Media, Democrats Race To Make Hurricane Ian All About DeSantis

As Hurricane Ian barreled toward Florida, some Democrats and members of the media appeared almost giddy at the prospect of Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) failing a high-profile test.

Florida emergency management teams were busy Tuesday warning residents to batten down the hatches and, if necessary, evacuate coastal areas ahead of the storm’s arrival. Meanwhile, Politico appeared to frame the hurricane as a test that would ultimately determine whether or not DeSantis deserved the level notoriety he has already achieved.

“Gov. Ron DeSantis spent his first term becoming one of the most influential Republicans in the country,” the outlet wrote. “But he still hasn’t faced one of the toughest challenges a Florida leader can encounter: a hurricane.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis spent his first term becoming one of the most influential Republicans in the country.

But he still hasn’t faced one of the toughest challenges a Florida leader can encounter: a hurricane.https://t.co/Ad4eIBbsSI

— POLITICO (@politico) September 27, 2022

The report cited former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Craig Fugate, who put the handling of a potentially lethal event in stark political terms.

“Fail a response: hard to get reelected, and your agenda stalls,” Fugate said. Do it well, though, and it “adds capital to your agenda, and it sets you up for higher office.”

“Fail a response: hard to get reelected, and your agenda stalls,” former @fema administrator Craig Fugate, who served as Bush’s emergency management director, said. Do well, though,and it “adds capital to your agenda, and sets you up for higher office.”https://t.co/Fc9FDVNmE4

— Matt Dixon (@Mdixon55) September 27, 2022

Reporters in the White House briefing room even framed questions as though they were expecting “challenges” with regard to cooperation between the the Biden administration and state officials in Florida.

Notice the media are laying the groundwork to attack DeSantis over #HurricaneIan. Here's a question to the head of FEMA from a McClatchy reporter: "Can you describe…the level of the communications w/state officials & has there been anything unusual or any challenges w/that?" pic.twitter.com/j8UV1LsTqR

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 27, 2022

Senator and former presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) appeared to suggest that electing Democrats in the approaching midterms would somehow help to curb future hurricanes.

“We just did something about climate change for the first time in decades,” Klobuchar said, apparently referencing the Inflation Reduction Act. “That’s why we’ve gotta win this as that hurricane bears down on Florida.”

Did Amy Klobuchar just suggest voting for Democrats will stop hurricanes?

"We just did something about climate change for the first time in decades. That's why [Democrats] have to win this as that hurricane bears down on Florida." pic.twitter.com/F9cDc7QAr9

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 27, 2022

But DeSantis Rapid Response Director Christina Pushaw was quick to fire back at the suggestions, noting that DeSantis had been on top of the state’s preparation and response to the threatening hurricane from the very beginning.

“Florida has some of the world’s best emergency management leadership and personnel,” Pushaw tweeted. “Governor DeSantis and his team are doing everything possible to ensure our state is prepared. Sorry to disappoint the liberal media activists who are constantly cheering for the destruction of Florida.”

“Setting aside the disgusting framing and premise of the article… This is false, @Mdixon55,” Pushaw continued, addressing Dixon directly. “Governor DeSantis did a briefing in Pinellas yesterday. He is getting ready for a briefing in Sarasota right now.”

Setting aside the disgusting framing and premise of the article… This is false, @Mdixon55. Governor DeSantis did a briefing in Pinellas yesterday. He is getting ready for a briefing in Sarasota right now. https://t.co/l2flMfVJGJ pic.twitter.com/cXlvvbOfUg

— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) September 27, 2022

To Klobuchar, she added, “Florida has experienced hurricanes throughout recorded history, before Democrats and Republicans existed. But the Party of Science will never miss an opportunity to play politics with a natural disaster. Gross and shameless.”

Florida has experienced hurricanes throughout recorded history, before Democrats and Republicans existed. But the Party of Science will never miss an opportunity to play politics with a natural disaster. Gross and shameless. https://t.co/TW5YFQBap9

— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) September 27, 2022

Rachel Vindman, wife of former President Donald Trump’s impeachment witness Alexander Vindman, used the hurricane to attack DeSantis apparently for his vocal opposition to the grooming of elementary school students and the passage of Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law — which opponents falsely labeled the “Don’t Say Gay” law.

“We should use they/them pronouns for Hurricane Ian to annoy DeSantis,” she tweeted.

I appreciate the danger of this storm which only serves to underscore the point that electing leaders who only divert their attention away from destroying systems [in order to score political points] to emergencies, isn’t helpful when there is a true crisis.

— Rachel Vindman 🇺🇸🦅🌻 (@natsechobbyist) September 27, 2022

After an hour of backlash for her tweet, Vindman attempted damage control: “I appreciated the danger of the storm which only serves to underscore the point that electing leaders who only divert their attention away from destroying systems [in order to score political points] to emergencies, isn’t helpful when there is a true crisis.”