Casey DeSantis, the wife of far-right Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, is under fire after urging her husband's supporters to commit voter fraud.
After DeSantis encouraged voters to visit the state of Iowa and "be a part of the caucus" held there, one of the most important, and usually the first, contests of each presidential primary season. It is, of course, a federal crime to vote in a state in which you do not live.
DeSantis' comments came during an interview on Fox News in which even host Martha MacCallum couldn't conceal her bemused look of "ma'am, what on Earth are you doing?"
Casey DeSantis told McCallum:
“We're asking all these moms and grandmoms to come, from wherever it might be — North Carolina, South Carolina — and to descend upon the state of Iowa to be a part of the caucus because you do not have to be a resident of Iowa to be able to participate in the caucus."
That is so wildly untrue it is preposterous. So much so, in fact, that the main criticism of DeSantis' profoundly...let's go with misguided comments...has come from none other than former Republican President Donald Trump, of all people.
Trump's campaign issued a statement condemning DeSantis, reading:
“The Trump campaign strongly condemns their dirty and illegal tactics and implores all Trump supporters to be aware of the DeSantises’ openly stated plot to rig the Caucus through fraud."
Honestly, he should feel flattered, the DeSantises learned everything they know about brazen election lies from Trump himself. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, after all.
Anyway, DeSantis has since walked back her comments on X, fka Twitter, calling for grandmas—er, sorry, grandmamas, a word literally no one uses but her—supporting Ron DeSantis by coming to Iowa to "volunteer."
We\u2019ve built a nationwide coalition of moms who are mobilized to help elect @RonDeSantis: Mamas for DeSantis.\n\nWhile voting in the Iowa caucus is limited to registered voters in Iowa, there is a way for others to participate. I\u2019m calling on mamas and grandmamas from all over the\u2026— (@)
Okay then, Casey. Naturally, DeSantis' comments haven't gone over very well on social media among anyone with a basic knowledge of civics.
The Iowa Caucus is January 15, 2024. Ron DeSantis is expected to lose badly to Donald Trump, even in spite of all the...{checks notes}...grandmamas for Ronny. Happy holidays!
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