DeSantis Goes Full Anti-Vax Ahead Of 2024 Primary With Trump | The Next Level

TL;DR

Ron DeSantis is framing criticism of COVID-19 authorities and vaccines as a way to appeal to anti-vaccine Republican primary voters and create a wedge with Trump. The speakers argue that his “just asking questions” posture could work in a primary, even though DeSantis was vaccinated, but question whether COVID debates will still motivate voters in September 2024. Read on for their arguments about why the strategy may succeed or fail.

Transcript

you could do the the the soapbox right you know him in Florida campaign of like oh these CDC these Elite like you know pencil pushers want to tell us what to do and their recommendations were wrong and they were overly you know uh uh you know their mask recommendations like didn't meet what the actual science was and I you know we should have more ... Read More

Key Insights

• ⚾ DeSantis' targeting of the anti-vaxxer crowd is a strategic move to gain support from a specific voter base.
• 🧘 By criticizing the CDC and FDA, DeSantis attempts to position himself as a challenger to the Democratic approach to education and COVID-19 policies.
• ❓ DeSantis' use of the "just asking questions" tactic is seen as evasive and undermines the seriousness of the pandemic.
• 🇨🇫 The effectiveness of DeSantis' strategy remains uncertain, as public opinion may shift towards other issues in the upcoming years.
• 🧑‍⚕️ The debate surrounding COVID-19 and public health policies is becoming less significant for the average voter, who accepts the effectiveness of vaccines.
• 😀 DeSantis' approach may work in the primary elections but could face challenges in the general election.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is Ron DeSantis criticizing COVID-19 vaccines and public health authorities ahead of the 2024 primary?

The speakers describe it as a deliberate effort to reach anti-vaccine voters associated with the “Candace Owens crowd.” They argue that these voters are unhappy with Trump over vaccines, giving DeSantis a potential wedge against him in the Republican primary.

Q: How could DeSantis’s position create a wedge with Trump?

The discussion says some anti-vaccine voters are dissatisfied with Trump over vaccines. By making vaccine criticism explicit, DeSantis can appeal to those voters and distinguish himself from Trump during the primary.

Q: Why might DeSantis’s strategy work in a Republican primary?

The speakers believe a significant part of the Republican base values political fighting above specific policy positions. They say COVID and vaccine criticism matters to these primary voters and offers DeSantis an easy line of attack against Trump.

Q: What does the “just asking questions” tactic mean in this discussion?

It means presenting provocative claims as open scientific questions instead of taking responsibility for a firm position. The speakers cite Ladapo’s response to criticism of his study, in which he celebrated the discussion it stimulated rather than directly defending the study’s conclusions.

Q: Why do the speakers call DeSantis’s position inconsistent?

They note that DeSantis was vaccinated while publicly courting voters who oppose vaccines. They also point to his refusal to answer a question about his vaccination status and contrast his rhetoric with his family’s use of established medical care.

Q: What legitimate criticisms of the COVID-19 response do the speakers acknowledge?

They mention changing mask recommendations, prolonged use of cloth masks, children being kept out of schools, and resulting mental-health and learning problems. They also say vaccines were initially oversold because vaccinated people could still get COVID and needed boosters, although vaccination helped prevent death.

Q: Why might the anti-vaccine message fail with broader voters?

The speakers say many ordinary voters believe the vaccines were beneficial. They also question whether voters will still care about past COVID disputes in September 2024, when fall COVID boosters and flu boosters may simply be part of normal life.

Q: How do the speakers assess the overall political gamble for DeSantis?

They largely agree that the message could work with Republican primary voters. Its broader value is less certain because DeSantis’s personal vaccination may make the appeal look like pandering, and COVID policy may no longer be a decisive issue by the 2024 debates.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• DeSantis is appealing to the anti-vaxxer crowd by criticizing the CDC and FDA's vaccine recommendations, despite having been vaccinated himself.

• He is using the tactic of "just asking questions" to avoid taking responsibility for his statements and actions.

• DeSantis is attempting to position himself as a challenger to the Democratic approach to education and COVID-19 policies.