DeSantis’ Office Hits Back at Newsom Over Claims GOP Bans Books, Limits Speech
TALLAHASSEEE (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary Bryan Griffin rebuked California Gov. Gavin Newsom for a tweet claiming Republicans’ version of “freedom” includes banning books, limiting speech, living in fear of gun violence, and taking away healthcare decisions.
Griffin replied: “Whose version?” citing four reports, each indicating California is grappling with the issues Newsom implanted on Republican policies.
On banning books, Griffin noted a Newsweek report saying California schools banned famous novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ among others,’ over “racism concerns.”
“Schools in Burbank will no longer be able to teach a handful of classic novels, including Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, following concerns raised by parents over racism,” they report. Other major books affected include Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Theodore Taylor’s The Cay and Mildred D. Taylor’s Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.
Books like To Kill a Mockingbird are not banned in Florida, AP’s fact checkers found.
On limiting speech, he cited the instance where California approved a bill to punish doctors who “spread false information,” per the New York Times.
“California’s Legislature on Monday approved a bill that would allow regulators to punish doctors for spreading false information about Covid-19 vaccinations and treatments […] The law would designate spreading false or misleading medical information to patients as ‘unprofessional conduct,’ subject to punishment by the agency that licenses doctors, the Medical Board of California. That could include suspending or revoking a doctor’s license to practice medicine in the state,” they said.
Florida does not punish doctors for giving medical opinions that might advise against COVID-19 vaccination.
On living in fear of gun violence, Griffin noted a Los Angeles Times report saying gun violence in the city has reached a “15-year high,” “taking lives and erasing hard-fought gains.”
“The city has seen nearly 400 killings at the end of 2021, a staggering loss of progress in reducing such violence over the last 15 years. As of Dec. 29, there had been 392 homicides — the most of any year since 2007,” the Times said.
A CDC report found gun deaths have increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. They find California has a lower gun death rate than Florida, adjusted for age.
On taking away healthcare decisions, the press secretary pointed to Newsom’s October 2021 announcement of being the “first state in the nation” to require COVID-19 vaccines in schools, taking away healthcare decisions from Californians on whether to receive the vaccine.
Florida has no such mandate, and the state Department of Health under Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo advises against the vaccines for various age groups.
