The View ridiculed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday’s episode, claiming he is using “code” to refer to black people.
“I found it highly offensive that he compared African American studies with learning about zombies,” Sunny Hostin said, referencing a clip of the governor in which he says he doesn’t want students graduating with degrees in “zombie studies.”
DeSantis’s semi-frequent use of this term when discussing higher education is a knock at degrees that don’t lend themselves to good careers after students exit college.
“What is that? Is that a code or something?” Behar asked.
Both Whoopi Goldberg and Hostin said that it is.
“I think it is code,” Hostin replied.
DESANTIS OUTLINES HIGHER EDUCATION REFORM PLAN AND CALLS FOR ABOLISHING DEI BUREAUCRACIES
DeSantis, who recently blocked an Advanced Placement African American studies course in Florida, has not banned “AP European history, AP Chinese language and culture, AP French language and culture, German language and culture, Italian language and culture, Japanese language and culture, Spanish literature and culture and language,” according to Hostin.
“So, it’s just black people. So, does he just not like African Americans?” she asked.
“When people call him racist against African Americans, he’s like, ‘No I’m not,'” Hostin continued.
“What is it that he doesn’t get?” asked Goldberg. “We’re not going anywhere. Just because you stop teaching it in colleges, you think people are going to stop telling these stories? No. It’s not going to happen.”
Joy Behar also chimed in, claiming, “He’s basically sacrificing the education of a whole generation of people for his ambition, which is basically to be president of the country.”
New higher education proposal builds off our 2022 reforms:
– Core courses rooted in Western tradition
– Elimination of DEI/CRT bureaucracies
– Bolster civics-focused institutes at UF, FSU and FIU
– Additional accountability for tenured faculty pic.twitter.com/XV6mExlzHJ— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 31, 2023
“I love the idea that he says that … it’s a drain on resources and hostile to academic freedom to teach LGBT, African American, women studies, and yet he’s banning library books. He’s banning AP courses, drag shows, women’s right to choose,” she added. “Now, they’re banning diversity and inclusion. And they’re calling it freedom.”
“He’s a lousy governor also,” Behar further slammed DeSantis. “Be glad you don’t live in Florida.”
Goldberg told her co-hosts that her family is from Florida and that “there’s always been black people in Florida. and If you’re not careful, that base is going to rise up and vote your a** out of there.”
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In a recent press conference, DeSantis revealed his proposals for higher education reform. He aims to halt funding to diversity, equity, and inclusion departments at state universities, as well as institute new core courses that are “grounded in actual history [and] the … philosophy that has shaped Western civilization.”
The Florida governor is heavily speculated to be a candidate for the presidency in 2024. He consistently polls highly against hypothetical opponents in a Republican primary. However, he has made no such announcements regarding a 2024 candidacy.
