Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ justifications for bringing a planeload of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard were attacked by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who called it a “stunt” done “to grab attention.”
Speaking at a Texas Tribune festival in a state where Gov. Greg Abbott has also transported migrants to Washington, DC, Chicago, and New York, the Biden cabinet member singled out DeSantis by name and criticized the action as self-serving.
Buttigieg remarked, to cheers from the crowd, “Obviously, there are difficulties with the border and with migration, but these are the types of antics you see from those who don’t have a solution.”
Gov. DeSantis served in Congress, for example. When they were discussing immigration reform, where was he? What have any of these individuals done to help with the problem? So I understand if you want to be noticed. When you have a plan of action, it’s one thing to draw attention to a problem,’ Buttigieg said to Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith at the event. It’s another to merely draw attention to the issue since, in reality, you might draw more attention to yourself by focusing on the issue than the solution.
That is what is happening. If they were simply being annoying, that would be one thing. But there are effects on people.
“You arrive here after fleeing a communist government in Venezuela, but someone cheats you by preventing you from traveling from Texas to Massachusetts using Florida public money for whatever reason. It is not only ineffective. People are being harmed by it to get attention.
Buttigieg seems to imply that DeSantis made the decision this month to advance his own political standing as he thinks about seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
The action, according to Biden, was “unAmerican” and a case of “playing politics with people’s lives.”
In addition, Abbott’s own initiative to transport 11,000 migrants to liberal enclaves has garnered widespread notice. According to a representative for his office, Renae Eze, Buttigieg “needs to remain in his lane” and “knows nothing about Texas’ busing operations.”
After being persuaded to board the aircraft by promises of job and perks, several of the migrants—Venezuelans who had immigrated to Texas—filed a federal class-action lawsuit. According to Florida NBC affiliate WPTV, DeSantis plans to use $12 million in interest on federal coronavirus funding to pay for the “facilitation of the transfer of undocumented immigrants from this state.”
The migrants that were on board the airplane that touched down on liberal Martha’s Vineyard were enlisted in Texas.
Buttigieg, who campaigned for president against Biden in 2020, is seen as one of the Biden Administration’s more successful TV surrogates. He is sometimes suggested as a possible contender in the event that Biden decides not to run for reelection in 2024.
DeSantis, unlike many Republicans, has not ruled out running against former President Donald Trump in the Republican primary. He is often touted as a potential contender if Trump decides not to run.
When questioned about his opposition to codifying safeguards for gay marriage during the event, Buttigieg also took a jab at Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. Married to Chasten Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana recently relocated to Michigan.
“I’ve met your governor and both of your senators.” I am unaware of their wives. I don’t really consider their unions. But I can’t think of a circumstance where I would try to ruin one of their unions. So why do they believe they are qualified to make judgments on mine? he questioned.
Last month, DeSantis justified the flights. “Biden was treating the migrants inhumanely.” They were destitute and starving. On a visit to his state, he observed, “They had absolutely no chance.” We believe that the border should be protected and that Biden should reinstate measures like remaining in Mexico, thus we volunteered to supply transportation to sanctuary areas.