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DeSantis Derangement Syndrome: Tampa Bay Times’ Sexist Hit on Governor’s Press Secretary

Christina Pushaw

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There is a new syndrome variant drastically affecting Florida at this exact moment, and no, it is not the “Delta” COVID variant. The DeSantis Derangement Syndrome, a variant of the Trump Derangement Syndrome, has officially infected the Tampa Bay Times, which decided to publish a disgusting political hit on DeSantis Press Secretary Christina Pushaw.

The author, Kirby Wilson, engages in conspiratorial and baseless claims about how Pushaw landed a high-level job with one of the most highly celebrated GOP governors in the U.S. The Times’ Kirby Wilson, in a deep investigation, discovered that Pushaw “attached” her resume on an email to the DeSantis administration and – wait for it – said that she would love to work for the governor. How daring of a woman to send her resume inquiring about potential employment.

Slow News Day or DeSantis Derangement Syndrome?

Wilson then claims that it is “unclear” what happened next, as Pushaw received paperwork for a position. A DeSantis spokesperson said that Pushaw is “experienced, vocal, and intelligent.” In a normal world, this response would have ended the story—Pushaw’s intelligence is what got her this job. But, no. Wilson is not done.

He then digs into her resume, questioning her experience in government affairs, and bringing irrelevant connections to a former president of the country of Georgia—a tactic that The Washington Post and The New York Times used to attack the legal expertise of Trump legal adviser Jenna Ellis and the talent of former Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany.

Sexist Attacks on Conservative Women

The attack on conservative women by the mainstream media is well-documented. “Conservative women are used to facing criticism that includes claims they aren’t educated or their minds aren’t fully formed,” wrote in Forbes, Karin Agness Lips, Founder of the Network of Enlightened Women. Similarly, Heather Higgins, CEO of Independent Women’s Voice, called out the media for putting “down conservative women” in a Fox News opinion piece.

Potentially aware of this sexist trend against conservative women, Kirby Wilson, tries to disguise his symptoms of DeSantis Derangement Syndrome, by dropping a paragraph at the end about Kyle Lamb, a blogger who had been hired by DeSantis.

Kirby Wilson’s Dad was Tampa Bay Times’ Managing Editor

The press has a job to hold the government accountable and to bring the truth to its readers. But what purpose do these articles serve? What did the residents of St. Petersburg, Florida earn from this hit? Potentially nothing, but mere gossip.

Individuals sending their resumes and praising organizations they wish to work for should be a no-brainer. Perhaps getting a job on your own is a complex issue to Kirby Wilson, whose father – Mike Wilson – was the managing editor of The Tampa Bay Times, where Kirby currently works. Individuals have raised questions about Wilson Sr.’s connections potentially getting his son a job in his second year of undergrad studies.

Despite the gig, Kirby graduated from Duke University – where he was a member of “Hoof ‘n’ Horn” musical theater – with “alarming levels of debt,” says Kirby’s bio on The Texas Tribune. Kirby’s financial struggles may explain his bizarre interest in Pushaw’s $120,000 salary as a young conservative woman.

Stand Strong, Conservative Women

Kirby claims that “as a reporter” he is interested in building “community” around storytelling. In this case, however, Kirby is building a community of hate and bias against conservative women.  A free press is needed for democracies to function and for government actors to be held accountable. But these types of political hits deliver nothing but division.

It is with great sadness that I hereby officially nominate Tampa Bay Times’ Kirby Wilson for El American’s Idiot of the Week award.

Kirby Wilson did not immediately respond to El American’s questions before publication.

Luis Cornelio is the English Editor-in-Chief at El American. After graduating cum laude from the Colin Powell School for Civil and Global Leadership, he went on to intern at the Heritage Foundation. Most recently he served on President Donald Trump's re-election campaign, writing research articles on topics including law and order, immigration, and the Supreme Court. He also currently works as the Director of Communications for Got Freedom and researcher for the election integrity watchdog Amistad Project. A Dominican-American, he was granted U.S. citizenship in February 2020.
// Luis Cornelio es el English Editor-in-Chief de El American. Después de graduarse cum laude de la Escuela Colin Powell de Liderazgo Civil y Global, pasó a ser pasante de la Heritage Foundation. Recientemente, participó en la campaña de reelección del presidente Donald Trump escribiendo artículos de investigación sobre temas como la ley y el orden, la inmigración y la Corte Suprema. Actualmente trabaja como director de Comunicaciones de Got Freedom y es investigador para el grupo de integridad electoral, el Amistad Project. Un dominicano-americano, se le otorgó la ciudadanía americana en febrero de 2020.

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