DeSantis Comments On Phone Call
As Vice President Kamala Harris was delivering her usual brand of vague rhetoric on "60 Minutes," Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made his presence felt on Sean Hannity's Fox News show with a different kind of message—one grounded in action, not political theater. DeSantis was there to talk about Florida's preparations for Hurricane Milton, a storm that’s shaping up to be a serious threat. Clearly frustrated, DeSantis didn't hold back in criticizing Harris’s attempts to politicize disaster relief efforts while failing to offer any real assistance.
Harris, in her interview, took a thinly veiled swipe at DeSantis, implying that he was playing "political games" by allegedly refusing to take her phone call about hurricane preparations. But as DeSantis pointed out, Harris has never once picked up the phone to call him during her entire tenure as Vice President, so why start now? He dismissed her comments as nothing more than a calculated political stunt, designed to score points rather than deliver results for those in the path of the storm.
Harris's words were lofty but hollow: "Moments of crisis, if nothing else, should really be the moment that anyone who calls themselves a leader says they're going to put politics aside and put the people first." Yet, as DeSantis aptly noted, it’s Harris herself who is injecting politics into the situation, turning what should be a unified effort into an opportunity for partisan posturing.
During his interview with Hannity, DeSantis made it crystal clear that Florida’s hurricane response strategy does not include Harris's interference. "We've been laser-focused on leveraging all resources available, including from the federal government, and I've been in touch with both FEMA and the president, as well as marshaling all of our state agencies, and working to support our local communities," he said. DeSantis's words underscored a stark reality: he's been doing the hard work, coordinating directly with President Biden and FEMA, making sure that every level of government is engaged in preparing for Hurricane Milton.
Tonight, I spoke with Sean Hannity about Florida’s preparedness for Hurricane Milton. pic.twitter.com/fqvkfwkkdI
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 8, 2024
Hannity pressed DeSantis on Harris's involvement, or lack thereof, and asked whether she had ever reached out to him before. DeSantis's response was unequivocal: "No!" He then elaborated, "She has no role in this process. I'm in contact with the president of the United States. I'm in contact with the FEMA director. Obviously, managing all our state agencies. We're supporting all our local governments." He laid bare Harris’s irrelevance in this matter, positioning her as an outsider trying to force her way into a situation she neither understands nor contributes to.
DeSantis didn’t shy away from pointing out that he has worked effectively with both the Trump and Biden administrations during previous storms, and contrasted their direct engagement with Harris's attempts to politicize this critical moment. "She's the first one who's trying to politicize the storm, and she's doing that just because of her campaign. She's trying to get some kind of an edge, she knows she doing poorly, and so she's playing these political games," he stated bluntly. "I don't have time for political games. I've got people whose lives are on the line."
This back-and-forth highlighted a stark contrast between DeSantis's no-nonsense, hands-on approach to leadership and Harris’s apparent need to play to the cameras. DeSantis framed her actions as not only ineffective but dangerously self-serving. His pointed question, "Why is she putting her campaign above the wellbeing of the people of Florida?" summed up his frustration and the frustration of many Floridians watching their Vice President try to turn their suffering into a campaign talking point.
DeSantis pulled no punches, driving home the idea that Harris, or "Slowbama," as he cheekily referred to her, lacks the policy expertise and crisis management skills that are desperately needed in moments like these. He emphasized that she’s more interested in making headlines than in making a difference. While Harris might talk about leadership, DeSantis lives it, leading from the front lines with a steady hand, ensuring that Florida is ready to face Hurricane Milton head-on.