DeSantis: The Anti-vaxxer?

Not always…

In the beginning was the Vax

Florida has now joined the list of states that are ordering residents to remain in their homes for all but essential activities to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made the announcement at an afternoon briefing. It was just a few hours after he spoke to President Trump. DeSantis said he's issuing an executive order that will direct "all Floridians to limit movements and personal interactions outside the home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or essential activities."

Source: https://www.wprl.org/2020-04-01/florida-governor-orders-statewide-lockdown

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/YbjvG

The Florida Keys welcomed visitors for the first time in two months…

Roadblocks were taken down shortly after midnight near Key Largo, the northernmost island in the Florida chain, where almost half of all workers are employed by hotels, bars and other hospitality industries, and many of the rest are involved in commercial and sport fishing.

Yet the carefree, party atmosphere that surrounds the Keys and was popularized by singer Jimmy Buffet in songs like "Margaritaville" may not return for some time. The Monroe County Tourist Development Council made clear on its website that visitors must adhere to health guidelines.

The Keys have been relatively unscathed by the coronavirus. As of Sunday, the island chain had 100 confirmed cases, three deaths and 12 hospitalizations. The total population is just under 80,000.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-06-lockdowns-ease-florida-europe-tourism.html

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/YbjvG

Source: https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2020/12/14/desantis-welcomes-coronavirus-vaccine-to-tampa-today-we-will-have-shots-going-in-arms/

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/jOcfB

Source: https://flgov.com/2020/12/16/governor-ron-desantis-announces-distribution-plan-for-allocation-of-moderna-covid-19-vaccine/

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/Z1ovw

Source: https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/coronavirus/2020/12/22/gov--desantis-lays-out-next-phase-of-covid-vaccine-rollout

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Source: https://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2020/12/122920-2046-covid-vac.pr.html

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Source: https://www.flgov.com/2020/12/30/in-case-you-missed-it-governor-ron-desantis-provides-week-three-update-of-covid-19-vaccine-plan-and-affirms-floridas-commitment-to-prioritizing-seniors-65/

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/lCyFJ

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/564249-desantis-urges-public-to-get-vaccinated-these-shots-are-saving-lives/

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/C5NNY

The Post Millennial @TPostMillennial

Governor Ron DeSantis: If you are "fully vaccinated, the chance of you getting seriously ill or dying from COVID is effectively zero ... These vaccines are saving lives."

Source: https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/1418202607034634250

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/VGx5p

Source: https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2021/07/26/sellout-anti-vax-conservatives-come-for-desantis-1389008

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/xgAvr

Source: https://www.wfla.com/community/health/coronavirus/vaccines-are-saving-lives-desantis-stresses-importance-of-shots-as-florida-covid-cases-spike-criticizes-mask-mandates/

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/kf8LE

Source: https://floridapolitics.com/archives/442154-ron-desantis-says-vaccines-are-keeping-people-out-of-the-hospital/

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/w2iRa

Source: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W8kjQuOPQ3E&pp=ygUWRGVzYW50aXMgcHJpYXNlcyBmYXVjaQ%3D%3D

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/PzZ6n

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Shifting with the Political Winds

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/17/us/florida-coronavirus-covid-19.html

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/Ji5Qp

Source: https://floridaphoenix.com/2021/10/18/desantis-in-rhetorical-shift-de-emphasizes-promotion-of-covid-vaccines/

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/ypspj

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Election Time Politics: Clintonesque Triangulation

Source: https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2022/12/13/desantis-seeks-florida-grand-jury-investigation-of-covid-19-vaccines

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/h4MGU

Source: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/12/15/23509091/ron-desantis-trump-2024-president-covid-vaccine

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/QZvV0

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/18/politics/desantis-covid-policy-florida/index.html

Archive Copy: https://archive.ph/nkEcD

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Closing

As anyone can see, DeSantis was all-in on vaccines until the political winds began to shift. And like most in our Elitist Political Class, DeSantis morphed to match the view of his electorate. If that makes him a hero in your book, just know that many of us are vastly more cynical of his true motives.

DeSantis is almost literally in bed with Ken Griffin, a huge investor in Big Pharma and a huge Donor to DeSantis.