GOP’s DeSantis curriculum criticism aids the Left.

Republicans Falling into the Left’s Trap

It’s bad‌ enough when Democrats and their legacy media allies ​intentionally distort facts to smear ⁤conservatives. It’s inexplicable when​ Republicans help them⁤ do ⁢it.

Last week, South Carolina Sen. Tim ‌Scott — a⁣ contender for the 2024 GOP​ presidential nomination — ‌accepted Democrats’ ​phony premise⁤ that there’s⁤ something wrong⁤ with Florida’s slavery ‌curriculum. Vice President Kamala ‍Harris ⁢ and regime-approved⁣ media‍ had been fomenting the complete lie that the Sunshine State’s new ⁣African American history ‍curriculum teaches students that slavery was beneficial⁢ to black Americans.

As The Federalist’s Eddie Scarry and others ​have pointed out, these claims ‌are total nonsense. The standards are clear ⁢in teaching ⁤that, despite their enslavement, blacks developed skills that “in​ some‍ instances, ⁢could be ‍applied for their personal benefit” —⁢ not that ​slavery was beneficial to them. It’s worth mentioning ‍that⁢ the College Board’s African ⁤American studies course includes similar ⁢teachings.

But these facts didn’t ‍stop​ Republicans⁣ like Scott from ‌advancing Harris’ false narrative about the​ subject.⁢ When asked about it late⁤ last⁢ week, Scott embraced the lie‍ and used it to attack fellow 2024 primary contender Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“[T]here is no silver ⁤lining in freedom — in slavery. The truth is that anything you can⁣ learn, any benefits that ‌people suggest you had⁤ during ⁤slavery, you⁤ would have ​had as a free ⁤person,” Scott said. ​“[Slavery] was ⁣just⁣ devastating. So, I would ⁢hope⁢ that every person in⁤ our country, and certainly running for president would appreciate⁣ that. Listen, people have bad days, sometimes they regret⁣ what they say, and we should ask them‍ again to ⁣clarify their positions.”

But​ Scott⁣ was hardly the‍ only Republican to promulgate Harris and legacy media’s false ‍narrative. Republican Reps. Byron ⁣Donalds of Florida, John ⁤James of Michigan, and Wesley ‌Hunt of ‍Texas were among those to​ help advance leftist lies ‌about the curriculum.

Pushing Leftist Narratives Is⁤ a Losing Strategy

DeSantis has ‍been the ⁣most successful‍ Republican in the nation⁤ by far ‌when ‍it comes to combatting the left’s​ Marxist takeover of‍ American public schools. Whether by banning critical ⁢race theory and transgender⁢ madness ⁢ or installing proper⁣ civics standards, DeSantis finally began eradicating​ the leftist indoctrination ​infesting Florida’s education system.

Rather than ⁢celebrate these achievements and look for ways to advance‍ similar policies throughout ​the nation, Scott and ⁣Co. are playing the⁢ left’s game by​ advancing Democrats’ spin about Florida’s⁤ curriculum. And it’s fairly obvious why.

It seems that⁤ Scott — who has a history of ‍ capitulating to leftist narratives — views this Democrat-manufactured‍ “controversy” as an opportunity to⁤ bash DeSantis‌ to ⁤improve⁤ his own prospects of securing‌ the 2024 GOP nomination. The same could⁣ also be said ⁤of Donalds, James, and Hunt’s unfair‍ criticisms given ‌that‍ all of them have‌ backed former‍ President Donald Trump for the nomination. And ‌while it’s​ one thing to attack an opposing candidate ‌in a ⁤primary, ‌it’s quite another to advance Democrat ‌lies to do it.

Scott and the Republican congressmen’s erroneous hot takes don’t just provide ⁢fodder for⁣ Democrats and their⁤ legacy media allies to continue their dishonest coverage of Florida’s new curriculum; they also help stymie the conservative​ agenda.

Republicans should be on offense, debunking Harris and Democrats’ fake ⁢claims‍ while explaining why an accurate accounting ⁢of American history should be taught in every state across the country, not⁢ just ​Florida. Instead, Scott and Co.’s comments now allow legacy media‍ to shift the conversation to what these lawmakers said, ⁣thereby forcing any Republican behind the microphone to respond to their⁢ colleagues’ opinions⁤ instead of the subject at hand. It takes ‌what should’ve been an easy Republican‍ victory and morphed it into an opportunity for the left​ to advance their narrative ⁢instead.

Republicans ⁤should be ⁤laser-focused on implementing and maintaining​ effective, conservative policy. Letting primary politics get ⁤in the way of this mission plays right into the left’s⁤ hands ​and distracts the⁣ right from advancing key objectives.

Conservatives will have a ​say in who the 2024 ‌nominee should be when their state’s primary‌ election ⁤comes to ‌town next⁣ year. Until then, elected Republicans should focus on winning the political cold war⁢ at hand. Anything ⁢less is a gift to​ the left.