'I condemn him.' Crist delivers blistering takedown of DeSantis' pre-Hurricane Ian leadership
Sun-Sentinel
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Charlie Crist denounced Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday for what he said was mishandling the approach of Hurricane Ian, suggesting that better leadership could have meant fewer deaths from the storm.
The lapse in leadership was apparent and obvious, Crist said in a video interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel and Orlando Sentinel editorial boards. Its before the storm hit where true leadership really comes to bear, and it didnt in this case and it breaks my heart.
Crist faulted DeSantis for what he said was the evacuation order issued late for Lee County, which came a day later than in his home county, Pinellas.
Why the governor wouldnt have taken the storm more seriously beforehand? Thats the time when you have the opportunity to save life. Thats the time when you do what is necessary to protect health, safety and welfare of our fellow Floridians, and I think that he missed it there. It is clear in hindsight that he did, Crist said. Weve lost over a hundred Floridians as a result of the storm.
I know its inconvenient to evacuate but death is a lot more inconvenient and a lot more serious and I think inconvenience does not trump the saving of Floridians lives, and so I condemn him on that, Crist said.