If You're Explaining, You're Losing

Wow https://t.co/WZCGdySuXN

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) September 19, 2022

Again, not a "smoking gun" indicating DeSantis is doing a perp walk anytime soon. If anything this completely undercuts any charge of "kidnapping" or "human trafficking," which couldn't really be made anyway.*  But this "brilliant strategy" of "pwning the libs" is not working out all that well for DeSantis:

DeSantis says trafficking migrants to Martha's Vineyard was humane because he gave them 'maps' https://t.co/urtkKapxSd

— Raw Story (@RawStory) September 19, 2022

"This is done with a vendor that the state of Florida has contracted with," DeSantis explained. "And the vendor got written consent forms from everybody that was transported. Also provided a packet that had a map of Martha's Vineyard, numbers on the Vineyard for social services as well as for the state of Massachusetts."

"So, there was no doubt that's where they were going," he added. "And, in fact, when they were getting ready to do the transport, there were some of the migrants who said, 'You know what? I don't want to go to Massachusetts.'"

So I guess they got off?  Doesn't exactly square with what the passengers told people in Massachusetts. DeSantis is still trying to play tough on this, but answering questions is not "pwning the libs," it's defending your actions.  In cases like this the best defense is to be even more offensive.  DeSantis is now trying to argue he did these refugees a favor.  And he throws in a gratuitous jab at Georgia, which isn't nearly as funny as it must have sounded in his head:

Later in the interview, DeSantis said he is ready to accept "refugees" from Georgia if Democrat Stacey Abrams wins her bid for governor.

Methinks Greg Abbott is already wishing DeSantis hadn't camped on to his idea (even going so far as to fly asylum applicants from San Antonio; none of them were in Florida.  DeSantis' weak explanation for that was that "they coulda come to Florida, you don't know!").  Not that Abbott was earning gold stars for it, but DeSantis has made it look worse and where Abbott answers all inquiries with "Joe Biden needs to secure the border!" (an empty and meaningless statement), DeSantis is trying to explain why he's not the bad guy here.

Which is kinda fun to watch, really. 

*Because DeSantis didn't personally, or through Florida law enforcement personnel, force people in San Antonio onto the plane bound for Martha's Vineyard; and because he didn't do it seeking to exploit their labor.  Basic elements of kidnapping and trafficking, neither of them met by the facts.  Not that I mind the pressure on DeSantis which is clearly making him sweat.  "Strong leaders" don't "sweat."