DeSantis decries ‘weaponization’ of federal government, but ignores his record in Florida | Opinion

The governor who has used — and abused — the state apparatus to punish Disney over its right to free speech and try to shut down local businesses for hosting drag shows wants Americans to think he will stop the “weaponization” of the federal government.

Ron DeSantis’ shtick about “slitting throats” of “deep state” federal bureaucrats is an tired, rehearsed trope he’s repeated several times as he tries to survive as a Republican presidential candidate. Now, speaking to NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, he talked about being a “servant” to his constituents and “not a ruler.”

That’s the same DeSantis who — in the name of fighting “woke” culture — has injected divisive politics into virtually every corner of state government, who exerted big-government control over what teachers and college professors can say about race in the classroom and what private businesses can include in their diversity training. Yet he wants to persuade Republican voters he’s their last hope against an all-too-powerful state that goes after the enemies of those in power.

“This [federal] government is out of control,” DeSantis told “Meet the Press.” “We have seen the weaponization of agencies like the DOJ, the FBI and the IRS. I’m going to end that weaponization.”

Anyone’s a target

Some Republicans might have cheered when DeSantis passed laws against Disney as punishment for its opposition to the parental-rights law critics dubbed “Don’t say gay.” But those egging him on should be warned: Anyone could be DeSantis’ target tomorrow.

Before DeSantis branded Disney as “woke,” the company enjoyed the perks of having close relationships with Florida politicians. But after the company exercised its free-speech rights, DeSantis and a sycophantic Legislature stripped away its control of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, giving the governor’s cronies six-figure salaries to run the agency, as the Orlando Sentinel has reported.

The governor has also convinced the party of small government that it is righteous to threaten the livelihood of businesses because of an ideological war disguised as morality. His administration tried to suspend the liquor license of venues like the Wynwood restaurant R House and the Hyatt Regency Miami for hosting drag queen shows where minors were present, even when accompanied by adults. Both establishments paid fines to settle their disputes with the state. In June, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking a new law that banned minors from “adult live performances” such as drag shows.

DeSantis’ hypocrisy

While DeSantis decries the federal prosecutors who indicted Donald Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 elections under the false premise that there was widespread voter fraud, he pushed the Legislature to give him an elections crime office. Desperate to court Republicans who still believe in the Big Lie, DeSantis bragged about last year’s arrests of 20 felons who voted despite not having their civil rights restored. It turned out that many of those felons were issued voter cards by their local elections offices, and DeSantis’ appointees at the Department of State failed to flag them as ineligible to cast ballots.

For DeSantis to then say his goal is “to have a single standard of justice” is an affront to reality in Florida. People and businesses have been caught up in the double standards he has instituted in state government. They are collateral damage in the governor’s abuse of state power to advance narratives that he thought would help him become the Republican presidential nominee.

If DeSantis ever becomes president — and that’s looking less likely to happen in 2024 — expect the weaponization of government to proceed on steroids. Following the Trump playbook, DeSantis would brand it as retribution against an enemy.

In Florida, we have learned the enemy can be anyone the governor doesn’t like.

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