Disney has allowed itself to be bullied into a conflict with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. But Disney is fighting a losing battle, and DeSantis is once again going to emerge in a stronger position than when he started.
Florida Democrats, along with gay and transgender activists, hounded Disney into weighing in on Florida’s parental rights bill. Now, the multibillion-dollar corporation that built itself on children’s entertainment has to argue in favor of teaching children about sexual orientation between kindergarten and third grade.
It’s a losing battle, even among Florida Democrats. While the state’s Democratic politicians gnash their teeth over the misleadingly labeled “Don’t Say Gay” bill, their constituents actually support it: 52% of Florida Democratic primary voters oppose teaching young students about sexual orientation, with just 36% approving. It’s a commonsense position everywhere except on Twitter, as activists and politicians use the platform to put pressure on Disney reside.
Now that Disney has stepped into the ring, DeSantis gets to go on the offensive.
“If we would’ve put in the bill that you are not allowed to have curriculum that discussed the oppression of the Uyghurs in China, Disney would’ve endorsed that in a second,” DeSantis said.
Disney’s weak position is bad enough: The company’s reputation when it comes to pandering to China’s genocidal regime makes it an easy opponent.
Florida has become a target for national liberal activists and legacy media since their chosen candidate, Democratic Andrew Gillum, was narrowly defeated by DeSantis in 2018. Since then, DeSantis has only strengthened his position, as weak partisan attack after weak partisan attack was repelled. COVID-19 only amplified the attacks, as DeSantis defied the “experts” to keep much of Florida open and keep children in schools.
Liberal activists threw everything they had at DeSantis during COVID-19. CNN and other media outlets propped up grifters, such as faux whistleblower Rebekah Jones and the guy who dressed up in a grim reaper costume to protest beaches being open. CBS News and NBC News both went after DeSantis for prioritizing vaccinations for the elderly, who were most at risk of COVID-19.
Now, DeSantis’s approval on COVID-19 in Florida is +22, with nearly 59% of Floridians approving, according to a poll from the Saint Leo University Polling Institute. The closest of his Democratic challengers, GOP turncoat Charlie Crist, is running 17 points behind him.
Given the early polling and Disney’s track record of appeasing China, this is yet another political battle that lines up in DeSantis’s favor. Activists and Democratic politicians have dragged Disney into another round of weak, outlandish partisan attacks. DeSantis, and the Florida GOP, will come out stronger as a result.
