Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday accused Nikki Haley of caving to “woke” interests when she was South Carolina governor by derailing a bill to restrict access to school bathrooms based on a child’s sex.
Facing off at a Republican presidential primary debate in Iowa, Mr. DeSantis also took a victory lap over his feud with Disney, saying it took guts to take on the state’s behemoth when it opposed his efforts to limit children’s exposure to the LGBTQ agenda.
“Most people, most corporate Republicans, would have caved. I stood and I fought for the kids,” he said. “We won that fight and we are better off.”
He said Ms. Haley wouldn’t have taken on that fight and would “cave to the woke mob every single time.”
Ms. Haley accused Mr. DeSantis of “politicizing everything.”
She said Disney “has been woke for a long time” but Mr. DeSantis didn’t get irked over its stance on immigration or other liberal causes.
“We don’t need government fighting against private industry,” she said. “Government doesn’t bully our businesses.”
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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