PEORIA, Ill. – A variety of topics and accomplishments were touched on by Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Florida) Friday night in Peoria.
DeSantis was the keynote speaker at the annual Peoria and Tazewell Counties Lincoln Day Dinner. Attendance for the sold-out event was around 1200 people.
One of the topics DeSantis focused on in his speech was education reforms in his state. It’s a topic he said concerned him not only as governor, but as a father as well.
One of the reforms he mentioned was banning critical race theory in Florida schools.
“We’re not teaching kids to hate this country or to hate each other. No, we’re going to put an emphasis on American civics, having them understand the Constitution, having them understand what it means to be an American,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis also touched on giving parents more rights in their children’s education by letting parents determine what curriculum is taught in schools and to review what books their children view.
Banning critical race theory was also one of the topics DeSantis touched on in, what he calls, combating the “woke mind virus.” Along with banning C.R.T. in schools, he also signed legislation banning transgender women from playing in women’s sports in Florida.
“Don’t tell me that babies are born racist, don’t tell me men can get pregnant. That is not true and we are not going to indulge in that,” DeSantis said. “And because the woke represents a war on truth, we have no choice but to wage a war on woke.”
DeSantis also gave a laundry list of other accomplishments in his now second-term as Florida governor. Some of those include tort reform, protections for unborn babies, banning medical mandates in the state, and strengthening Second Amendment rights.
“That is a package of successes over a six month period of time that is without peer in the history of the state of Florida. And I would put it up against anybody in this country,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis is also rumored to enter the race for the Republican nomination for President next year, but has not formally entered the race yet. He did give advice for the party in general to try and win the White House next year.
“I believe if 2024 is a referendum on Joe Biden, his policies, and his failures. And if we as Republicans offer a positive vision going forward in a better direction, Republicans will win across the board<” DeSantis said.
DeSantis cautioned about focusing on past or side issues that would take away from that message, in a vague mention of potential political rival and front-runner for the nomination, former President Donald Trump.
