GOP Donor, DeSantis Ally Fears Governor ‘Has Gone Too Far’ in Battle Against Disney

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) stripping Disney of its special self-governing status last week has both energized the Republican base and left some on the right concerned about potential backlash.

The Washington Post interviewed several prominent Republicans and former Republicans for an article published Sunday, titled, “Some Republicans fear party overreach on LGBT measures.”

The article notes that many of the civil rights won in recent years for the LGBTQ community, like same-sex marriage, remain overwhelmingly supported by the general public. While these rights are not being targetted directly by the recent wave of GOP-supported bills aimed at limiting what is taught in schools, the authors of the article note that activists have dubbed the rhetoric surrounding the bills as “dangerous.”

“The measures have been accompanied by a push among some Republicans to falsely describe backers of gay rights as ‘groomers’ who are recruiting children to question their own sexuality or gender identity at a young age, torquing up rhetoric that LGBTQ activists say is dangerous,” wrote the article’s authors.

“One top Senate Republican also recently criticized the legal underpinnings of a 2015 Supreme Court decision affirming the right to same-sex marriage — a ruling that has broad public support,” the authors added as a potential warning of where the debate may be headed.

The crux of the piece rests on GOP donor Dan Eberhart, who shared his concern with the Post about DeSantis’ recent attacks on Disney as being seen as anti-business.

Disney, which is the largest employer in Florida, has been in DeSantis’ cross-hairs since the company publicly came about against the state’s recent legislation limiting what kindergarten to third-grade teachers can say in class about sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Youngkin invented this, and DeSantis has perfected it,” said Eberhart, who the Post notes “is close with” DeSantis. Eberhart, an energy sector CEO, added that he thinks DeSantis “may have gone too far” in taking away Disney’s special status and tax breaks due to the company’s opposition to the legislation.

“Now, he said, Democrats can paint DeSantis as hurting the economy in central Florida, where Disney employs thousands of workers,” added the Post.