor. Ron DeSantis created quite the stir among the Usual Suspects on the left and in the mainstream press Wednesday during a visit to the University of South Florida when he told a group of high school students waiting for his arrival at the podium that they didn’t have to wear a mask if they didn’t want to.

“You do not have to wear those masks,” DeSantis said to them. “I mean, please take them off. Honestly, it’s not doing anything and we’ve gotta stop with this COVID theater. So if you want to wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous.”

Watch the video below for those who were unable to attend.

NEW: @GovRonDeSantis annoyed with USF students—

You don’t have to wear these masks. Take them off. It’s really not helping. It’s time to end this Covid theater. It’s fine to wear, but it is absurd.”https://t.co/7j1Pb2hV53 @WFLA pic.twitter.com/ZIOyTHLOh3

— Evan Donovan (@EvanDonovan) March 2, 2022

The practice of deliberately misreporting what really happened is common, as per norm. For instance, WFLA reported that DeSantis “scolded” the students (he didn’t). CNN’s Chris Cillizza claimed DeSantis “yelled” at the students (he didn’t). The Hill alleged DeSantis “chided” the students (he didn’t).

Sensing an opportunity to ding DeSantis at a time when it looks like his reelection bid will be smooth sailing, the notoriously anti-DeSantis Florida press corps did their thing, with some outlets reaching out to fauxfended parents who proclaimed that DeSantis shouldn’t be telling their kids what to do (even though he did no such thing).

Fortunately, DeSantis isn’t the type of guy to go quietly into the night when under attack by the dishonest partisan hacks in the media. The below clip was posted by DeSantis on Thursday. It first shows his Wednesday comments and then it juxtaposes them with clips of Democrats like President Biden and Stacey Abrams (2022 Georgia Democratic governoral candidate) and California politicians such as Gov. Gavin Newsom and others without masks. He also pointed out that Democratic governors in California are taking cues from him by refusing to comply with mask mandates. The video ends with remarks DeSantis made at CPAC about how Florida “led when it counted” during the pandemic:

It is impossible for the political science to continue.

It’s curtain call for COVID theater. pic.twitter.com/CoUIC6NX83

— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) March 3, 2022

That’s a rock-solid response to the “Branch Covidians” in the press who selectively criticize politicians on the mask issue based on their political party affiliation. Now, these same media types will defend themselves by telling you that they “cover” stories about maskless Democrats, but remember, those stories are almost always based on the Republican responseThe story is more important than the Democrat who was caught being maskless. I call it the “pounce and seize” effect. If there were no Republican reactions, there wouldn’t be a story for the media.

DeSantis, however, is correct. Even the purported medical professionals who have been routinely quoted by media are finding the mask theatre more ridiculous every day. Accordingly to him, he encouraged those students not only to follow their hearts but also what is best for them. Good for him, and shame on the politically-motivated “journalists” and leftist commentators who turned what happened Wednesday into something it wasn’t.

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