Thread by @rumpfshaker

I’ve read the @bsfarrington article that had DeSantis’ spox @ChristinaPushaw tweeting late through the night. Here’s the actual link, so you can read it for yourself too, then go read her tweets, & decide for yourself. #flapol #sayfie /1 apnews.com/article/joe-bi…

Pushaw accuses Farrington of spreading “BlueAnon” “conspiracy theories.” But the article doesn’t actually quote or reference any of the many, many Democrats we all know would be perfectly happy to slam DeSantis. He also didn’t discourage Regeneron use. /2

Pushaw repeatedly called Farrington a “liar” & said his article contained “lies.” Where are the lies, @ChristinaPushaw? What EXACTLY is inaccurate in the article? Be specific. Quote what’s wrong. Here’s the link again to help. /3 apnews.com/article/joe-bi…

The article does NOT accuse DeSantis of pay for play. It includes a detailed quote from Pushaw in response. It includes figures to put the amount of stock ownership in perspective (“a tiny fraction”). It mentions that the fed govt has paid for the Regeneron doses. /4

“Experts agree with him,” Farrington wrote, meaning that they agree w/DeSantis that Regeneron CAN help Covid patients. However, the experts ALSO say that preventing an infection w/a vaccine is better than treating an infection w/Regeneron. /5

Including the quote from Dr. Wen provides fuller context of the discussion on this issue. That’s basic journalism — it doesn’t make the article a “hit piece.” Again, I ask, where is the article “lying”? Pushaw hasn’t specified. /6

I’ve been on both sides of this, as a spokesperson for candidates/organizations, and as a reporter. Comms is a tough gig. But it’s unfair to call someone a “liar” because you don’t like the facts they report. And it’s a FACT that Griffin gave $10.75 million to DeSantis’ PAC. /7

That doesn’t mean pay-for-play. The donation was legal. But we require donors to be public to prevent corruption. It is a GOOD thing for reporters to shine a spotlight on large donations. I’m glad Florida has such broad campaign finance disclosure rules, Sunshine laws, etc. /8

This is especially true when a donor’s business may be affected by policies set by the elected official to whom they’re donating. I make no accusations of corruption here (& neither did Farrington) but I cheer all this being in the sunshine where Floridians can clearly see it. /9

In that spirit of being transparent, @bsfarrington & his wife Amy have been friends of mine for years. I know he’s not a liar or conspiracy theorist. For those of you who don’t know him, I urge you to read the actual article & decide for yourself. 10/10 apnews.com/article/joe-bi…

Addendum: if Pushaw had just said that the headline wasn’t a fair framing & there’s no evidence DeSantis did anything wrong, I wouldn’t have said anything. But she accused Farrington of writing “lies” & “conspiracy theories.” That attack was unfair & I stand by my tweets above.

Again, I’ve had comms jobs like hers. I expect her to defend her boss. But attack an article that she says is misleading by being misleading herself isn’t right. I’ve called out this crap in the past all up and down the political spectrum so chill with the partisan accusations.