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As RedState reported earlier, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press briefing on Monday to discuss the state’s preparations for Hurricane Milton, projected to hit the Sunshine State as a devastating Category 3 storm on Wednesday night. DeSantis aimed to reassure residents that the state was doing everything possible ahead of the storm. However, during the briefing, one of the reporters veered into politics, asking DeSantis about an NBC News story, sourced anonymously, which claimed he refused to take a call from Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris after Hurricane Helene.
“Some of these questions are just trying to create some sort of political angle,” DeSantis responded, shutting down the reporter’s line of questioning. “I understand that’s the business model [for your news organization], but I don’t want to talk about politics.”
Despite DeSantis making it clear he wasn’t interested in political bickering, the media took the story straight to Harris, who eagerly responded, accusing DeSantis of “playing politics” during a time of crisis. “Moments of crisis, if nothing else, should really be the moment that anyone who calls themselves a leader says they’re going to put politics aside and put the people first,” Harris said. “People are in desperate need of support right now, and playing political games with this moment in these crisis situations… it’s just utterly irresponsible and it is selfish.”
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Ironically, in accusing DeSantis of playing politics, Harris herself was engaging in exactly that, by launching an attack ahead of a potentially deadly storm.
DeSantis, of course, has plenty to focus on right now. As he mentioned during the briefing, he’s been in direct communication with FEMA, and none of his requests have been denied, despite claims about missed calls from Harris or President Biden. He’s steering clear of a public war of words.
But if DeSantis did choose to engage, he might point out that Harris herself has shown a lack of sensitivity to the suffering caused by Hurricane Helene. She jetted off to attend ritzy fundraisers the very weekend the storm struck, and 48 hours later, she posted a clearly staged photo pretending to be “briefed by FEMA,” while the paper she was “writing” on appeared blank, and her phone headset wasn’t even plugged in. Moreover, just last Tuesday, she prioritized a campaign interview on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast over visiting storm-battered states like Georgia and North Carolina.
Harris’ behavior has been shameless, to say the least. When it comes to natural disasters, DeSantis has consistently proven to be a strong, effective leader. He has a reputation for being highly visible and proactive during and after storms, ensuring the state receives necessary federal aid while cutting through bureaucratic red tape at the state level. Even his most ardent critics would likely concede this point.
In contrast, Harris’ handling of the border crisis has been a disaster in its own right. While DeSantis demonstrates leadership and effectiveness in times of crisis, Harris, whose presidential nomination was handed to her rather than earned, is a far cry from the kind of leadership Floridians would choose.
