Politico is facing another round of criticism over a tweet about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and federal relief funds.
The criticism started after Politico shared a story on Monday about DeSantis’ criticism of President Joe Biden, and the “billions” Florida has received in federal dollars.
“DeSantis has been a critic of Biden on nearly every policy front. But he sure does like the president’s wallet. Over the past two years, DeSantis’ admin received billions in federal relief cash, which the governor has used to fund his top priorities,” the tweet caption read.
DeSantis has been a critic of Biden on nearly every policy front. But he sure does like the president's wallet.
— POLITICO (@politico) October 3, 2022
Over the past two years, DeSantis’ admin received billions in federal relief cash, which the governor has used to fund his top priorities.https://t.co/pmzBGQpz2e
The premise of the caption is incredibly bizarre.
For starters, it is not “the president’s wallet.” Congress appropriates funds for federal programs.
Also, it is not as though the funds used in programs are coming from Biden’s bank account. The money comes from hardworking taxpayers. And this tweet gives the impression that Biden is somehow funding government relief programs and has the discretion to deny money to states because he doesn’t like a certain governor.
Tim Carney, a conservative columnist for the Washington Examiner, tweeted, “Step one: Increase federal spending in all parts of our life. Step two: Suggest that if you take this money, you should stop criticizing the president. Step three: High five your editors for your super pwnage.”
Step one: Increase federal spending in all parts of our life.
— Tim Carney (@TPCarney) October 4, 2022
Step two: Suggest that if you take this money, you should stop criticizing the president.
Step three: High five your editors for your super pwnage.https://t.co/HRcAsHpAdL
“I was not aware that Joe Biden has billions of dollars to his name. Or did you mean federally allocated taxpayer dollars, you dolts?” Ben Shapiro tweeted.
I was not aware that Joe Biden has billions of dollars to his name. Or did you mean federally allocated taxpayer dollars, you dolts? https://t.co/5chS7jtoy5
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) October 4, 2022
The Atlantic’s Conor Friedersdorf tweeted, “I strongly dislike the phrase ‘the president’s wallet.’ It’s the federal treasury, filled with the taxpayers’ dollars, which are allocated by Congress.”
I strongly dislike the phrase "the president's wallet." It's the federal treasury, filled with the taxpayers' dollars, which are allocated by Congress. https://t.co/yJrOhLn2bT
— Conor Friedersdorf (@conor64) October 3, 2022
Nicholas Fondacaro of The Media Research Center suggested the writers need to go back to school as he wrote, “Looks like the folks at Politico need to go back to high school civics to learn a) who funds the government, b) which branch has the power of the purse, and c) the president isn’t a sugar daddy despite liberal fantasies.”
Looks like the folks at Politico need to go back to high school civics to learn a) who funds the government, b) which branch has the power of the purse, and c) the president isn't a sugar daddy despite liberal fantasies. https://t.co/OUj66ciRRC
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) October 3, 2022
Check out some of the other reactions below:
https://twitter.com/ScottJenningsKY/status/1576996317767028736
What a nonsensical premise. @politico insists it's either support every bit of federal spending or refuse it all, even in a disaster. False dichotomy. Federal spending is out of control AND federal $ allocated to FL can be used wisely.
— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) October 3, 2022
Imagine if @politico wrote to inform. https://t.co/0QsshM3Rcw
Love how the federal government is constantly romanticized as some sort of collective social bond we all share and contribute towards until it’s time to dole out emergency relief to a state governed by a political rival. Then it’s “the president’s wallet.” https://t.co/DpXPYiIrt3
— Zach Weissmueller (@TheAbridgedZach) October 3, 2022
Politico out here trying to rewrite the Constitution to say money comes from "the president's wallet" and not Congress. https://t.co/uvld0iPHzM
— Erin Perrine (@ErinMPerrine) October 3, 2022
Who knew that all the money we pay in taxes gets stuffed into Joe Biden’s wallet? The things you learn from reading Politico. https://t.co/Tw49UBOXd4
— Gerry Callahan (@GerryCallahan) October 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/1577000714890776577
"Governor receives federal dollars that he uses to benefit his state despite being critical of the president" is so weaksauce that it's pathetic. This is literally how our system is supposed to work. Federal dollars that go to states by law are not contingent on supporting POTUS. https://t.co/TOlAs8BHnv
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) October 4, 2022
This was just a weird tweet and a weird story. Elected officials should not have to withhold criticism of a president for fear of not receiving federal relief funds after a catastrophic natural disaster — or be labeled a hypocrite or something.
Those funds do not belong to the president. He is not some king in charge of the nation’s coffers who distributes funds as he pleases. The federal government sending Florida relief funds is not some great act of grace from our wonderful and magnificent and majestic President Biden — that is simply its job.