RPOF Newsletter 4/9/21
60 Minutes hit job collapses under the weight of lies
“The reporting was not just based on bad information — it was intentionally false.”
Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner
Over the past year, we’ve been treated to a steady stream of negative media coverage of Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans. Pretty much the entire fabricated narrative has disintegrated as the evidence of principled, conservative, freedom-based policies has piled up: Florida has handled Covid and individual liberties better than any state. Our per-million Covid data and low employment numbers are the proof.
So the smear job attempted by 60 Minutes to further yet another bogus narrative of “pay for play” in vaccines was just another day of media coverage for Governor DeSantis, except for two critical points. There was video evidence undermining the claim and some Florida Democrats stepped up to call bull. They were on the inside and they knew the truth. And it came out that 60 Minutes knew from the beginning the story was not true.
A Newsweek columnist wrote:
“On Sunday, the CBS show 60 Minutes aired a dishonest, convoluted, story about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The segment leveled a completely unfounded accusation against Gov. DeSantis, accusing him of choosing the Publix supermarket chain to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine because Publix had contributed $100,000 to his Friends of DeSantis campaign PAC.”
This whole column is worth a read. But a no less surprising source than CNN called the 60 Minutes hoax “a massive gift” to Governor DeSantis.
“The problem is that, in the wake of the “60 Minutes” report, multiple Democratic elected officials have come out to debunk the tie between the donation and Publix distributing the vaccine. Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner, a Democrat, said that the news program had run “intentionally false” information because, he insisted, the producers knew that the county, not the governor, had been the one to request the Publix partnership.
The report — and the backlash — amount to a massive gift to DeSantis as he looks to his reelection race next year…”
When the mainstream media, including CNN, and Florida Democrats call out a “news” story as an embarrassment, malarkey and intentionally false, you know the screw-up is on a Titanic level. And it was a screw-up because the entire narrative of “pay for play” is fiction; 60 Minutes got caught in the big lie.
Read more:
https://www.newsweek.com/media-tried-smear-ron-desantis-it-backfired-opinion-1581410
And here:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/06/politics/ron-desantis-florida-vaccination-publix-60-minutes/index.html
COVID-19 Update
Floridians have been writing thank-you notes to Governor DeSantis for his successful vaccine rollout. The Governor made Florida the first state in the nation to put Seniors First and prioritize residents 65 and older to receive a vaccine. This decision was part of Governor DeSantis’ data-driven approach to protect our state’s most vulnerable residents, as individuals over the age of 65 represent more than 80% of all COVID-related deaths.
The strategy to put Seniors First has proven highly effective and has protected millions of lives: Nearly 3.5 million seniors over the age of 65 have been vaccinated in Florida, which is roughly 75% percent of Florida’s 65 and older population.
As a result, cases and hospitalizations in those 65 older have drastically reduced. In the 65 and older population, the number of new cases were down by 84% the week of March 21 – March 27, as compared to the week of December 27 – January 2, and hospitalizations were down by 83%.
Since the beginning of the state’s partnership with Publix, grateful Floridians have written to Governor DeSantis, thanking him for the opportunity to receive the vaccine at Publix.
Read more:
Florida Update
Governor DeSantis demanded that the Biden Administration rescind its recent executive action allowing criminal aliens to go free. These dangerous and reckless policies jeopardize the health, security and wellbeing of Florida communities.
The Governor called on the federal government to return to the rule of law and ensure the transfer of criminal aliens to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities upon completion of their state prison terms. The Governor insisted that ICE continue to detain these criminals, and if found to be in this country illegally, remove them.
“Florida will not sit by and watch idly as the federal government sets criminal aliens free and abdicates its legal obligation to enforce immigration law,” Governor DeSantis said. “That’s why I’m calling on President Biden and ICE to take immediate action to detain and remove these dangerous criminal aliens. Too many lives have been lost because immigration officials failed to do their jobs and too many parents have lost children at the hands of criminal aliens who were irresponsibly set free.”
Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2021/04/01/governor-ron-desantis-demands-enforcement-of-federal-immigration-law/
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Governor DeSantis announced Hurricane Michael recovery assistance of nearly $27 million to help in Northwest Florida’s recovery from the devastating hurricane. The Governor is directing the Florida Division of Emergency Management to approve disaster recovery cost-share waivers for eligible local governments, which is expected to provide an estimated $22 million in financial relief to these communities.
The Governor also announced $4.7 million for two educational institutions through the Rebuild Florida Workforce Recovery Training Program for Hurricane Michael Recovery. The program is designed to train Floridians in construction trades necessary to support disaster recovery efforts.
“I remain dedicated to the recovery of Northwest Florida and will continue to work tirelessly to deliver assistance to impacted communities,” Governor DeSantis said. “We look forward to bringing this additional relief to the region, as well as enhancing career and job opportunities for local residents through this training program.”
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Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez
Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez was on Newsmax TV with Greg Kelly and did a great job explaining why Florida has been so successful in dealing with Covid, ensuring that the state’s economy is one of the strongest in the nation and defending Governor DeSantis from the spurious 60 Minutes smear.
“We’re really happy that Floridians appreciate living here in the great state of Florida, where you have freedom and our economy is open, and that is a testament to our administration and the great work that Governor DeSantis has been doing.”
Watch her interview here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=154358999911385
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Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis was on Fox Business Tuesday to be asked if Florida Republicans are concerned about a backlash to new voting rules working through the Legislature now that Georgia has faced a boycott from their new laws. (Hint: We are not.)
“This last election cycle we were fast, we were effective and everyone who wanted to vote got the chance to vote,” CFO Patronis said. “I don’t need Coca-Cola or Delta airlines getting involved in my politics.”
He pointed out that 900 people move to Florida every day from other states for a reason.
Watch his interview here: https://video.foxbusiness.com/v/6246911057001#sp=show-clips
