DeSantis's So-Called "Blueprint?" An "Extreme Agenda" Putting "The Wealthy and MAGA Base Ahead Of Working People" -- Fried

By Michael Moline, Florida Phoenix

February 28, 2023

With Gov. Ron DeSantis launching a series of public appearances around publication on Tuesday of his new political book, by all appearances preparatory to a presidential campaign launch, the freshly minted chair of the Florida Democratic Party issued a warning to the country.

DeSantis’ book is called “The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival,” but top Democrat Nikki Fried called that pitch a bait and switch.

“When we take a deeper look at DeSantis’ record, we can see what the real blueprint looks like. It’s an extreme agenda that puts wealthy special interests and the MAGA base ahead of everyday working people,” Fried said during a Zoom news conference.

“Over the last four years, DeSantis has used Florida as a petri dish for his extreme ideology that is out of step with the vast majority of Americans’ ideals and principles,” she said.

DeSantis’ nationwide tour opened this week with an interview on Fox News, where he frequently announces new initiatives.

Fried, whose single term as the statewide-elected commissioner of agriculture ended at the beginning of the year, was elected chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party over the weekend. Her job is to heal the party following its shellacking during last year’s election, when DeSantis won reelection by 19 points and the Republicans won supermajorities in the state House and Senate.

DeSantis is pitching himself as architect of the “free state of Florida,” citing his opposition to COVID restrictions and “woke” policies including promotion of racial diversity, while at the same time raising up “parental rights” to protect school children and college students against “indoctrination” regarding the country’s history of racial repression and LGBTQ rights.

Fried cast these initiatives as assertion of the governor’s control over his critics and accused him of engaging in right-wing politics while rising insurance and housing costs render Florida unaffordable for many Floridians. She also mentioned his support for abortion restrictions.

“DeSantis has taken away freedom and opportunity from everyone who doesn’t look and sound like him. This is the real blueprint that DeSantis has laid out — red meat to the MAGA base and policies that are hurting everyday working people,” Fried said.

“As Ron DeSantis continues to take Florida down a path that is the wrong path, the country cannot afford for him to even be considered as a presidential contender. If Ron DeSantis takes his Florida blueprint to the national stage, his results in Florida tell you everything you need to know about what will happen. Every-day, hard-working Americans are the ones who stand to lose with DeSantis’ agenda.”

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