As it turns out, Ron “Don’t Say Gay” DeSantis doesn’t only hate LGBTQ+ people. Apparently, he doesn’t care for World War II veterans, either.
At a recent meet-and-greet in Iowa, the flailing Florida governor was alerted there was a WW II veteran in attendance. Instead of approaching the wartime hero, DeSantis gave a simple nod, and went back to take a photo with somebody else.
“DeSantis gave a nod in the veteran’s direction, flashed a thumbs-up, thanked him for his service and turned back to someone else waiting for a photo with him,” reports MSNBC’s Kyle Griffin.
But that wasn’t the end of DeSantis’ pained interaction with one of the men responsible for defeating fascism. Iowa governor Kim Reynolds, a Republican, yelled to DeSantis that the veteran would also like his signature.
So DeSantis scribbled his name on a piece of paper; and once again, moved on to the next voter.
When asked again whether he knew there was a WW II veteran in attendance, DeSantis demurred. “I know, I signed something for him!” he yelled.
Doesn’t get the hint?
— Christine King (@ckwest542) June 5, 2023
He has zero personality.
— chisoltd (@chisoltd) June 6, 2023
President Biden would have taken the time to talk to the veteran even if the security detail was trying to move along.
— Linda Jones (@linnylu63) June 5, 2023
Now, nobody expects DeSantis, a champion of odious legislation against gay people, to be familiar with the 10 best LGBTQ+ military films worth watching. But he must be aware of WW II, right? They haven’t banned those books in Florida schools…yet.
Making matters worse, since WW II occurred between 1939-45, it’s fair to assume the aforementioned veteran is well into his 90s. Taking extra time to meet with a veteran is a layup for any politician–but especially a presidential hopeful.
Then again, this is Ron “Don’t Say Gay” DeSantis we’re talking about. He struggles to interact with humans at all levels.
Just last week, he threw a hissy fit when a reporter asked him why he didn’t take questions following a town hall event in New Hampshire. “People are coming up to me, talking to me,” he wailed. “What are you talking about? Are you blind? Are you blind? People are coming up to me, talking to me whatever they want to talk to me about.”
DeSantis’ horrific social skills are threatening to derail his campaign before it even really gets started. He snaps all the time in public, such as when he yelled at college students for wearing masks.
It’s even off-putting when DeSantis is trying to be funny, or laugh!
There are a slew of stories about DeSantis’ crimes against basic social etiquette. He’s been accused of eating pudding with his hands, failing to learn the name of his staffers and even refusing to sign a sympathy letter.
Now, we can add snubbing a WW II veteran to the long list.
With these social faux paus, it’s not surprising that DeSantis’ support is crumbling. A new poll shows he has a net approval rating of -19, with 55% of respondents expressing their disapproval, compared with 36% who hold a favorable view of the toxic governor.
Back in early December, DeSantis’ overall approval and disapproval rating was tied at 47%. He’s fallen on hard times.
To curry favor with Republican voters, DeSantis signed a rash of anti-LGBTQ+ laws during Florida’s last legislative session. He expanded the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law to bar discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity from all grade levels, and outlawed gender-affirming care for minors. He’s also made it a criminal offense if adults don’t use the bathroom that corresponds with the sex they were assigned at birth.
In addition, the state’s new anti-drag law has had a chilling effect on Pride celebrations throughout Florida. Tampa Bay canceled a Pride event, and even Wilton Manors, one of the gayest cities in the country, put the kibosh on drag queens performing during its annual parade.
LGBTQ+ people can celebrate one recent victory against DeSantis, however. This week, a federal judge partially blocked enforcement of Florida’s ban on gender-affirming care. In his ruling, the judge wrote bluntly: “gender identity is real.”
Gender identity is definitely more real than DeSantis’ presidential chances. He keeps getting blasted with one bad headline after another, and rightfully so. Not engaging with a WW2 vet is his latest low.
Scroll down for more horrified reactions to DeSantis’ snub…
That says everything about DeSantis, doesn’t it?
— Christine Galea (@chrisgalea) June 5, 2023
They’re still working on DeSantis’ human programming.
— Frank Langben (@FrankLangben) June 5, 2023
Was the WW II vet too woke for him or something 🧐
— Chuck Todd’s shamble bangs (@Drea_got_rage) June 5, 2023
My dad went into the Navy during his freshman year of college and would have turned 100 this year. I I don’t know that there are many WWII veterans alive today who aren’t at least that age.
— Paul Gundlach (@PaulSGundlach) June 5, 2023
Invader7
Mr. Laughs Like the Donkey in Shrek is creepy, weird in a bad way & a Neo NAZI Fascist . And has the personality of a paperclip !!! Thankfully people are starting to see what a toxic, nasty person he really is. And I love that his poll numbers are dropping. Wait until his opponents mention the cost of living , the home insurance market evaporating , the anti-everything laws he and his band of fellow fascists have inflicted on the state, etc.. Plus his recent relocating of migrants to California. It’s all gonna blow up in his face and we’re gonna see him meltdown. On national media.. It’s gonna be a real treat..
ScottOnEarth
This is very sad but not surprising. DeSantis is a true sociopath who is clearly incapable of connecting with everyday people on any significant level.
abfab
And let’s not forget the sociopathic Floridians who voted for him, who love him, who adore him and think he is the Second Coming.
That’s where the investigations should begin.
abfab
Should we wait for him to say that he only likes soldiers that didn’t become wounded and tortured prisoners?
This is where we are now. How nice.
Invader7
He looks like he’s pooped his pants !! And the alligator /crocodile & red criss cross patches on his jacket. Are those some kind of secret message to his sheeple ?
Virvainfotech
I just laughed so hard hearing about his epic campaign blunder XD
Keebler ILF
I’m conflicted. I’m not sure how much sympathy I should have for this veteran being snubbed, especially if the veteran was a DeSantis supporter.
still_onthemark
Ronda made the quick calculation, “this old dude is unlikely to live til Nov. 2024. Plus I’d need to shout at him.”
RIGay
I hope he tore up the scrap of paper.
DBMC
You don’t need to feel sympathy for the veteran to slam DeSantis.
smittoons
I get it, but if we just write everyone off who supports a vile politician, then there’s no hope of finding any common ground. Can’t talk something out with someone if you’ve already shut them out completely, especially a 90 year old veteran of WW2!
Brian
Please, let’s stop using the term “town hall” for events like this. He’s just reciting a monologue — one written by a different person. An actual town hall meeting would be a discussion between many people. Walking out before the first question means that this was no “town hall.”
Same goes for the recently televised “town hall” in New Hampshire in which only extremist MAGA Republicans were allowed to enter. Donald Trump just rambled on, and then walked away. CNN called that a “town hall,” which is not true.
abfab
Thank you.
RIGay
Everyone thought the Giant Floating Orange T*urd was too much of a low-life to win, too.
Kangol2
Yep. I don’t underestimate this horrible monster DeSaster one bit. He barely won in 2018 over Andrew Gillum and then last year, in 2022, won in a landslide, with overwhelming support of White voters, Latino/Latinx voters, and people over 35 in the state of Florida. The only groups to vote substantially against him were Black voters and younger voters (18-34), with both groups being targeted by the GQP with extreme new voting restrictions.
Don the Con’s voting demographics were similar, though with substantially lower Latino/Latinx support. So don’t count this terrible, racist, homophobic and transphobic, authoritarian fascist person out, because unless more in the GQP’s recent voting blocs wake up, we could be in for true national disaster!
DBMC
To be fair, DeSantis would have been on the fascist’s side back then.
abfab
Who is Frank Bruni talking about here?
She could be RuPaul at a drag ball for all the attention she’s getting. She could be the sorcerer in Disney’s “Fantasia” for all the magic journalists are primed for: When she’s with her grumpy guv, will her sunshine melt his ice? Can her aptitude for small talk make up for his allergy to it? And when she trots out the couple’s three children, ages 3 to 6, will voters be reminded of and charmed by her husband’s youth? (He’s 44 to Donald Trump’s 76.)