# DeSantis's war on Disney **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 19, 2022, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073 "2022-04-19T18:56:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/1 "2022-04-19T18:56:45Z")
From a legal standpoint, how can Florida Governor DeSantis and the legislature vote on Disney’s special status within the state in what is _clearly_, by any objective measure, retaliation for them speaking up against a law they disagree with? (I thought the Republicans held the First Amendment very dearly). ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/2 "2022-04-19T18:59:08Z")
Simple. The law is meant to protect wealthy conservatives and to hurt liberals and everyone else. According to them anyway. Also, according to them, the first amendment means that conservatives get to say anything they want anywhere they want and nobody is allowed to criticize them, and absolutely no consequences of any kind, ever. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/3 "2022-04-19T19:05:05Z")
Speech has no consequences because of the First Amendment? OK, class. Please write a ten-page essay on what’s wrong with that sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/4 "2022-04-19T19:05:15Z")
Disney is a corporation, so why _should_ the First Amendment apply to them? /s ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/5 "2022-04-19T19:09:21Z")
“Corporations are people too!” Facetiousness aside, under the First Amendment a statement issued in the name of a corporation has the same general protections as a statement issued by a flesh-and-blood person. It doesn’t mean that a corporation isn’t allowed to regulate speech by its employees and/or on its property – the cashier at McDonalds’ doesn’t have a constitutional right to wear a button on the job declaring that Burger King has better food. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/6 "2022-04-19T19:11:57Z")
Bottom line is the single most dominant characteristic on the Right these days is bullying. The more cruel and vicious, the better with the Republican base. It is no longer about how to make the country better, it’s about who is going to hurt my perceived enemies the most. DeSantis is trying to be the biggest, baddest, most cruel bully that exists so he can be president. Almost half of this country really really wants to hurt the other side very badly. It’s not going to end well. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/7 "2022-04-19T19:13:23Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > DeSantis is trying to be the biggest, baddest, most cruel bully that exists so he can be president. Almost half of this country really really wants to hurt the other side very badly. It’s not going to end well. Yeah, with Republicans these days, the cruelty is the point. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/8 "2022-04-19T19:19:40Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > what is _clearly_ , by any objective measure, retaliation for them speaking up against a law they disagree with? Wrong. Retaliation for _suspending GOP donations_ until said law is repealed. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/9 "2022-04-19T19:20:44Z")
Using the power of the state to extort a business for money is a more accurate way to say it. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/10 "2022-04-19T19:21:52Z")
Is there anything legally wrong with what Florida is doing? Some sort of actual First Amendment issue? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/11 "2022-04-19T19:22:14Z")
As it is only talk at this point, no. What actually happened is, the legislature is drawing new districts due to census results. Just before they met our Glorious Leader said, let’s also consider terminating special districts created after 1968. (The Governor has the power to decide what subject matter the legislature is allowed to address during a special session such as this.) Special districts include that area by Disney(, but also for example my local hospital… I think. That may just be a “tax” district). He made the announcement in The Villages which isn’t formally incorporated so I wonder if they are affected as well. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/12 "2022-04-19T19:37:48Z")
Ah yes, The Villages. Mecca of voter fraud. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/13 "2022-04-19T19:38:30Z")
Bingo! If I was Disney and wanted to fight this, that is what I would emphasize. The first amendment issues are relatively murky, but out and out extortion ( “you keep giving us money or we terminate your perk”) isn’t murky at all. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/14 "2022-04-19T19:51:15Z")
Yeah the state should not be compelling political speech from a corporation with threats. That’s Russia Putin type stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/15 "2022-04-19T19:51:22Z")
My understanding is that extortion in politics is business as usual. Candidates will say politicians are in the pocket of big corporations, but I’m pretty sure it’s the other way around - Disney’s political donations, _ante_, have been a form of tribute. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/16 "2022-04-19T19:51:51Z")
Yeah but that’s really bad for a supposedly free society. Mafia shit. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/17 "2022-04-19T19:52:31Z")
Like that scene from the Godfather 2, right? Before they set the Senator up. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/18 "2022-04-19T19:53:23Z")
Do what our party says or we use the power of the state to hurt you. Should be uncontroversially and universally seen as bad. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/19 "2022-04-19T20:34:23Z")
This is less about extortion and more about Disney failing to uphold its end of a long and blatant quid pro quo relationship. Disney’s job is to donate money and to not make more than a token fuss about GOP politics. It’s failing on both counts, so its privileges are in jeopardy. The upsetting thing isn’t the retaliation. The upsetting thing is the mercenary relationship between corporations and governments. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073/20 "2022-04-19T21:04:54Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > My understanding is that extortion in politics is business as usual. But usually its done behind the scenes, and usually its the solicitation of donations to influence new legislation. That way it can be characterized as we didn’t bribe candidate X, we just elected to support his campaign because he supports these things we approve of. So if DeSantis said we are going to kill your perk, and Disney said they would support his opponent and cut off donations from him that would be normal, as would sending him money that coincidentally resulted in him changing his mind. But the public announcement by Disney saying they are suspending donations based on a specific piece of legislation that doesn’t directly affect them followed immediately by retaliatory legislation is going to be harder to hide as anything other than pay to play. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantiss-war-on-disney/963073.md?page=2)