An NPR reporter and a White House adviser did their best to vilify Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) over a mass shooting that took place in Jacksonville, attempting to link it to school reform in the state.

(Video Credit: The White House)

The brazen political setup was conducted during a White House briefing on Monday. It was a clear attempt to paint DeSantis as being responsible for the mass shooting because of his efforts to keep education in Florida from being skewed by a leftist agenda.

This follows a crowd booing DeSantis as he attended a vigil for the victims of the shooting where three black individuals were shot at a Dollar General Store by a racist man who had nothing to do with the governor. The deranged gunman used a high-powered rifle decorated with swastikas and a handgun. He then committed suicide.

Senior White House Adviser Stephen Benjamin was asked the polarizing question by NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez. Benjamin was the first black mayor of South Carolina’s capital city, Columbia, so naturally, he was tapped as an adviser to President Biden. He is the director of the White House’s Office of Public Engagement.

“Does the White House see any connection with the changes that the Florida governor has made in teaching about African American history to the kind of violence that we saw in Jacksonville?” Ordonez asked Benjamin.

Crowd uses Ron DeSantis as punching bag; boos him out at vigil for Dollar Store shooting victims https://t.co/Geg8vPne3c via @BIZPACReview

— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) August 28, 2023

“The president is — has been very clear — again, in the piece he penned this morning and I think probably more so in action — his actions last month in working to establish the — the monuments to Emmett Till and Mamie Till — Mamie Till Mobley, of course, recognizing, commemorating the sad event of his murder but also recognizing the courage of his mother in making sure that she helped light the fuse that set in action significant events of the Civil Rights Movement,” Benjamin began.

He went on to confusingly draw a line between historical monuments, racial conflict, and DeSantis.

“That action establishing these monuments in Mississippi and in Illinois was meant to make sure people understand that we cannot rewrite American history. We have to tell the good with the bad, and that is edifying to the soul of this country,” Benjamin continued.

“And the president — since day one, you’ve heard him talk about his personal reaction to Charlottesville. Redeeming the soul of America is cent- — central to who Joe Biden is as a man and why he chose to run for president as a — as a candidate,” he added, sounding as if he was merely parroting talking points.

.@CaseyDeSantis and I stand with the families impacted by the tragic shooting in Jacksonville. The people of Florida stand united in condemning the horrific, racially-motivated murders.

Our family is praying for the victims, their families and the student body of Edward Waters… pic.twitter.com/spFBiX4C8g

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 27, 2023

“So, I don’t think it’s a stretch to suggest that — that trying to rewrite American history is not only wrong but it also encourages our children and those among us not to lean into the — to the beautiful and also painful past of what our history looks like and encouraging people to move forward together,” the adviser blathered.

Later in the briefing, black history education was once again brought up when Benjamin was asked how Biden’s administration would address so-called efforts to censor it.

“Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Obviously, students are going back to school around this time of year. The president has talked about book bans; a lot of these bans are going into effect. Could you talk about what the White House — what the administration is doing to address the fact that, as we — as you talked about earlier, parts of black history, parts of American history are being impacted by these book bans in various states?” a reporter asked in an obvious effort to continue the attack against DeSantis.

“Sure. No, it’s a — it’s — it’s so important. And purely if — if some people — you know, we come from a world where we know that even two people equally (inaudible) can see the same thing very differently. Rewriting history is not necessarily one of those things,” Benjamin responded, giving a word salad a go.

DeSantis earns accolades when Florida rejects nearly 35% of submitted social studies books. Here’s why…https://t.co/tOGQyaTueD

— American Wire News (@americanwire_) May 12, 2023

In a “do it for the children” spew, Benjamin appeared to insinuate somehow that DeSantis is responsible for not teaching children actual history.

“But if you do see these things philosophically differently, it’s important to know, however, that our children, if we’re going to compete on a global stage, must at least know their own history. You can’t step into a job interview on one of the other continents and the people in that room know more about your history than you do,” he commented.

“And I think — I think purely as a matter of competition, not — not equity and common sense — it’s important that children understand, again, the beauty of the greatest democratic nation in the history of the world but also the challenges that brought us to this point.

“So, I do know this is something that the president and vice president feel very strongly about and will continue to make sure that we make full access to American history available to all of our children,” Benjamin concluded.

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