Speaker Paul Renner defends DeSantis following criticism on lack of ‘action’ on Jewish issues
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A day after Jewish lawmaker Rep. Randy Fine, R-Melbourne Beach, criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis for his lack of “action” on Jewish issues, House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, came to DeSantis’ defense.
“There’s never been a more staunch, pro-Israel Governor than Ron DeSantis, and his record proves it,” Renner said.
Renner said the “rhetoric suggesting otherwise is wrong.”
There’s never been a more staunch, pro-Israel Governor than Ron DeSantis, and his record proves it.
— Paul Renner (@Paul_Renner) October 25, 2023
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“Just ask any of the hundreds of Americans who made it home on flights organized by the Governor when President Biden failed to bring them home to safety,” he continued.
Renner said there is “no stronger candidate for President on these critical issues than Ron DeSantis.”
Earlier in the week, Fine announced he has flipped his 2024 presidential endorsement from DeSantis to Trump, claiming the governor “said almost nothing” with regards to alleged antisemitic incidents in Florida.
Fine wrote an article that was published in the Washington Times Monday, saying “every piece of legislation you hear him talk about regarding Jewish issues is one I wrote.”
“I love his words. His actions have broken my heart,” Fine said.
Fine said the past two weeks have made him realize “our choice as Jews is simple.”
“We can vote for the Governor who says all the right things, or we can vote for the President who actually does them. When it comes to action, Donald Trump has never let us down,” Fine wrote.
Fine said he helped fund a state Holocaust memorial before DeSantis got elected, but five years later, they “haven’t broken ground.”
“Governor DeSantis has taken longer to commemorate the deaths of six million Jews than it took the Allies to stop the deaths of six million more,” Fine said.
In response to Fine’s claims, the DeSantis campaign said the governor has led the charge to support Israel.
On Tuesday, DeSantis and State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues ordered universities to dismantle various student chapters that have been aligned with support for “Hamas terrorism” after deadly attacks on Jews in Israel, according to a letter obtained by Florida’s Voice.
Fine responded to the news and said, “Why did it take me endorsing @realDonaldTrump to get you to take action?”
“I gave you all of this on October 9th. I have the texts. All I got back was a bunch of handwringing. While I am glad it is happening now, it is sad that you couldn’t do the right thing because it was the right thing and only did it to minimize the political fallout of today’s events,” Fine said.
Why did it take me endorsing @realDonaldTrump to get you to take action? I gave you all of this on October 9th. I have the texts. All I got back was a bunch of handwringing. While I am glad it is happening now, it is sad that you couldn’t do the right thing because it was… https://t.co/xLbO0HkCwl
— Rep. Randy Fine (@VoteRandyFine) October 24, 2023
Earlier in the month, Fine sent a letter to DeSantis, calling for the use of new laws as protests supporting Hamas’ actions on Israel take place at Florida colleges and universities.
“Any student participating in the rallies of these organizations must be treated like a student screaming the n-word and calling for Black students to be lynched. They would be expelled,” the letter said.
