Governor Ron DeSantis took a jab at AOC and blue state Democrats suggesting that if he had a dollar for every lockdown and mask fanatic that tried to escape to the freedom of Florida, he’d be pretty wealthy.
The potential 2024 presidential contender made the comments with the backdrop of AOC (Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) having recently been caught maskless in crowded spaces while on vacation in the Sunshine State.
DeSantis was asked about Democrats from states or locales with draconian lockdown measures vacationing in his state during a press conference.
“If I had a dollar for every lockdown politician who decided to escape to Florida over the last two years, I’d be a pretty doggone wealthy man, let me tell you,” he joked. “I mean, Congresspeople, mayors, governors, I mean you name it.”
DeSantis on AOC’s Florida trip: “If I had a dollar for every lockdown politician who decided to escape to Florida…you’re bashing us because we’re not doing your draconian policies, and yet we’re the first place you want to flee to.”pic.twitter.com/7EfN44uJkX
— Michael P Senger (@MichaelPSenger) January 3, 2022
DeSantis Mocks AOC For Vacationing Where She Could Ditch the Mask
Vacationing in between Christmas and New Year’s, AOC didn’t fly off to another blue state like her own, she went to Florida where she could enjoy freedom and ditch the mask.
This, even as her constituents experience surging record numbers of COVID cases in New York.
An image surfaced on Friday of Ocasio-Cortez and her boyfriend dining maskless in Miami, followed by video of her also sans mask in a densely packed drag bar.
Many politicians who support government mask mandates drop their masks when they leave Washington. It’s more or less for political show. This hypocrisy has no bounds. They must think the American people are either stupid or gullible—or both! https://t.co/Cuz5PAFIwp
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) January 4, 2022
AOC responded in a measured, level-headed manner you’d expect from a sitting Congresswoman. Just kidding.
First, she jabbed Ron DeSantis for allegedly being “missing” during a surge in COVID cases in Florida when, in reality, he was attending cancer treatment appointments with his wife.
When that didn’t work, she accused critics of wanting to have sex with her … or something.
It’s starting to get old ignoring the very obvious, strange, and deranged sexual frustrations that underpin the Republican fixation on me, women,& LGBT+ people in general.
These people clearly need therapy, won’t do it, and use politics as their outlet instead. It’s really weird
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 31, 2021
DeSantis Hammers Blue State Dems
DeSantis went on to suggest that, aside from AOC, “about a half dozen governors” from blue states have been caught vacationing in Florida even as they force masks and vaccines on their own residents.
Those same Democrats oftentimes criticize DeSantis for not implementing mandates and instead giving people the freedom to choose.
“It’s interesting though, the reception some of these folks will get in Florida, because I think a lot of Floridians will say ‘wait a minute, you’re bashing us because we’re not doing your draconian policies and yet we’re the first place you want to flee to … to be able to enjoy life,'” he said.
It’s funny because they demonize Ron DeSantis like he’s basically murdering everyone in Florida but then they go to Florida to vacation while their own states are collapsing from COVID.
— Frank J. Fleming (@IMAO_) January 1, 2022
In an interview with Fox News personality Sean Hannity after the press conference, DeSantis seemed to hint that the incompetence of people like AOC actually makes his messaging a lot easier.
“When you’re in the political arena, sometimes you’re fortunate with the enemies you have,” he joked. “Because these people just aren’t shooting straight.”
That’s a fancy way of saying they’re lying.
