As discussed on today’s Three Martini Lunch podcast, after this weekend’s DeSantis events in Iowa, Politico’s take-way was, “Trump puts DeSantis in a bind on 2020: Can he bring himself to say Trump lost?”
But if you read other sources about DeSantis in Iowa, you get a distinctly different message.
The Associated Press: “DeSantis in Iowa warns of GOP ‘culture of losing’ as weather sidelines Trump’s event in the state”
The New York Post: “Gov. Ron DeSantis takes veiled swipe at ‘loser’ Trump during Iowa event”
ABC News: “DeSantis in Iowa warns of GOP ‘culture of losing’ as weather sidelines Trump’s event in the state.”
Which figure does Politico think DeSantis was talking about? Which figure do they think embodies and promotes the “culture of losing” that so worries the Florida governor? Here’s a hint, look at how DeSantis made his argument: “Governing is not about entertaining. Governing is not about building a brand or talking on social media and virtue signaling… It’s ultimately about winning and producing results.”
Which figure do you know who sees government as entertainment, building his brand, and talking on social media?
Still can’t think of anyone? Okay, here’s more from DeSantis:
“We must reject the culture of losing that has impacted our party in recent years. The time for excuses is over. If we get distracted, if we focus the election on the past or on other side issues, then I think the Democrats are going to beat us again.”
Wouldn’t the word “again” be a clue as to how DeSantis thinks the 2020 presidential election ended?
Which figure do you know who’s a Republican who in recent years has offered a lot of excuses? Which figure wants to focus this election on the past?
Politico‘s article contends, “yet DeSantis himself has refused to say whether he thinks the 2020 election was rigged, dodging or deflecting questions about the outcome or complaining that he’s been asked about it “a hundred different times.”
Only in the minds of Politico‘s team could DeSantis decrying his rival as an embodiment of a “losing culture” count as a form of election result denial.