DeSantis administration threatens local TV station for airing abortion rights campaign ads
Source: The Independent
10 hours ago
Ron DeSantiss administration has appeared to threaten a local TV station with legal action for airing an abortion rights campaign ad.
The ad in question is the same one that aired in Florida during the vice presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance. It features a woman named Caroline who needed to have an abortion and cancer treatments after a brain tumor diagnosis in 2022.
Such a difficult situation would have been complicated by Floridas six-week abortion ban today. The doctors knew that if I did not end my pregnancy, I would lose my baby, I would lose my life, and my daughter would lose her mom, the woman says. Florida has now banned abortion
even in cases like mine. Amendment 4 is gonna protect women like me.
The letter dated October 3 and sent by the Florida Department of Health to WFLA TVs vice president Mark Higgins was shared on social media by journalist Jason Garcia, who accused the administration of trying to intimidate the TV station. The DeSantis administration had previously been accused of using his election police dragnet to target citizens who signed a petition that successfully put Amendment 4 on Novembers ballots.
Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/desantis-threatens-tv-station-abortion-advert-b2624767.html
jaxexpat
(7,794 posts)UpInArms
(51,970 posts)cannot remember the First Amendment?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Dem2theMax
(10,540 posts)I will say it isn't nice.
onetexan
(13,913 posts)Only to then drop it later once it's either unfavorable for his purposes, or because he can't win? Dumb ass.
TomSlick
(12,069 posts)Once upon a time, I would have said that any judge would immediately dismiss such a charge. That time has passed.
riversedge
(73,978 posts)...........Leon County Democrats responded: Outrageous bullying using the government. Pure fascism.
Floridians, THIS is not democracy! said Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party. We do not live in a free state, free of government interference, free of government intimidation and free of government overreach.
The DeSantis regime is threatening TV stations with prosecution for running ads supporting abortion rights and Amendment 4, added former state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, who is running for the state Senate. Florida is not a free state.
Amendment 4 would codify the right to an abortion at any point before fetal viability, and prevent laws in the state from restricting access before that point. It would also prevent laws from interfering with abortions after that point in the pregnancy if necessary to protect the patients health.
Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
Stargazer99
(3,101 posts)Novara
(6,115 posts)A FASCIST abuse of power to subvert the First Amendment.
Bengus81
(7,712 posts)And coming soon a Failure on the six week ban abortion when citizens can actually VOTE on an issue.
If I remember right he still has a longggg two years of being Gov before he's out for good?
wolfie001
(3,964 posts)And should be addressed as such. Sick fucks John Roberts and his wife would file this under their "Ball and Strikes" legal theory.
Old Crank
(5,151 posts)For nothing.
Goes with having agencies advertise against the ballot issue.
Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
Jimvanhise
(383 posts)Only the FCC can do that and the TV station did not break any laws. DeSantis (and his Republican cronies) have yet to answer for their illegal attacks on Disney where Florida broke a more than 50 year old contract without cause.
lees1975
(6,201 posts)Democrats and like minded independents need to turn out in your best numbers, and throw these people out.
Response to lees1975 (Reply #15)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
Martin68
(24,870 posts)burning. Attacking ads favoring abortion rights is not a winning tactic these days...