There’s an old political adage that says when you’re over a target you get more flak, i.e.- you’re doing a good job when you’re getting criticized by the right people.
That’s why it is so strange that some Republicans run for cover when the New York Times or the Washington Post hits them. That should tell them to carry on, that they’re on the right track. Basic logic says if your opponents don’t like what you’re doing, keep doing it.
One Republican who has not fallen prey to this is Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida. Aside from his many other attributes, the Navy SEAL veteran has guts.
DeSantis Press Secretary Christina Pushaw did some minor work to help the country of Georgia and its former president Miikheil Saakashvili. That nation was the victim of a Russian invasion in 2008 and is a close ally of Ukraine. Her work was on a volunteer basis, mostly coordinating contacts, and she was reimbursed for expenses. Pretty altruistic stuff. In my day in PR I would have charged them within an inch of their life. Pushaw is much less avaricious than I am.
I’ll let her attorney take it here, “The work ended in 2020. Ms. Pushaw was notified recently by the DOJ that her work on behalf of Mr. Saakashvili likely required FARA registration. Ms. Pushaw filed for the registration retroactively as soon as she was made aware,” a statement concluded. A FARA registration is registering as an agent of a foreign government. Hardly. It was volunteer work. Everything was public and above board.
The situation came to the attention of the Washington Post and they made her out to be, by withholding facts and engaging in a personal smear, some kind of Mata Hari. DeSantis was not going to take it.
“I am not deterred by any smear piece by these legacy media outlets. The only reason they’re attacking her is because she does a great job and she’s very effective at calling out their lies and their phony narratives,” he said.
He continued, “Whenever they’re smearing somebody, you know that person is over the target and they’re scared of them. I would be much more concerned with my press secretary if the Washington Post was writing puff pieces about her. Then I would think something was wrong.”
“I think what we need to understand is that these legacy D.C. and New York outlets – we don’t care what you think anymore. We know you peddle narratives. We know you lie. We know you don’t care about the facts. And so you can try to smear me or anyone in my administration all you want to. All that’s going to do is embolden us to continue moving forward for the people in Florida,” DeSantis said.
Oh, hell yes. It’s time Republicans and conservatives stopping playing into the narratives of the left by cowering every time they get a whiff of grapeshot. In this, as in so many other areas, DeSantis leads the way and, God willing and the Creek don’t rise, will make a great president in 2025.