Florida has been in the news a lot over the last couple of weeks…. Usually for all the wrong reasons. Its lawmakers are currently processing the passage of its hateful ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which bars teachers from discussing LGBTQ issues to primary school kids or any students not deemed old enough to handles such topics of conversation.
Besides this, the state has long been a flag bearer for resisting federal advice on how to best handle the Covid pandemic. It has previously threatened to sue or withhold funding from schools that implement mask mandates.
Related: FL Gov. straight-washes Pulse massacre by omitting any mention of LGBTQ people in proclamation
Leading this charge is its Republican Governor, Ron DeSantis. Yesterday, footage emerged of him scolding a bunch of students for wearing masks. The youngsters were lined up behind him at a press conference at the University of South Florida. On seeing the kids were wearing masks, a testy DeSantis made it clear that they could take them off.
‘This is ridiculous’: @GovRonDeSantis scolds students for wearing face masks during his @USouthFlorida visit https://t.co/v9XLjueCYi pic.twitter.com/TFeC6t6wL9
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) March 2, 2022
“You do not have to wear those masks. I mean, please take them off. Honestly, it’s not doing anything and we need to stop with this Covid theater.
“So if you want to wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous.”
Some of the students then took off their masks, while others kept them on. DeSantis stepped up to the lectern, shaking his head, before starting the press conference.
Last month, DeSantis, who is regarded as a frontrunner in the GOP Presidential race for 2024, backed a proposal to strip $200m in education funding from Democratic counties that defied his executive order last year banning mask mandates in schools.
DeSantis has also suggested he will likely sign the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill if it passes the Senate, where it is due to be debated imminently.
He told reporters in early February it was “entirely inappropriate” for teachers to talk to younger students about gender identity. Desantis continued, “Schools need to be teaching kids to read, to write. They need to teach them science, history. We need more civics and understanding of the U.S. Constitution, what makes our country unique, all those basic things.”
Basic things like not bothering to wear a face mask, it would seem.
Related: Ron DeSantis just reminded everyone he’s a pile of homophobic garbage, in case anyone forgot
Online, many found DeSantis’ behavior reprehensible.
He’s a horrible horrible soulless person and is unfit for office. This was unnecessarily rude and obnoxious.
— Jamie Schler (@lifesafeast) March 2, 2022
a governor openly taking away choice from children…a teacher would be disciplined if this were done
— James Baldwin (the other one) (@TrueWordsRSpoke) March 2, 2022
There really needed to be an adult who confronted him on the spot.If a principal,or similar, could have stepped in and said, “Don’t talk to my students in that manner.These are minors,etc etc. “,it would have been a good thing.Power imbalance going on and kids need protection.
— Amy Duval (@TrekkyAmy) March 2, 2022
DeSantis, you have no idea what’s going on with those people or at their home. Maybe they are at high risk or have someone at home who is. It’s none of your business if someone chooses to wear a mask and it’s certainly not ridiculous.
— Mary Robinette (@mcrnette) March 2, 2022
What about freedom @GovRonDeSantis
Who are you to tell these kids to remove their masks!
— Susan 🇺🇸🙏🇺🇦 (@Susan53795298) March 2, 2022
Cam
Funny, Republicans claim their anti-Mask stance is about Freedom…..and then attack people for doing what they want to do.
Is there ANYTHING Republicans aren’t lying hypocrites about?
Polaro
They don’t even understand the meaning of hypocrisy or irony. A common thread for the Trumpers is a being proudly stupidity.
Bosch
They have the same approach to condoms, which is why teen birth rates are ridiculously high in red states.
The Accidental Polemicist
Bosch: “They have the same approach to condoms, which is why teen birth rates are ridiculously high in red states.”
Or perhaps they believe in the sanctity of nascent human life.
Jim
Santos is running hard for President
Be afraid very afraid.
jt1990
I am afraid…that the demoncrats will pull off another rigged election! If Desantis were to run, they would have no choice. We love him here in Florida, I can see him easily winning the popular vote by a landslide!
Polaro
I’m tired of wearing masks and have stopped since the requirements are gone. This, however, was pathetic. What an arrogant bully.
SamB
Good for him, it’s true that the left leaning media has terrified most people into believing a paper mask can save your life.
Kangol2
Good for him for bullying students? For saying Florida is the “freest” state but then hypocritically trying to force these children to do something against their free beliefs? For being as much of a scientifically and medically ignorant idiot as Don the Con?
SamB
Kangol2: He did tell them to leave it on if they want to but it’s all just for show. You make it seem like the grabbed each kid and ripped their mask off them. Or laughed at them until they ran crying. There was no bullying going on… unless your idea of bullying is looking at you funny.
Eternal.Cowboy
Nah, he’s asshole bully. That you don’t see it doesn’t make it less so. It just means you are the same.
kish
That’s why doctors never wear masks during surgery…
Kangol2
This man is the governor of the State of Florida. They are schoolchildren. He turned around and harangued them. He’s a jack@ss. Let the kids be “free” as he loves to tout and wear their masks if they want to. Instead, he bullied them into removing them for his photo op.
Bosch
Here we go again.
Independent research studies have demonstrated the efficacy of masks in multiple countries, including the Max Planck institute.
And you defending desantis’ ridiculously immature behaviour only adds to your reputation.
MickeyMoose
“Scolds”? Queerty writer needs to stop softening language and grow a spine. This is out and out bullying.
PS: I was sure SamB was a Russian bot, but with the shutdown she’s still here.
Terrycloth
They are only doing what he recommended months ago..I love a couple.kids kept them on..he dosent.know if any of these kids can’t get the shots because of a compromised immune system or someone in their family cant….
Prax07
Now if that was me in HS, I’d have taken the mask off and coughed all up in that j@ck@ss’s face. People like Desantis don’t deserve any of society’s politeness.
DrJones
He’s such an a$$hole. Rethuglicans always pull out the “COVID THEATRE” mantra when someone is masking around them because it’s belittling people who are choosing to mask, and the a$$holes don’t like them doing it because it implies they are an infection risk (which they probably are).
Fahd
DeSantis is a wannabe thug who thoughtlessly put a bunch of well-intentioned, innocent teenagers who were following the rules into an uncomfortable position. Just the wrong thing to do. I’m proud of the ones who kept their masks on.
Let’s hope with Putin and Tr*mp giving the authoritarian, blowhard leadership style a bad name that DeSantis’s prospects will fade.
This guy is a threat to American democracy.
Kangol2
He’s a creep, and his record on Covid-19 is disastrous so he’s the last person these children should be listening to. Notably three of them apparently ignored his @ss.
skyboy63
SamB does the B stand for Bitch ? Because you are a major one….
SamB
Take that back! Fascist.
johncp56
MORON bully
The Accidental Polemicist
BULLYING!?!
These poor kids have been relentlessly bullied for two years to wear their face diapers like good little automatons. Their academic and mental health be damned!
I thought we were supposed to follow the science.
jt1990
Nice to find I’m not the only voice of sanity on this website! Want to hear bullying, tell a liberal you disagree with his or her (it’s?) opinion…
Bosch
Are you suggesting that wearing a tiny piece of cloth is bad for academic and mental health? You don’t sound very resilient.
cuteguy
What happened to empowering parents? Or does this mini Hitler only apply it to when discussing lgbt in school? That banana republic Florida needs to get its act together and vote for Charlie Crist.
MarcyMayer
Charlie Crist will NEVER win state-wide again in Florida.
jt1990
I’m sorry you don’t agree with my commentary. And I’ll admit, I do get bored being an early retiree. My other hobbies didn’t work out, tried golf but was terrible at it. If it makes you happy I’ll take a leave from queerty and try knitting or something. Regardless you liberal homos will never be at peace as long as normal people (the majority) don’t live up to the left’s bizarre expectations. So good luck with that!
The Accidental Polemicist
jt1990:
I read what you write, as you have different opinion than most. Apparently, all those diversity-loving automatons don’t know or appreciate true diversity.
jt1990
That was hardly a scolding but whatever. And…take a lesson here left wingers…he gave them the OPTION to leave them on if they chose! I’m sure most of them were thanking them in their heads!
Desantis for President!
Bosch
A president that mocks responsible adolescents… That worked out SO WELL last time.
Brian
“Please take them off” is a ludicrous thing for a person to say to a bunch of strangers without even saying hello or asking their names. Ludicrous, illogical, rude….. Let’s be frank: he just wanted a better backdrop for his photo op.
cuteguy
Jt1990
Why are you on this site if you are obviously a GQP troll? Go back to a Faux News site. You are not welcome here. If you’re bored, do us all a favor and jump off a high ledge so we can all be in peace
The Accidental Polemicist
cuteguy:
…but, but, but I thought you were the party of inclusiveness, tolerance and DIVERSITY.
Apparently, NOT. ?
dario717
Governor Hissy Fit at it again.
Brian
Consider the context. These people live in small bedrooms with one or more other people. They share bathrooms with another 5 to 30 people. Each one of those students then separates to attend classes indoors with a different group of 20 to 200 people. After mixing all day, they return to their shared bedroom with a person who just mixed with a different group of 500 strangers. Each person’s “bubble” or “pod” is in the thousands.
If anyone should be wearing masks still, it’s the people who have high risk lives. Dorm kids are like those Navy members on submarines or those assembly line / food processing workers. They aren’t able to control their environment. The mask is an obviously useful strategy.
SamB
Brian: These are university students… basically adults. Usually healthy, young, and they are not at risk for serious illness. People in old age homes? Yes. Navy members? No. Younger people who are obese and have diabetes? Yes. It’s not where you are, it’s who you are.
Invader7
An example of why THINKING Floridians call Ron DEATHsantis !!! He wants people to die on his altar of political theater.. Another republican THUG !!! His opponents need to talk up his FAILED policies and what a threat he is to American FREEDOMS !!! Anybody who thinks/says otherwise is truly deluded and out of their mind(s) !!!
jt1990
Everyone I’ve talked to loves Desantis! And many are prefessionals and degree holders in their field. Where can I find these high and mighty “thinking” folks down here in Florida?
HenryCameron
So this incident happened the day after the State of the Union speech where hundreds of our elderly leaders gathered in a closed room with no social distancing and no masks.
The Accidental Polemicist
Yes, and they’ve all lived to see another day.