DeSantis rebukes ‘D.C. Republican’ Tim Scott on African American history standards
ANKENY, Iowa (FLV) – As Gov. Ron DeSantis continued his bus tour across Iowa with super PAC Never Back Down, he responded to comments from presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., over Florida’s new African American history standards.
Controversy has been drummed up, large awareness having been drawn by Vice President Kamala Harris, over new standards that would teach “how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”
“As a country founded upon freedom, the greatest deprivation of freedom was slavery. There is no silver lining in slavery,” Scott said.
“What slavery was really about was separating families, about mutilating humans and even raping their wives. It was just devastating,” he added. “I would hope that every person in our country — and certainly running for president — would appreciate that. People have bad days. Sometimes they regret what they say. And we should ask them again to clarify their positions.”
DeSantis pushed back, saying comments like Scott’s are “part of the reason our country has struggled.”
“D.C. Republicans all too often accept false narratives,” the governor said. “[They] accept lies that are perpetrated by the left.”
“And to, you know, accept the lie that Kamala Harris has been perpetrating even when that has been debunked… that’s not the way you do it,” he continued.
“The way you do it [is] to fight back against the lies… is to speak the truth. So, I’m here, defending my state of Florida against false accusations and against lies,” DeSantis said. “We’re going to continue to speak the truth.”
DeSantis officials recently scuffled with Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds over the standards, who also took issue with the term “benefit” being used with slavery.
“Supposed conservatives in the federal government are pushing the same false narrative that originated from the @WhiteHouse,” DeSantis press secretary Jeremy Redfern said. “Florida isn’t going to hide the truth for political convenience.”
“Anyone who can’t accurately interpret what I said is disingenuous and is desperately attempting to score political points,” Donalds replied. “Just another reason why l’m proud to have endorsed President Donald J. Trump!”
While in Iowa, DeSantis scathed a reporter over the standards, repeating asking, “Have you read it?”
“Have you read it? Have you read it? You haven’t read – you haven’t read it, so I’m just making that clear,” DeSantis fired at the reporter.
“[The standards] make it very clear about the injustices of slavery in vivid detail […] [Provision about slaves developing skills] was in spite of slavery – not because of. The AP course has made that same point.”
