If we didn’t know any better, we’d think Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis just signed a voter suppression bill.
We do know better, as it happens. But those who rely on the MSM for the facts … do not.
As we mentioned earlier, DeSantis barred media outlets — except for Fox News — from live coverage of his signing of SB 90.
NEW: News media is barred from entry at Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signing of controversial elections bill, SB 90. DeSantis spokeswoman Taryn Fenske says bill signing is a “Fox exclusive” pic.twitter.com/NAos6kmtQS
— Steve Bousquet (@stevebousquet) May 6, 2021
why would Ron DeSantis do this? https://t.co/E1dsZf8P8O
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) May 6, 2021
DeSantis has handled the press pretty well, dunking on them quite a bit. odd move to freeze out the rest of the press and give Fox an exclusive to *squints* a bill signing
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) May 6, 2021
It’s not so odd when you consider what DeSantis has to put up with:
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) just signed the state's new restrictive voting bill live on Fox News (after barring local press from the bill's signing). pic.twitter.com/hR2ZXooABy
— The Recount (@therecount) May 6, 2021
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) May 6, 2021
DeSantis’ frustration seems more understandable now, doesn’t it?
One of the best tricks Dems ever pulled is getting people to believe any improvements to election laws = restrictions https://t.co/6A9uBZmbJf
— Jesse Hunt (@JJHunt10) May 6, 2021
Needless to say, The Recount is hardly the only outlet pushing this particular spin, as veteran Republican communications strategist Matt Whitlock notes:
Here we go again.
Before you write a story about the Florida law’s “sweeping restrictions” or “reducing voter access” please take a look at the specifics of the bill.
Democrats want to make basic safeguards that have existed for decades toxic. Don’t help them gaslight. pic.twitter.com/IFo5YzFbZH
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) May 6, 2021
Looks like it’s up to Whitlock to do the media’s job for them:
All of these stories argue that the bill “restricts” mail-in voting.
That’s crap.
✅ It requires voters to request a mail ballot (not hard)
✅ It requires voters use an ID to request ballots (overwhelmingly popular in every poll you’ll ever see) https://t.co/kdRoBkdqur
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) May 6, 2021
States that added special drop boxes for COVID are trying to figure out how to standardize them.
Contrary to the Brennan Center’s lies (below) FL will still have drop boxes, but they’ll have security and be in monitored locations. pic.twitter.com/EceLR8kcX5
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) May 6, 2021
Ballot harvesting!
Media is accepting the left’s argument that preventing paid political operatives from collecting ballots (unsupervised) is voter suppression.
It’s not. Ballot harvesting (trafficking) is wildly unpopular and FL was smart to limit ithttps://t.co/XjGnakAfTB pic.twitter.com/kYg4BHWlC2
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) May 6, 2021
Blows me away to see media uncritically repeat Dem lies that poll watchers (a safeguard that’s existed for decades) somehow intimidate voters.
Here’s a good fact-check from @Heritage_Action https://t.co/kdRoBkv1lZ pic.twitter.com/XwEA2KQCDM
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) May 6, 2021
And of course a greatest hit!
After media overwhelmingly botched the Georgia provision on electioneering (and campaigns not handing out food and water) Axios tied Florida’s broad anti-electioneering provision… to food and water.
This provision is NOT controversial at all. pic.twitter.com/0pFq03hDzX
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) May 6, 2021
Disgraced Democrat lawyers have already begun filing their (incredibly thin) lawsuits, focused on misrepresenting these provisions.
✅ Drop box changes
✅ Requiring a request for mail ballots
✅ Limiting ballot harvesting
✅ “Food and water ban”https://t.co/cbA0yWhebb pic.twitter.com/18gvZqltAx— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) May 6, 2021
Here the Washington Post follows Biden and Stacey Abrams’ lead invoking Jim Crow in an incredible reach.
I have to imagine there’s some kind of reward out there for finding a way to tie Jim Crow in, because the stretch here (in a NEWS story) is quite something. pic.twitter.com/qSlJcY85tb
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) May 6, 2021
The media are certainly behaving like they have a vested interest in pushing a false narrative.
The media is lying to you…again. https://t.co/EmWse3pI0y
— The First (@TheFirstonTV) May 6, 2021
Pot committed to the narrative. facts be damned. https://t.co/KnuG5cPOiF
— Josh Holmes (@HolmesJosh) May 6, 2021