Louisiana GOP Sen Bill Cassidy, Who Voted to Convict Trump, Countersignals DeSantis’ Mask Mandate Ban on CNN

U.S. Sen Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who voted to convict Trump in February’s impeachment trial, appeared today on CNN’s “State of the Union” and gave the left more red meat, this time countersignaling Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on mask mandates.

DeSantis recently exchanged blows with President Biden after Biden told DeSantis and other governors who have banned mask requirements to “at least get out of the way of people who are trying to do the right thing.”

When asked about the issue by co-host Dana Bash, Cassidy responded, “I’m a conservative. I think you govern best when you govern closest to the people being governed.”

Cassidy insisted, “If a local community is having a, their ICU is full, and the people at the local schools see that they’ve got to make sure they stay open because otherwise children miss out for another year of school, and they put in policy, then the local officials should be listened to.”

Bash prodded, “So you disagree with Governor DeSantis?”

“I do disagree with Governor DeSantis. The local officials should have control there,” Cassidy responded.

Cassidy added, “I don’t want to top down from Washington, D.C. I don’t want to top down from a governor’s office.”

.@DanaBashCNN: "So you disagree with Governor DeSantis?"@BillCassidy: "I do disagree with Governor DeSantis."#CNNSOTU https://t.co/1QiTPYX0qQ

— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) August 8, 2021

The mainstream media have seized upon a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Florida to criticize DeSantis, who is a rising star in the Republican party and being floated as a president or vice presidential candidate for 2024.

News outlets like The Hill have referenced figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which report that Florida has logged more than 2.7 million COVID-19 cases so far and currently has a an average seven-day positivity rate of between 20 and 25 percent.

CNN noted that about 1 in 5 new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have been reported in Florida over the past few weeks, despite the state accounting for only about 7 percent of the U.S. population.