Democrats in Florida are refusing to follow an order issued by Governor Ron DeSantis to lower flags to half staff in honor of conservative...
Democrats in Florida are refusing to follow an order issued by Governor Ron DeSantis to lower flags to half staff in honor of conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh.
Gov. DeSantis called Limbaugh a 'legend' on Friday as he issued the order as a show of respect after the longtime broadcaster, 70, died Wednesday of lung cancer.
But Democrats, who have long been on the receiving end of Limbaugh's harangues, objected - accusing the radio host of racist and bigoted comments.
Nikki Fried, Florida's agriculture commissioner and the only statewide Democratic officeholder, said Monday that she would not abide by the Republican governor's orders.
It comes as Limbaugh's will reveals that his fourth wife Kathryn will inherit his $600million estate.
Flordia Gov. Ron DeSantis (pictured left) called Rush Limbaugh (pictured right) a 'legend' on Friday as he issued an order to lower flags to half staff as a show of respect after the longtime broadcaster, 70, died Wednesday of lung cancer. Local Democrats are refusing
Flordia Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried said Monday she will not abide by the orders
'Lowering to half-staff the flag of the United States of America is a sacred honor that pays respect to fallen heroes and patriots,' Fried said in a statement on Monday
Limbaugh's will revealed that his fourth wife Kathryn will inherit his estate. They are pictured together in February 2020 after Limbaugh received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Fried is considering a bid for governor and is considered the main challenger to DeSantis' reelection despite not yet announcing her candidacy, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
'Lowering to half-staff the flag of the United States of America is a sacred honor that pays respect to fallen heroes and patriots,' she said in a statement. She said she would notify all state officers she oversees to disregard the governor's order.
Fried oversees about two dozen agricultural law enforcement inspection stations, more than three dozen state forests and nine regional licensing offices - all of which fly the flags of the United States and Florida.
'My concern is that the governor is bending over backwards to honor a radio host who has consistently made racist, polarizing and conspiracy comments,' Fried said in an interview Monday afternoon.
'It is really inappropriate,' she said of the flag lowering, 'and the governor is playing politics with this American treasure, which is our flag.'
Fried said she would not move to punish any of her managers who might follow her 'strong guidance' and instead decide to comply with the governor's order.
'If somebody chooses to lower the flag, there are no penalties,' she said.
The commissioner was hit with some backlash on social media over the decision as residents told her she would 'be voted out'.
'She is divisive and is floundering,' one Twitter user said.
'How dare you disobey orders from your governor,' another named Doug Tobin added. 'Resign today. You weren't put in your little position to do anything but carry out @RonDeSantisFL orders.'
The ag commissioner job is an elected position; Fried was elected in 2018 over a Republican in a close race. The office is next up for election in 2022.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried is expected to run for governor
'It is really inappropriate,' Fried said of the flag lowering in a Twitter statement
Fried as hit with some backlash on social media once she made the announcement
Some Florida voters claimed that Fried would be voted out over the decision
Yet, Fried was not the only elected official to bemoan the governor's decision.
On Sunday, Oakland Park Mayor Jane Bolin hit out at the order in a statement, according to Florida Politics.
'By compelling Florida cities to honor the man who made a career of sowing political division through bigoted and racist statements, Gov. DeSantis is turning our flag into a decoration for his own political theater,' Bolin said.
'I call on all mayors, commissioners, and city managers in Florida and nationwide to step forward and make their voices heard. Failure to take a stand on this issue is tantamount to being complicit in politicizing — and even demeaning the dignity of our flag.'
State Senate Democratic Leader Gary Farmer and State Sen. Annette Taddeo also slammed the decision as they questioned whether the governor was breaking protocol with the order.
'Either you didn't bother to know the rules or you just don't care!' Taddeo said in a statement.
'Gov. DeSantis has now transformed this distinction into a partisan political tool to salute a man who served no other interests than his own and did his best to deeply divide a country along political fault lines,' Farmer added.
'I condemn the Governor's decision in no uncertain terms.'
Mayor of St Petersburg Rick Kriseman is also refusing the governor's order
Kriseman said in a tweet that Limbaugh was guilty of 'hate, racism, bigotry, homophobia'
On Monday, Hallandale Beach City Commissioner Sabrina Javellana joined with other Democrats in announcing that she would also instruct the city to ignore the governor's order
'Not lowering flags for Rush,' the mayor of St. Petersburg, Rick Kriseman, also tweeted on Monday.
'In St. Pete we don't honor hatred, racism, bigotry, homophobia, or anything else he has spewed over the years. We are, however, honoring the life of Deputy Michael Magli of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.'
Earlier in the day, DeSantis had ordered flags to fly at half-staff to pay tribute to Magli, who died last week after being struck by a vehicle while on duty in Pinellas County, home to St. Petersburg in the state's Tampa Bay region.
Hallandale Beach City Commissioner Sabrina Javellana also joined with other Democrats on Monday in announcing that she would also instruct the city to ignore the governor's order.
'I'm with my colleagues Oakland Park Mayor Jane Bolin, Mayor @Kriseman + Commissioner @nikkifried . We should not lower flags to honor a deeply bigoted + hateful person. I've asked our city manager to disregard the Governor's request,' she said in a tweet.
'Rather, these are the 500,000 who should be remembered,' Javellana added, linking to a story about the death toll from coronavirus in the U.S. reaching half a million.
Rush Limbaugh died on Wednesday aged 70 of lung cancer. He is pictured in 2018
The governor's office declined to elaborate on the state's protocols for lowering flags.
Flags are typically lowered to honor prominent government officials, as well as law enforcement officers and members of the military killed in the line of duty.
However, the governor also has the authority to lower the flags to commemorate tragedies, most recently the third anniversary of the Parkland high school shootings that took the lives of 17 students and staff members.
DeSantis said Limbaugh's stature justified the honor.
'When there's things of this magnitude, once the date of interment for Rush is announced, we're going to be lowering the flags to half-staff,' DeSantis said at a Friday news conference in Palm Beach County.
'Not much needs to be said,' the governor said. 'He was an absolute legend. He was a friend of mine, and just a great person.'
DeSantis added that he believes Limbaugh helped him win his gubernatorial race in 2018.
'He had me on when I was running for Governor,' DeSantis said.
'I was getting the tar kicked out of me every day and he had me on the week before the election in 2018. He didn't have a lot of guests. I was honored to be on his show a couple of times.'
A request for comment on the refusal by some Democrats to follow his order was not yet returned by DeSantis' office.
A year ago, President Donald Trump awarded Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during his final State of the Union address.
The day before, Limbaugh had announced that he was battling advanced lung cancer.
Limbaugh had for decades championed conservativism - often stridently at the expense of liberals and Democrats.
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that President Joe Biden has directed flags on federal property to be lowered to half-staff to mark 500,000 American deaths in the COVID-19 pandemic.
No comments