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The legendary journalist and commentator Dan Rather weighed in on the Walt Disney Company's decision to sue Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis for being involved "at every step" of a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" against the company.
The accusations detailed in the lawsuit also include DeSantis's handpicking of an oversight board for the special taxing district surrounding Disney World.
The company claims that DeSantis and his allies have branded them as "Woke Disney" and have sought punitive measures against them since last year when Disney's then-CEO criticized Florida's Parental Rights in Education plan—or "Don't Say Gay" law—which limits the instruction of gender identity and sexuality in public schools.
The controversy prompted Rather to make the following witty observation:
"So Disney is suing DeSantis, claiming he weaponized government power. The case is Mickey v. Dopey."
You can see Rather's tweet below.
\u201cSo Disney is suing DeSantis, claiming he weaponized government power. The case is Mickey v. Dopey. https://t.co/CfklSA3d5L\u201d— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather) 1682530151
Many concurred with Rather's assessment and shared their own criticisms of DeSantis.
\u201c@DanRather Just imagine who will be sitting in the gallery in court.... standing outside during jury selection... attending press conferences\ud83d\ude06\u201d— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather) 1682530151
\u201c@DanRather I thought Republicans were "pro-business".\u201d— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather) 1682530151
\u201c@DanRather DeSantis\u2019 claims that Disney is defying the voters.\n\nApparently he sees himself as an elected King with a monarch\u2019s power to screw Disney.\u201d— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather) 1682530151
\u201c@DanRather I'm rooting for Mickey!\u201d— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather) 1682530151
\u201c@DanRather Way to go, Disney. Put Donald Duck up for Governor of Florida he would do a better job.\u201d— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather) 1682530151
\u201c@DanRather \ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udc4f\nThe only logic in DeSantis' actions, is that he no longer wants big corporations to run America \u2014 he wants complete control!\u201d— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather) 1682530151
\u201c@DanRather @JoChiaradia Accusations are usually confession. That's why the @GOP is so triggered snowflakey about weaponization of government. It's the guilty conscience of what THEY do.\u201d— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather) 1682530151
\u201c@DanRather Disney needs to just pull up stakes and leave Florida for good to some place like Puerto Rico where I'm sure they will be appreciated,instead of putting up with this harrassment by the governor of Florida.\u201d— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather) 1682530151
Since facing backlash from Disney over the "Don't Say Gay" law, DeSantis has made several statements criticizing the company.
He has half-jokingly suggested the idea of building a state prison on state-controlled land near Disney World, and his allies have sought punitive measures against the company.
Recently, the oversight board voted to nullify two development deals that would have allowed Disney to expand on the land around the park, despite past maneuvers by Disney to limit the board's power.
In response to the lawsuit, DeSantis's communications director stated that they were "unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state."
They expressed DeSantis' belief that the lawsuit "is yet another unfortunate example of the company's hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law."
DeSantis—who apparently intends to announce a 2024 presidential campaign next month—has faced scathing criticism from his biggest GOP rival, former President Donald Trump,
Last week, Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social that DeSantis is being "absolutely destroyed by Disney" and that "his original PR plan fizzled," forcing him to "come up with a new one to save face."