If you've ever listened to the Ruthless podcast, the guys have a signature tag line, 'Don't take the bait'. I bought one of the tee shirts because i like to remind myself of it on Twitter occasionally. What it means, basically, is Republicans don't have to accept and play along with the insane or uncharitable premises the corporate press sets up for us. It's such good advice because if there is one thing the press likes to do, it is 'gotcha' a Republican and cause division in our ranks. This week, a group of Republicans slipped up and took the bait, hook, line and sinker.
It started with Kamala Harris, who claims to be very concerned about climate change, yet jumped on a private jet, and came down to Florida to complain about one line in the new African American History standards just rolled out.
Kamala Harris says Florida’s curriculum teaches students that slaves benefitted from slavery. The author of that curriculum, Dr. William Allen, disagrees. He joins Primetime and says the left is erasing the story of his slave ancestors. pic.twitter.com/8CQ9LBef4M
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) July 25, 2023
None of this was surprising because we expect Democrats to act like lying liars who lie. Republican pundits helpfully explained why Kamala was being disingenuous.
I read through FL’s new curriculum. It is difficult to convey the astonishing extent to which Kamala Harris is lying about it. To illustrate it, I've copied and pasted all 191 of its references to slavery, the slave trade, abolition, and civil rights. https://t.co/9eZnAqYCBV
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) July 21, 2023
Dr. William Allen, a member of Florida’s African American History Standards Workgroup, rips Harris’ “dishonest purpose.”
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) July 25, 2023
“This curriculum is devoted to telling the truth whereas Kamala Harris has retold a lie.” pic.twitter.com/FDh1upyB5l
One of the authors also came out and extrapolated on the meaning of the standard. I really thought that may end this ridiculous issue and we would move on to other topics. Oh, was I a naive summer child.
The new African-American standards in FL are good, robust, & accurate. That being said, the attempt to feature the personal benefits of slavery is wrong & needs to be adjusted. That obviously wasn't the goal & I have faith that FLDOE will correct this.https://t.co/muq8zi1p85
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) July 26, 2023
Sigh. A Republican took the bait. In an interview with a local station, Donalds echoed Kamala's criticism and that created a media firestorm.
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Any Republican who repeats Kamala Harris talking points loses huge amounts of credibility. Very disappointing to see from Byron Donalds. The curriculum briefly mentions that some slaves utilized skills after being freed. This is objectively true and “we shouldn’t teach it because… https://t.co/KrbgtBx9Ja
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) July 27, 2023
Matt Walsh and other pundits were having none of it. They decried Donalds lining up with Kamala and the saga continued.
What's crazy to me is I expressed support for the vast majority of the new African American history standards and happened to oppose one sentence that seemed to dignify the skills gained by slaves as a result of their enslavement.
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) July 27, 2023
Anyone who can't accurately interpret what I… https://t.co/b6hqaSJtlp
This is the problem with 'taking the bait'. You might think it's just a little nibble, but all of the sudden you have a mouth full of hook. My Daddy used to say 'even fish would be better off if they kept their mouths shut more'. He was addressing me, obviously, but the same applies to politicians, particularly of the Republican variety when speaking to unfriendly press.
As the direct descendent of a slave, I have a hard time understanding Governor DeSantis’ position that transferrable skills learned in bondage are somehow a net benefit. https://t.co/XNj5nkhEQP
— Wesley Hunt (@WesleyHuntTX) July 28, 2023
I was really hoping today would be the day this manufactured 'crisis' would run out, but this afternoon, Wesley Hunt, a Congressman from Texas, lodged his complaints with Florida's curriculum. He also echoed Kamala in his remarks and Twitter blew up.
Let’s hear from Dr. Allen, who helped craft Florida’s new African American history standards: https://t.co/gvX1ueMlmy pic.twitter.com/ZMybzsCFVm
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) July 28, 2023
The Press Secretary for Ron DeSantis shot back with an interview of Dr. Allen once again clarifying the meaning of the standard.
DeSantis never implied slavery was a net benefit and he didn’t even write the curriculum. This is a lie against DeSantis on two fronts. https://t.co/lUMpMcLnHH
— Chris Loesch (@ChrisLoesch) July 28, 2023
Apparently, God has a sense of humor, and driving me to my wits end in a week I found out I need a new air conditioner in Florida and it's 90 degrees, so this drama was just becoming the never ending story.
.@RonDeSantis, #1: slavery was not CTE! Nothing about that 400 years of evil was a “net benefit” to my ancestors. #2: there are only five black Republicans in Congress and you’re attacking two of them.
— John James (@JohnJamesMI) July 28, 2023
My brother in Christ… 🤦🏾♂️ if you find yourself in a deep hole put the shovel… https://t.co/9DGZw4BI0o
I wish I was joking when I tell you, my dear readers, ANOTHER Republican decided to pile on and decry Florida standards, joining forces with Kamala. Kamala hasn't had this much success in years. This time it was John James, Congressman from Michigan. When will Republicans learn the press will never love you? Stop trying to make them happy for the love of all that is good.
Lololololol Byron Donalds has already caved! Hahahahahahahaha pic.twitter.com/fGzF9G31RX
— Long Monkeypox (@podiatristdon) July 29, 2023
The reception for Hunt and James' tweets were received as poorly as Donalds from conservative tweeps and soon enough, Byron Donalds, mercifully, was backtracking.
Lololololol Byron Donalds has already caved! Hahahahahahahaha pic.twitter.com/fGzF9G31RX
— Long Monkeypox (@podiatristdon) July 29, 2023
Oh, and apparently both Hunt and James were using talking points with incorrect phrasing not even in the standard, so it exposed the whole plan.
Trump campaign mistakenly sent their surrogates the wrong phrase to tweet out (“net benefit”), which doesn’t even appear in the standards, only making the coordination more obvious. pic.twitter.com/l9bbtAYbAl
— AG (@AGHamilton29) July 28, 2023
What a long and winding web we weave. Now, listen, all three of these men are good men. They are good conservatives who mostly make great decisions and have beautiful families and love their country. This was just a miscalculation on their part. They took the bait. The Left is really good at making that bait look yummy and scrumptious. Wrong. What the Left is serving up is always rotten and rancid. Republicans aren't always going to agree and that's to be expected. We are not a party demanding lockstep group think. That would make us Leftists. The trick is keeping your party squabbles private and doing your best to solve things behind closed doors. Even during a rough primary where shooting inside the tent is expected, we have to draw the line at joining forces with the Left. Say it with me ... 'Don't Take the Bait.
