{"id":1954899,"date":"2023-06-22T23:07:02","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T03:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-uses-town-hall-format-to-connect-with-south-carolina-voters\/"},"modified":"2023-06-22T23:08:39","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T03:08:39","slug":"desantis-uses-town-hall-format-to-connect-with-south-carolina-voters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-uses-town-hall-format-to-connect-with-south-carolina-voters\/","title":{"rendered":"DeSantis connects with SC voters through town hall format."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdesantis-uses-town-hall-format-to-connect-with-south-carolina-voters%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1954899&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"post_content\">\n<div class=\"aplayer_app\" data-source=\"https:\/\/vs1.youmaker.com\/assets\/2023\/0623\/413ef30a-a2f8-4f5b-8f10-e71c1c7370bf\/audio.mp3?length=6363981&#038;duration=530\"><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<h2>GOP Candidate Ron DeSantis Energizes Crowd in South Carolina<\/h2>\n<p>NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C.\u2013GOP presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, sometimes criticized for a stiff manner, was doing just fine at a South Carolina campaign stop.<\/p>\n<p>After speaking for nearly an hour in a town hall format on June 22, DeSantis took over a dozen questions, then talked with the crowd of about 400 people for nearly two more hours.<\/p>\n<p>Dressed casually in a blazer, jeans, and boots, DeSantis strode onto the in-the-round stage at the Riverside Park Activities Center in North Augusta, putting as much energy and passion into his policy discussion as most politicians put into their small talk.<\/p>\n<p>He covered the usual topics. His battle against lockdown policies during the pandemic and asserting authority over colleges and public schools. His war on wokeness and the decline of the military. The rise of an unelected administrative state and the Biden administration\u2019s weakness on everything from the southern border to the challenge of China, the economy, and protecting individual rights.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5286066\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/05\/23\/id5286066-2ee92cc78abd8821df2bd0f5-1200x762.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a><br \/>\n    A man smokes fentanyl-laced marijuana in San Francisco, Calif., on Feb. 22, 2023. (John Fredricks\/The Epoch Times)<br \/>\n  <\/figure>\n<p>As he had done earlier in the day in a gubernatorial speech in Tampa, DeSantis spoke about his recent visit to San Francisco. In his speeches, he often positions California as the anti-Florida, painting it as a blue state with progressive government at state and local levels, with a significant population exodus to places like his \u201cfree state of Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI actually was in San Francisco this week, believe it or not,\u201d DeSantis said. \u201cAnd you hear about it. We talk about it. But there\u2019s something very jarring when you see someone defecating on the sidewalk. You see people using fentanyl. You see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/after-newsoms-multiple-swipes-at-florida-desantis-responds-with-video-in-gavins-own-backyard\/\" title=\"DeSantis hits back at Newsom with video in his backyard.\">people smoking crack cocaine<\/a>. You see businesses shuttered and boarded up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a civilization in decline. And that didn\u2019t happen by accident. It is the result of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ron-desantis-torches-gavin-newsom-over-woke-mind-virus-during-event-in-california\/\" title=\"Ron DeSantis Torches Gavin Newsom Over \u2018Woke Mind Virus\u2019 During Event In California\">leftist politicians imposing leftist ideology<\/a> in cities and states across this country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As he walked around San Franciso, he said, \u201cIt was interesting\u2026 There\u2019s a left-wing activist on every corner. Some of those people recognize me; they start with me, whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But \u201cfirefighters are cheering for me in San Francisco,\u201d DeSantis said, adding that he got the same reception from police officers \u201cfor standing up for law enforcement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf those folks were in charge, the city would probably be in good shape. But it\u2019s not. You have this leftist ideology proceeding now across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5177925\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/04\/06\/id5177925-EpochImages-8226564586-xl-1200x800.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a><br \/>\n    A \u201cDefund the Police\u201d sign during a protest near the White House following the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, in Washington on June 6, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson\/The Epoch Times)<br \/>\n  <\/figure>\n<h2>Standing Up for Police<\/h2>\n<p>DeSantis took a question about support for law enforcement from a police officer from Aiken, South Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you for your service. We appreciate you very much,\u201d DeSantis told the man. \u201cI can tell you a lot of what we did. First of all, when you had the BLM riots, you never saw me marching against the police like these other politicians.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe stood with the police from Day One, because we recognize attacking people who wear the uniform is not going to make our community safer. It\u2019s very disrespectful for people that worked so hard to serve our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Efforts to defund the police weren\u2019t going to happen at the state level in Florida with a Republican legislature and him sitting as governor, DeSantis said. But defunding decisions were often made locally.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have three bozos on the city commission that want to do something stupid, go on some ideological joyride, and try to defund law enforcement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So Florida passed legislation saying local governments couldn\u2019t defund police, and if they took money away from them, the state would put it back in, he said.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond that, with other areas defunding the police, \u201cwe wanted to show support.\u201d For the third year in a row, the state has paid $1,000 bonuses to every <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-gives-all-first-responders-in-florida-1000-bonuses-were-funding-the-police-and-then-some\/\" title=\"DeSantis Gives All First Responders In Florida ,000 Bonuses: \u2018We\u2019re Funding\u2019 The Police \u2018And Then Some\u2019\">sworn law enforcement officer<\/a> and firefighter, and the state paid the income taxes on the money, \u201cso it\u2019s a bit like 1,300 bucks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The presidential candidate took two questions on Ukraine. He agreed that Vladimir Putin is a \u201cbad guy,\u201d but questioned spending money abroad when the nation fails to defend its own southern border\u2014something he said he\u2019d use the military to do, if elected.<\/p>\n<p>The southern border would be his defense priority, he said, followed by modernizing the military\u2014including ending its distraction with woke ideology\u2014and after that, China.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4400844\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2022\/04\/13\/GettyImages-1232631620-1200x831.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a><br \/>\n    An activist smokes marijuana during the annual NYC Cannabis Parade &#038; Rally in support of the legalization of marijuana for recreational and medical use on May 1, 2021. (Angela Weiss\/AFP via Getty Images)<br \/>\n  <\/figure>\n<p>Asked if he\u2019d commit to legalizing marijuana in 2025, DeSantis said, \u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019d do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His state\u2019s policy, he said, includes a constitutional provision that allows medical marijuana for veterans who need it. He acknowledged the law is sometimes abused by people using marijuana recreationally.<\/p>\n<p>Weed is more potent now than it once was, DeSantis cautioned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s really bad for you. I just think we have to be very united as a society. We want our kids to steer clear of drugs\u2026 I think that we have too many people using drugs. It hurts our workforce readiness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Florida native spoke about growing up in Dunedin, near Clearwater on the Gulf Coast. \u201cThe kids in high school that got involved in [weed], that I knew, all suffered\u2014all their activities, all their grades, and everything like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The governor used a question from a high school junior about civics education to tout Florida\u2019s initiatives in that field, including paying a bonus to teachers who complete a voluntary civics education \u201cboot camp\u201d and instituting an end-of-high school civics exam similar to what immigrants take to become naturalized citizens.<\/p>\n<p>And, in response to another question, he spoke about changes at New College in Sarasota.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5272636\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/05\/17\/id5272636-DeSantis-signs-bills-on-May-15-2023-copy-1200x800.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a><br \/>\n    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis holds up three just-signed bills<br \/>\n  <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. &#8211; GOP candidate Ron DeSantis, often criticized for being rigid, impressed during a South Carolina campaign event. Speaking for almost an hour, he confidently answered over a dozen questions and engaged with the 400-strong crowd on June 22. DeSantis showcased his ability to connect with voters and address their concerns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1117,"featured_media":1954900,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1954899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1954899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1117"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1954899"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1954899\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1954900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1954899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1954899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1954899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}