Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist described Gov. Ron DeSantis as a threat to the state's economy because of his war with Disney.
The Democrat, a current member of Congress who is seeking a second nonconsecutive term as governor, took aim at his 2022 rival in a tweet sharing an interview with the Orlando Sentinel about him defending the entertainment company from the governor's now-successful push to dissolve Walt Disney World’s private government with significant tax implications.
"Attacking Disney, threatening to harm our state’s economic powerhouse that creates so many jobs and brings in so many tourism dollars is a boneheaded move however you look at it. Ron’s a threat to our state’s economy and he’s gotta go in November," Crist said.
After Disney came out against the state's recently passed parental rights bill, DeSantis called on the GOP-controlled state legislature to reconsider Disney's Florida resort’s de facto self-government status, a call to action lawmakers heeded. DeSantis signed the bill on Friday.
DISNEY CHOSE WAR WITH GOP ON BEHALF OF A PARTY THAT HATES IT
Disney is being "punished for defying this governor and not living up to what he wanted them to do, to support this law that was so offensive to so many in our state," Crist told the Orlando Sentinel.
What’s wrong with Ron DeSantis?
— Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) April 21, 2022
He berated kids for wearing masks.
He passed the strictest abortion ban in state history.
He banned math textbooks.
And now, he's attacking Disney???
He needs to go! Can you chip in $7 to help us defeat him in November? https://t.co/DxWQhLVnak
"That's wanting to be the king of Florida," Crist said. "Well, he's not."
The proposal would not only revoke the special status of Reedy Creek, where the Disney World resort is located, but also of six other districts that are deemed as being unconstitutional because they were established in 1968 before the Florida Constitution was approved. The White House has criticized the move.
"Our view of this is that the 'Don't Say Gay' bill is really crystal clear — it's wrong," White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday, using the critics' preferred moniker for the Parental Rights in Education bill. "That's our view. It is just wrong. We oppose the governor taking legal action against a company because of their opposition to that bill."
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Crist, who announced that he was running for governor on May 4, was endorsed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Crist for a statement but did not receive a response back.