The New York Occasions is determined to tarnish Gov. Ron DeSantis’ spectacular COVID file, however a monster “report” it ran this weekend meant to do this by chance wound up highlighting his success as a substitute.
The paper dispatched three separate reporters to spend “weeks,” it stated, poring over COVID information for the greater than 4,000-word opus.
Clearly, it sees the gov as a looming menace to Democrats’ probabilities of holding the White Home.
(The paper would really like nothing greater than for President Donald Trump to win the GOP nomination, to present Biden one of the best shot at preserving his job.)
But strip out the piece’s lame anti-DeSantis snipes and also you’re left with a surprising reality: General, [Florida’s] dying fee through the pandemic, adjusted for age, ended up higher than the nationwide common, the Occasions itself admits.
It additionally credit the gov with having “moved shortly to get college students again within the classroom,” acknowledging that analysis exhibits “there was much less studying loss at school districts with extra in-person instruction.”
And although it faults DeSantis for lifting lockdown orders — claiming, with out proof, they might’ve saved lives — it glosses over the truth that Florida’s economic system recovered quicker than most different states.
(Regardless of the paper’s rabid love of lockdowns, proof exhibits that in hindsight, they really did huge harm.)
So not solely did the Sunshine State see decrease COVID dying charges; it additionally fared higher economically — and its children suffered much less studying loss. There’s a cause (or three) lots of of 1000’s of individuals from locations like New York fled to Florida throughout COVID.
Speak about a smear-job backfiring!
The Occasions’ greatest gripe: DeSantis’ enthusiasm for vaccines ultimately pale.
But what wise American didn’t bitter on them, a minimum of considerably, after it turned clear they have been oversold?
- They did not cease infections or the virus’ unfold.
- They have been not completely vital for the overwhelming majority of very younger youngsters.
- They got here with (admittedly small) dangers that vax-pushers fully dismissed.
General, vaccines proved extraordinarily precious. But what DeSantis principally objected to wasn’t the vax however the mandates to get it: Because the Occasions notes, he fought early on to get aged folks (essentially the most in danger) jabbed shortly, ordering officers to “get these numbers up.”
The paper additionally faults the governor for slamming its high COVID gods, like Dr. Anthony Fauci.
But these “consultants” did deliberately mislead the general public — on every thing from masks to the vaccine to the virus’ origins.
The Occasions might imagine it delivered a blow to DeSantis’ COVID bona fides, but when it retains working “assaults” on him like this one, it’s liable to make him president.
