Appearing before a group of business leaders last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis warned about following a “woke” ideology, which he called “very dangerous” for the country. [The Cambridge Dictionary defines “wokeness” as “a state of being aware, especially of social problems such as racism and inequality.”]
“The minute you go into becoming more of a political actor than just simply a business actor, you know, guys like me got to treat you that way,” DeSantis said in wrapping up a 35-minute keynote address at the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Future of Florida Forum in Orlando.
As an example of corporate wokeness, he pointed to Major League Baseball moving the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta to Colorado because of controversial voting-law changes in Georgia. “Funny how karma works, because they’re now playing the World Series in Atlanta, but whatever,” DeSantis said. DeSantis added that Republicans have “strong negative feelings” about “corporate America.” He said the GOP in Washington, D.C. has turned on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has given support to numerous policy directives from the Biden administration.
“They (Republicans) see these big companies that are really kowtowing to a very elite ideology, an ideology that’s not reflective of the vast, vast majority of the country,” DeSantis said. “They’re responsive to the latest kind of online mob or whatever the corporate press is talking about at a given time. And they’ve really kind of contorted themselves into something that I think is just not sustainable.”
DeSantis last week called for holding a special legislative session in November to push back against the Biden administration on federal Covid-19 vaccination requirements for workers. Details and dates for the special session have not been set. Days before DeSantis called for the special session, proposals in Texas to block vaccination mandates failed after business groups objected.
–News Service of Florida
A.j says
Dems, please get out and vote. Please we have got to votecthis man out of office. A little more than a year from now but we got to get this man put of office. Let us get ready and break records voting the repubs out of office. C yall at the polls.
Bill Green says
This arrogant, despotic scoundrel continues to diminish democracy by making vile, vicious and direct threats when a business or personal political philosophies opposes his arbitrary and extreme-right beliefs. Blackmailing Florida’s businesses to either conform or pay his “price”, DeSantis’ approach is authoritarian and communistic and diminishes the fact that a capitalist system is controlled by market forces while a communist system is controlled by the government. By – in essence – extorting Florida businesses, our governor has taken another big step toward creating his communist state wherein he possesses all the power while the power of the people (and business) is eradicated.
Timothy Patrick Welch says
Good intentioned Federal programs have trapped many into lifelong poverty. Blockbuster movies have encouraged anti-family lifestyles. And both creating a wedge against traditional Christian values.
Wakeup, see the Light
Watching from the sidelines says
DeSantis is such a lunatic.
Jimbo99 says
Not sure exactly what this or even what DeSantis means by this really ? As long as employers/businesses are in compliance with Federal Laws how is that woke or not. The hardest part is proving any of it, usually management is all in on a decision anyway. Even when the county has a open application process, that field is narrowed and there are long shots and more likely candidates to be chosen.
Deborah Coffey says
DeSantis just threatened businesses. “…guys like me got to treat you that way.” How is this different from any other Fascist dictator? This is an extremely dangerous man that has killed tens of thousands of Floridians for his own political benefit. HE is the existential DANGER to the state and to the country.
The dude says
Starbucks says… “What???”…
Oh deathsantis… go back to what you’re best at, killing Floridians and sucking up to the cult of orange… you understand nothing about business.
David Schaefer says
DeathSantis stop with your B.S. Every word that comes out of your mouth is nothing but lies you sound more like Trumper Humper every day.
open your eyes says
The last democrat that ran against him was found in a well known drug motel with a gay prostitute and methed out of his mind.Your not serious are you?
Deborah Coffey says
The United States is not a theocracy. I’m a Christian but, I can’t reconcile any of my 73 years of devout Christian practice with today’s Republican Party…certainly not with the cruel, careless and corrupt Trump or the DeSantis trying to outdo him. To see the light, would not be to look to these two depraved human beings or any of the hatred being perpetrated on a daily basis by members and leaders of today’s Republican Party. “I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life.” Not found anywhere in today’s GOP.
A.j says
what you said about the other candidate is true. All Dem. candidates are not like that. DeSantis is still a bad Gov. just saying.
Mary Koonce says
Look at the last president..He was and is a PHYSCO
The dude says
Lets see… you got the little lawn troll Ed Stanko threatening local businesses, and now DeathSantis threatening ALL businesses…
Then Rubio declaring that the GQP should divorce themselves from big business.
Looks like “businesses” haven’t been meeting their weekly nut, er… ahhhh… posting up “donations” to the right folks.
joe says
As a fellow Christian, I say “Amen!” – the phony Christianity Republicans have pushed for a long time has done far more to hurt the name of Christ than any of the supposed “liberal” dangers they are continually fear-mongering about.
Wow says
He gets more and more bizarre.
Wow says
Maybe preach to the Trumpers selling t-shirts with profanity about the need for good “Christian” values.
Mary says
If you want to talk 1 bad apple let’s go with all Trumps Deplorables.