Thursday’s Good Morning America continued ABC’s smears of Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) by lamenting he’s “doubl[ing] down” on the “controversial” “Don’t Say Gay policy” as part of his obsession with exacerbating “hot button issues” and “cultural divisions” that pose a risk to the mental health of students by not allowing them to explore sex.
“DeSantis doubles down. Details on the Florida governor’s new move to expand what critics call the Don’t Say Gay policy and the reaction this morning,” announced fill-in co-host Whit Johnson, adding later at the start of the formal segment that DeSantis wants to expand “the controversial law.”
Senior White House correspondent and Biden shill Mary Bruce was on the case. After she said “DeSantis has become a real champion for conservative, cultural concerns” and has “lean[ed] even more into...hot button issues,” she also dubbed his call to expand the Parental Rights in Education Act.
“DeSantis is doubling down, now seeking to expand a Florida state law to ban classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in all grades,” she explained, saying he “wants to apply it through high school.”
Bruce at least quoted from the proposal:
In a surprise announcement, his administration proposing that: “For grades 4 through 12, instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited unless such instruction is either expressly required by state academic standards...or is part of a reproductive health course,” which parents can opt out of.
She also quoted a DeSantis spokesperson as having said “there is no reason for instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity to be part of K through 12 public education. Full stop.”
Shifting into defensive mode, she posited that “opponents say it could put students at risk, barring young people, even those in their senior year, from seeking a teacher’s help if they’re struggling with their identity.”
Ah, so it’s harmful that students can’t engage in gender mutilation?
Like a good, unofficial White House flack, she touted Karine Jean-Pierre’s attack on DeSantis, summarizing her thoughts as arguing he’s “part of a disturbing and dangerous trend of laws targeting the LGBTQ community.”
Bruce then turned her ire up a few notches, whining that he’s “built a brand on cultural divisions, supporting limitations on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, restrictions on drag performances, and has banned transgender athletes from playing girls and women’s sports.”
No word on what she thinks about men competing in women’s sports or what age she thinks is too young for kids to change their gender or discuss sex.
CBS Mornings also invoked DeSantis but took a different tack by making their story about former President Trump’s continued attacks against him. White House and campaign correspondent Ed O’Keefe briefly mentioned education, saying DeSantis “remains focused on passing legislation mostly related to cultural and education issues.”
“The Parental Rights in Education Act, a measure nicknamed by critics as the Don’t Say Gay law, currently prohibits kindergarten through third graders from receiving instruction in gender and sexuality topics in class. A vote next month by the Florida Board of Education could extend the ban to 12th grade,” he added.
The latest attacks on DeSantis for keeping explicit sexual content from children was made possible thanks to advertisers such as Consumer Cellular (on ABC), Dick’s Sporting Goods (on ABC), and Jergens (on CBS). Follow the links to see their contact information at the MRC’s Conservatives Fight Back page.
To see the relevant transcript from March 23, click “expand.”
ABC’s Good Morning America
March 23, 2023
7:00 a.m. Eastern [TEASE][ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: DeSantis Doubles Down; Florida Governor’s New Move]
WHIT JOHNSON: DeSantis doubles down. Details on the Florida governor’s new move to expand what critics call the Don’t Say Gay policy and the reaction this morning.
(....)
7:09 a.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: New This Morning; DeSantis Doubles Down on Education Law; Pushes Restrictions on Gender Identity & Sexual Orientation Topics]
JOHNSON: Now to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis doubling down on the controversial law that limits instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in the classroom, now pushing to expand it. Our senior White House correspondent Mary Bruce has more on that story. Mary, good morning.
MARY BRUCE: Good morning, Whit. Well, Ron DeSantis has become a real champion for conservative, cultural concerns and now, as the Florida governor barrels towards an expected run for the White House, he is leaning even more into these hot button issues. Now, looking to build upon one of his most controversial moves. This morning, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is doubling down, now seeking to expand a Florida state law to ban classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in all grades. The Parental Rights in Education Act, which critics call the Don’t Say Gay bill, currently applies to grades K through 3rd. DeSantis now wants to apply it through high school. In a surprise announcement, his administration proposing that: “For grades 4 through 12, instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited unless such instruction is either expressly required by state academic standards...or is part of a reproductive health course,” which parents can opt out of. A DeSantis spokesperson telling ABC News, “there is no reason for instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity to be part of K through 12 public education. Full stop.” But opponents say it could put students at risk, barring young people, even those in their senior year, from seeking a teacher’s help if they’re struggling with their identity. The White House calling it part of a disturbing and dangerous trend of laws targeting the LGBTQ community.
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: It’s wrong. It’s completely, utterly wrong.
BRUCE: DeSantis has built a brand on cultural divisions, supporting limitations on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, restrictions on drag performances, and has banned transgender athletes from playing girls and women’s sports. Now, even though he has not announced yet, DeSantis’s agenda has thrust him into a big spotlight and that, in turn, is gaining a lot of attention making him a top target for former President Donald Trump. Now, he is already running and he is now going after DeSantis, a man who he once endorsed. Robin, it is clear that Trump sees DeSantis as a top threat.
ROBIN ROBERTS: It does seem clear. Thank you, Mary.
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CBS Mornings
March 23, 2023
7:10 a.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: DeSantis in the Spotlight; Trump & DeSantis Trade Shots as Gov. Visits Key States for Book Tour]
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: All of these investigations are not keeping the former President from attacking his main Republican rival, that’s Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who appears to be laying the groundwork for a presidential run. CBS News has learned DeSantis plans to visit multiple swing states in the next month. Officially, it’s just part of a book tour. But the governor is already taking some political shots at the former President. Ed O’Keefe has more.
ED O’KEEFE: It’s no secret that Florida Republican governor Ron DeSantis is the expected GOP rival of former President Donald Trump in 2024, and the name-calling has already begun.
DONALD TRUMP: Ron DeSanctimonious at 10 percent.
GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS (R-FL): It’s long, it’s got a lot of vowels. We go with that. That’s fine. You know, you can call me whatever you want. I mean, just as long as you, you know, also call me a winner.
O’KEEFE: In an interview with talk show host Piers Morgan, DeSantis laid out what he thinks is a big difference between him and Trump, who’s facing federal and state investigations.
DESANTIS: The way we run the government, I think, is no daily drama, focus on the big picture, and put points on the board.
O’KEEFE: The interview comes as DeSantis remains focused on passing legislation mostly related to cultural and education issues.
DESANTIS: Don’t say gay is a false narrative.
O’KEEFE: The Parental Rights in Education Act, measure nicknamed by critics as the Don’t Say Gay law, currently prohibits kindergarten through third graders from receiving instruction in gender and sexuality topics in class. A vote next month by the Florida Board of Education could extend the ban to 12th grade. In the Monday interview, DeSantis went beyond the state of Florida talking foreign policy. He previously called the war in Ukraine a “territorial dispute” and not a “vital” national interest, but he now holds nothing back against Russian president Vladimir Putin.
DESANTIS: I think he is a war criminal. I do think that he should be held accountable.
O’KEEFE: And asked whether he could beat President Biden in 2024, DeSantis said —
DESANTIS: I think so.
PIERS MORGAN [TO DESANTIS]: So, you’re running then?
DESANTIS: No, I didn’t say that. I said I think I could.
O’KEEFE: He’s getting there. As for Trump, he continued his attacks responding online to DeSantis calling himself a winner, posting, “Ron is an average Governor,” and the former President said, “we don’t want Ron as our President.” Gayle?
GAYLE KING: I think we just get some popcorn and watch this movie. See how it ends. Thank you very much, Ed. Thanks a lot.
O’KEEFE: Take care.
