Why is Ron DeSantis ‘polarizing’ but Stacey Abrams isn’t?

Luke Bryan gets slammed for bringing the Florida guv onstage but there’s a double standard

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams speaks at a campaign event for Georgia Democrats on October 28, 2022 (Getty Images)
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Ron DeSantis and Stacey Abrams have at least a couple things in common: they’re both running for governor of their respective states, and they both recently appeared onstage at big-name concerts. It is there, however, that the similarities end.

Country music star Luke Bryan is defending himself for bringing DeSantis on stage over the weekend to raise funds for Hurricane Ian victims. Bryan and DeSantis were raked over the coals on social media following the concert, with users labeling DeSantis an “anti-LGBTQ” and “anti-immigrant” governor and threatening to boycott Bryan. One user expressed fear of “my…

Ron DeSantis and Stacey Abrams have at least a couple things in common: they’re both running for governor of their respective states, and they both recently appeared onstage at big-name concerts. It is there, however, that the similarities end.

Country music star Luke Bryan is defending himself for bringing DeSantis on stage over the weekend to raise funds for Hurricane Ian victims. Bryan and DeSantis were raked over the coals on social media following the concert, with users labeling DeSantis an “anti-LGBTQ” and “anti-immigrant” governor and threatening to boycott Bryan. One user expressed fear of “my hard earned money going into the pockets of election deniers and democracy assassins.”

Yet when Democrat Abrams appeared at a Lizzo concert with rapper Latto during her performance of “her reproductive rights anthem P*ssy” last weekend, it was dubbed “an iconic linkup.”

Cockburn finds himself scratching his head on this one. The mainstream media reports that Bryan is “defending” himself against “critics,” tweeting that DeSantis is a “polarizing” figure. Yet the Florida governor’s presence at Bryan’s concert was for the purpose of something very non-polarizing. “I grew up in a country where if a governor asks you if they can come and raise awareness to help victims of a natural disaster you help,” Bryan tweeted after being “slammed” for bringing DeSantis on stage.

Meanwhile, Abrams, “the queen herself,” made her appearance 100 percent political, yet somehow escaped the social and mainstream media “backlash.”

“At Atlanta’s State Farm Arena [last] Saturday, Abrams marched out onstage along with Latto’s backup dancers,” reported Teen Vogue. “At first, Abrams blended right in — she held a pink sign just like the other dancers, which read rallying cries like ‘Protect women’s rights,’ ‘my body, my choice,’ and the short and to-the-point ‘p*ssy.’”

Abrams then reminded the audience, “I need your vote!”

Time will tell if internet firestorms mean anything in real life. The midterms are eight days away.