Media attacks DeSantis for defending the medical freedom of Special Olympians

Earlier in June, the Special Olympics lifted their ban on participants who were unvaccinated against COVID-19 after facing the prospect of $27.5 million in fines. Last year DeSantis signed into law a prohibition on company-mandated proof of vaccination.

Initially, the Special Olympics were requiring proof of vaccination but when informed that Florida was going to enforce the hefty fines, they relented.

Afterwards, the media began a barrage of attacks on DeSantis over his enabling more Special Olympic athletes to compete.

Mike Freeman of USA Today wrote, "It is true that DeSantis' cruelty and white nationalist-adjacency go beyond attacking the vulnerable… His actions, however, involving the Special Olympics are particularly awful. The state of Florida threatened to fine the Special Olympics $27.5 million for requiring 5,500 participants… to be vaccinated against COVID. That threat caused the organization to drop the mandate, a mandate that potentially saves lives.”

]In an article riddled with straw man arguments, ad hominem attacks, undefined terms, and broad emotional sophism Freeman does write one thing with accuracy: DeSantis' threat worked.

And as a consequence 70 native Floridians were admitted back into the games.

Many athletes eager to play haven't taken the vaccine for valid health considerations such as Elaine Valle from Orlando. Valle has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and a shunt in her brain and her neurologist advised against the COVID vaccine as it could cause a high fever. Valle can compete again because of Florida law.

More importantly, she and other athletes can make their own decisions about their health.

The infantilizing argument that Freeman and others make rests on the supposition these athletes are incapable of deciding for themselves their own health decisions or define them as an "anti-vax" mob.

Michael J. Vogel of the Palm Beach Post wrote, "Why would DeSantis threaten to fine the Special Olympics $27.5 million for doing what the majority of those reading this column have already done? To appeal to the anti-vax mob, that’s why. Just when you think DeSantis has hit bottom, demonizing gays (his “Don’t Say Gay” bill) and the Rays (Communist Progressives!) the trap door opens."

Any trap doors opening seem to lead to consistently positive approval ratings for the Governor that cast a colossal shadow over any would-be Democratic opponents.