Newsom comes down on DeSantis for demeaning 'the LGBTQ community'

Right out of the gate, the Fox News debate between Govs. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Gavin Newsom (D-CA) in Alpharetta, Georgia went off the rails as DeSantis tried to interrupt and talk over Newsom, and Newsom calmly stood his ground and rattled off statistics, appearing keen to use his time on the stage to talk up President Joe Biden's record to the Fox News viewership.

"I'm happy that you continue to talk," said Newsom. "Let's talk about Bidenomics. I'm happy to take that on as well. 10 times more jobs than the last three republican presidents—"

"Because the jobs were because of the COVID lockdown. Are you kidding me?" snapped DeSantis.

"As he continues to talk over me, I'll talk to the American people," said Newsom. "The lowest unemployment in American history. The lowest unemployment for Hispanics. The lowest unemployment for women in 70 years. That is this administration's agenda. And by the way, as you smile and smirk over there, you should know this, the American people, here's a guy who celebrated Bidenomics just this week, celebrating $28 million that came in your state because of the CHIPS and science, one of the most significant economic plans since FDR. I'm proud of the of the work Biden/Harris have done."

ALSO READ: Revealed: How South Carolina’s capital city accommodated Trump ‘patriots’

"Would you like to respond?" asked Hannity. "I do have a follow-up. 6 percent rate on people, families, couples in California, they pay 6 percent income tax on any $4,000 a year."

"California has lower taxes, lower than 32 states for working families in their middle-class, significantly lower taxes," said Newsom. "People in the state [Florida] pay more taxes in the low end then we tax people on millionaires and billionaires."

After a several more minutes of crosstalk between Newsom and DeSantis, Hannity finally cut to commercial, saying that the debate needed "to breathe."

Afterward, Newsom took it upon himself to zero in on DeSantis' past attacks on anything connected to LGBTQ. Specifically, he targeted the Florida governor over his "Don't say gay" law in that state.

"It was not allowing teachers who happen to be gay to teach," Newsom said in the debate, referencing a 1970s law that predates DeSantis' own. "Reagan said, you can't catch gay like you can measles. I don't like the way you demean people. I don't like the way you demean the LGBTQ community."

He then added:

"I don't like how you humiliate people you disagree with. I find this fundamentally offensive and this is a core value that distinguishes the values of my state and frankly the vast majority of Americans against the weaponization of education."

The CEO of the super PAC running much of DeSantis’s operation quit last week as allies took the unusual step of starting another super PAC late in the race. The vast political network led by Charles Koch — once drawn to DeSantis — endorsed Nikki Haley as it looks to stop Trump, promising the support of its ready-made field program. Some senior campaign aides are increasingly gloomy about their chances, according to a person close to DeSantis. “People increasingly think it’s over. It’s a dumpster fire,” said the person, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

The fresh blows come at a critical time in the GOP primary, with Trump dominant in national and early state polls and a growing sense that he may be unstoppable. DeSantis entered the race with high expectations and formidable resources. But his struggles as a candidate — including his strained small talk, sometimes awkward smiles and perceived aloofness — have drawn widespread attention. And his theory of how to beat Trump — by appealing squarely to his supporters — has run up against enduring GOP enthusiasm for the former president, amplified by Trump’s indictments. Voters ready to move on from Trump have increasingly found Haley more compelling.

DeSantis has been tapping into the Christian, social-conservative networks that have powered past caucus winners. Mark Doss, who attended Vander Plaats’s Family Leader forum in November, said he was leaning toward DeSantis after people he respects, including pastor friends, put in a good word. “And I do have a high regard for Governor Reynolds,” said Doss, the ministry director of GoServ Global, an Iowa-based Christian humanitarian group.

Some of DeSantis’s vocal backers doubt that his endorsements will move the needle, however, and his challenges were hard to escape even at a November rally announcing Reynolds’s support, where some attendees effectively shrugged when asked if it mattered to them.