DeSantis PAC: Florida Outlet Is “Backed By Groomers”

Florida Politics reports:

The super PAC supporting Ron DeSantis attacked Florida Politics as a media outlet being “backed by groomers.” The reasoning? Publisher Peter Schorsch posted pictures from aboard a Disney cruise. Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting DeSantis’ presidential ambitions, leveled its attack on Twitter.

A volley of criticism started after Never Back Down shared a clip of DeSantis’ Friday speech at the Faith & Freedom Coalition conference in Washington. DeSantis raised his recent legal fights with “woke Disney,” and tossed a barb at rivals for the GOP presidential nomination who criticized the Governor for the feud.

“To quote the immortal words of philosopher Ron Burgundy, ‘That escalated quickly,’” Schorsch said. “But, seriously, given the libelous tone of the super PAC’s comments, I am exploring my legal options. Lord knows, Jeff Roe has the money.” Roe is the political consultant running Never Back Down.

Read the full article.

Per Florida Politics, the “groomers” slur was first popularized by viciously anti-LGBTQ former DeSantis administration spox Christina Pushaw, a registered foreign agent for the nation of Georgia and his current “rapid response” campaign director. Pushaw began pushing the term early last year during the start of the “Don’t Say Gay” campaign.

We get it, you’re bought and paid for by the groomers and Trump. https://t.co/8hiEpEuwoI

— Never Back Down (@NvrBackDown24) June 23, 2023

A presidential super pac accusing someone of being backed by “groomers” for taking a Disney cruise is where things are https://t.co/U5C5Ow1gPJ

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 23, 2023