DeSantis DOMINATES in Red State-Blue State Governors Debate With Newsom [Video]

Paula Bolyard-Opinion : Dec 1, 2023
PJ Media

...The debate turned to gun violence. Newsom, who lies easily and without compunction, accused DeSantis of making it easier for felons to buy firearms. DeSantis called him out on the lie, noting that there's a federal ban on felons buying guns, and turned the debate to crime statistics in California, including essentially legalizing shoplifting.

[PJMedia.com] I was not among those who said a debate between the governors of Florida and California—Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom, respectively—was a bad idea. I'd actually like to see more debates—more good debates, that is, not the bread-and-circus shows we've seen on network and cable television in recent years. If it were up to me, we'd switch to a Lincoln-Douglas debate format. Back then, there weren't TV executives rigging the debates to ensure maximum eyeballs, profits, and mud-slinging. They're designed to make money, not reveal what the candidates would do if they were elected. (Screengrab image)

This brings us to [Thursday night's] Red State/Blue State debate in Alpharetta, GA, moderated by Sean Hannity on Fox News.

Hannity promised at the beginning of the debate that he would not tip the scales in favor of one candidate, but the questions he asked and the graphics he displayed definitely favored DeSantis. He debated Newsom several times, which I wish he hadn't done. DeSantis proved more than capable of handling Newsom on his own. In fact, he wiped the floor with Newsom, who wouldn't know a truthful statement if it hit him in the head. Over and over again, the Florida governor used facts to back up his claims and called out Newsom for saying things that were not true.

The first question was about net migration from California to Florida. DeSantis explained why people are leaving and coming to Florida. "You almost have to try to mess California up," he quipped.

When it was Newsom's turn to answer, he completely ignored the question and rambled about all the great things California has, like Silicon Valley (which no doubt carts a truckload of cash over to Newsom's campaign every other month).

Hannity tried a second time to get Newsom to answer the question. Newsom claimed that more people have moved from Florida to California over the last two years, which contradicted the graphic Hannity posted from the Census Bureau.

DeSantis called Newsom "slick and slippery."

Click Here to watch video clips of the debate

California has "failed because of his leftist ideology," he added. "We must choose freedom over failure."

On taxes, Newsom claimed that low-wage people pay more in taxes in Florida

"That's just not true," DeSanits shot back, citing the gas tax and forced electric vehicles. "How many people are able to afford groceries now compared to two years ago?" he asked, echoing a question then-presidential candidate Ronald Reagan asked Jimmy Carter in the 1980 debate.

On Covid, Newsom accused DeSantis of falling "prey to the right-wing fringe."

"Tens of thousands of people lost their lives, and for what, Ron?" he charged.

"That's not true," DeSantis responded, shaking his head. "Don't lie about it. He [Hannity] put the [CDC] graphic up there."

Newsom replied, "You were lockdown governor."

How DeSantiis resisted rolling his eyes, I do not know.

Here was one special moment in the debate. The look on Newsom's face is precious.

Newsom "had the kids locked out of school because of the teachers' union. That is generational damage," said DeSantis. "You should apologize for not getting kids in school. Why didn't you get the kids back to school like we did?"

"It's deja vous all over again with that flurry of lies," he added.

"You're trying to out-Trump Trump. How's that going for you, Ron? You're down 41 points in your own state!" said Newsom, who several times in the debate accused his opponent of being mean to people.

The debate turned to gun violence. Newsom, who lies easily and without compunction, accused DeSantis of making it easier for felons to buy firearms.

DeSantis called him out on the lie, noting that there's a federal ban on felons buying guns, and turned the debate to crime statistics in California, including essentially legalizing shoplifting.

On the education issue, DeSantis pulled out a page from a book available to schoolchildren in California, saying that he had to black out the photos because they wouldn't be allowed on TV.

"The role of schools is to educate kids, not indoctrinate kids," he declared.

Newsom yapped about "banned books," claiming that DeSantis is on a "book-banning binge" in Florida. He listed several books that he claims have been banned in Florida schools. DeSantis responded, "Not banned" after every title.

"Not banned. Not banned. Not banned. False narrative," he said.

Newsom accused him of conducting a cultural purge. "I don't like the way you demean people. I don't like the way you demean the LGBT community."

He called the parents' rights movement a "ginned-up, made-up issue to divide this country" and "the weaponization of grievance." That's a serious case of the pot calling the kettle black.

"He's been telling a lot of whoppers tonight. This may be the biggest," DeSantis declared... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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