Staff Reports
Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida and potential presidential candidate, is shaking things up with his new strategy. Instead of avoiding the mainstream press, DeSantis has decided to take them on directly. He recently had a newsmaking interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, and now he’s bringing back his adversarial press conferences.
Ron DeSantis Slams Adversarial Reporter Over Slavery Curriculum Controversy https://t.co/7sxZqS9Qsa
— Rosehead (@Rosehea92496012) July 27, 2023
One example of DeSantis’ confrontational approach was seen when he was asked about slavery in a recent press conference. He refused to give a direct answer to the media, instead challenging them on their knowledge of the curriculum. DeSantis pointed out that the curriculum clearly addresses the injustices of slavery and that anyone who had actually read it would know that Kamala Harris was lying about it.
JUST IN: DeSantis scathes reporter over asking if there were "beneficial aspects to slavery" being taught by new standards
"Have you read it? Have you read it? You haven't read – you haven't read it, so I'm just making that clear."
"[The standards] make it very clear about the… pic.twitter.com/VVg3CO7vC7
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) July 27, 2023
As a conservative, it’s refreshing to see DeSantis not backing down and standing up against the false narratives being pushed by the mainstream media. The media’s attack on Florida’s black history curriculum is manufactured outrage, and DeSantis is right to call it out. It’s clear that DeSantis is not afraid to take a stand and defend his positions, which is exactly what Republicans need in a presidential candidate.
While I have previously believed that Republicans should avoid the mainstream press, DeSantis’ strategy of confronting them head-on is starting to make sense to me. In order to stay in the news and appeal to primary voters, candidates need to find a way to stay relevant in a crowded field. Going on the offensive against the media is one way to do that, and DeSantis is doing it masterfully.
By engaging in public battles with the mainstream press, DeSantis is able to get his message out to the public while also positioning himself as a fighter who won’t back down. This strategy also works to his advantage because the media is a foil that Republicans already dislike. It’s a win-win for DeSantis, especially in the primary where he needs to appeal to conservative voters.
While some may argue that this strategy could alienate general election voters, politics is a game where all press is good press. As we saw with Donald Trump in 2016, being targeted by the media can actually work in a candidate’s favor. Winning the primary should be the first goal, and having someone like Kamala Harris on the other side of an argument only helps DeSantis gain support from conservative voters.
If DeSantis wants to make it to the Iowa caucuses and beyond, he needs to continue his adversarial interviews and focus on his early state-level operations. It’s also important for him to disengage from the online conflicts happening within the Republican party, as that game is rigged against him. DeSantis may be the underdog, but with his tough and confrontational approach, he has a real shot at securing the Republican nomination.
