(LifeSiteNews) — Social conservatives who have concerns about Governor Ron DeSantis should take notice of a good sign – socially liberal, country club Republicans who think the most important political issue is lowering the marginal tax rate are wary of the presidential candidate.
A recent Reuters article reported on similar rumors as covered by Politico in July.
“Hotel entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, the biggest individual donor to a group supporting Ron DeSantis’ presidential bid, told Reuters on Friday he will not donate more money unless the Florida governor attracts new major donors and adopts a more moderate approach,” the wire service reported on Aug. 4.
“When asked which specific policies Bigelow did not support, Bigelow cited only DeSantis signing in April a bill passed by the Florida legislature banning abortions after six weeks, a move that came after Bigelow had donated the $20 million,” Reuters reported.
“The abortion restrictions have rattled other donors. Metals magnate and Republican donor Andy Sabin, for example, soured on DeSantis and threw his support behind Senator Tim Scott in part due to the abortion issue,” the wire service reported.
That confirms reporting from Politico that socially liberal Republican megadonors were favoring Tim Scott because they view him as less likely to push socially conservative policies. A PAC supporting Scott also received a large donation from investor Jeffrey Yass as did one supporting Chris Christie, according to Politico.
“Billionaire businessman Ronald Lauder, the Estée Lauder makeup heir who supported Trump in 2020, recently flew to South Carolina to meet with Scott, the state’s junior senator and longshot presidential candidate, according to three people aware of the late June meeting,” Politico reported in July.
GOP megadonor Ken Griffin, who recently donated hundreds of millions of dollars to liberal Harvard University, also withdrew support for DeSantis. Griffin’s recent track record includes backing Mayor Richard Irvin’s failed Illinois gubernatorial campaign.
The mayor is pro-Black Lives Matter, pro-LGBT, and supported vaccine mandates. He did not win the GOP nomination.
Griffin “is frustrated by DeSantis’ positions on international relations and teaching about gender and sexuality as well as his ongoing fight with Disney,” Politico reported.
Griffin still loves DeSantis’ policies when it helps his bottom line – in mid-July his company closed on an $83 million property in Florida.
So as a pro-life, pro-marriage conservative, these are good signs for me that DeSantis would be strong on those issues.
He already has shown himself to be an opponent of abortion and has been willing to take on the LGBT agenda and wokeism in education. If it is true you can judge a man by his enemies, I am glad DeSantis’ are pro-choice, corporate Republicans.
