Ron DeSantis speculated that Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris as his vice president because she was the “best impeachment insurance” and claimed no one would choose her over the current president.
During a campaign halt in South Carolina on Thursday, the Florida governor said he wasn’t worried about winning the Republican nomination in such a crowded campaign because he was intent on winning it.
Just because Harris is a bad candidate for president, DeSantis doesn’t mean that Biden is much better.
“If we screw this up and Biden gets back in — hell, you might even end up with Kamala as president,” DeSantis said when a viewer from Augusta, South Carolina asked if he was worried about winning the primary.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed President Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris as his vice president because she was the “best insurance” against impeachment against him and her appointment as chief executive
“No matter what he does, no one wants Kamala,” DeSantis claimed as an argument for why Biden is never charged
“You know, when he picked her to be vice president, a lot of people were like, ‘Oh my God, why did he do that?’ Because I mean, she obviously has issues,” the governor continued. “But you know, I kind of understand why he did that, because it’s the best impeachment insurance money can buy.”
“No matter what he does, no one wants Kamala,” he said while those in attendance giggled. “So that’s kind of where we’re at.”
Some far-right parliaments have instituted impeachment procedures to remove President Biden from office — but the rest of Congress hasn’t paid much attention to any of them.
DeSantis also said in his speech at the beginning of Thursday’s event that he would lay off half the federal government’s workforce to “clean up” corruption. He then answered questions from voters during a campaign stop in South Carolina after reporters criticized him for not doing so.
A voter and military veteran named Debbie told DeSantis she was concerned he might not win the nomination because a crowded ballot box could divide voters and lead to another Trump general election.
But DeSantis says he doesn’t share that concern.
“Not if you do your bit,” he said to cheer. “The sky’s the limit for us.” I mean, we can do it. Yes do it.’
“I mean, all I can tell you is this: people can do whatever they want,” he added. “The only reason I’m running is to win and to fulfill those promises.” That’s the only reason.’
“I’m not trying to get my name out there,” Desantis said, “I don’t want to receive content from any of these media outlets.” I don’t care. We run to win and to deliver. And that’s really the only reason to run, and I feel compelled to do so.”
The Florida governor said that as president, he will usher in a “new era of accountability in Washington, DC” by ensuring that federal agencies do not have an unbalanced level of centralized power.
“We’re going to reduce the footprint in Washington DC,” DeSantis said during his speech to a crowd gathered in North Augusta, South Carolina on Thursday.
“We will issue an executive order to all cabinet secretaries to reduce their agency’s footprint in Washington DC by at least 50%,” the Florida governor said of his plans if he becomes president. “Fire people, wear them down, send them to Dubuque, whatever you want to do.”
DeSantis told South Carolina voters at Thursday’s campaign rally that he would lay off 50% of the federal agency staff if he became president. The governor answered several questions from the crowd after reporters criticized him for not speaking publicly to voters
He concluded, “But we have too much power consolidation in Washington DC and we have to do something about it.”
DeSantis, who has been campaigning for less than a month, has been criticized by some reporters for not answering voters’ questions at his events. However, the governor on Thursday urged the South Carolina crowd to direct their questions to him after he gave a short speech in the state’s early primary campaign.
Steve Peoples of the Associated Press asked DeSantis, while speaking to voters and taking photos, why he “doesn’t take questions from voters.”
“What are you talking about? I’m out here talking to people. ‘Are you blind?’ DeSantis fired back at the reporter.
“I’m not blind,” he replied in the exchange, which was filmed on-camera by NBC News.
“So people come up to me and talk to me about whatever they want to talk to me about,” he added.
The first “question” Thursday came from an 85-year-old man who said he just wanted to tell DeSantis he had his support but didn’t ask any further questions.
“God bless you,” DeSantis said to the man before answering several questions — one from a Marine Corps veteran; another by a police officer; one by a high school junior named Drew; one from a mother with a daughter who worries about biological men playing in women’s sports, and another from a man who said he’s still undecided about who he’ll vote for in 2024.
One attendee said he was present at the speeches on behalf of a group of struggling military veterans who hope to see marijuana decriminalized. “I don’t think we would,” DeSantis answered bluntly, before explaining the negative effects of widespread drug use on children.
But DeSantis’ message was reminiscent of former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, in which he vowed to “drain the swamp of Washington” by introducing new leadership and cleaning up federal agencies as well.
“We need a new era of accountability to these agencies in DC, and we will bring that with us from day one,” DeSantis assured. “You’re going to have a new FBI director, you’re going to clean up the Justice Department.”
DeSantis interacted with voters during his speech at a gym in North Augusta, South Carolina, where the scoreboard showed both teams tied by 47 points, the number for the next US president.
“I want your support, I need your support,” DeSantis said in conclusion before answering the questions.
After Ron DeSantis refused to answer questions from the audience after his first campaign rally in New Hampshire today, he took action against a reporter for asking him while speaking individually to members of the crowd.
Here’s the video, via @NBCNews ¿> pic.twitter.com/Z2WtLy0JNj
— Jonathan Allen (@jonallendc) June 1, 2023