Bobblehead Bootsie's going to regret he tangled with Mickey:
The Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday filed a lawsuit in federal court against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other officials alleging a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" after the company publicly opposed a state law that critics call "Don't Say Gay."
Disney and DeSantis have been embroiled in a feud over Walt Disney World's self-governing privileges in the Orlando area, which the possible Republican presidential contender has threatened to revoke. The corporation is one of the state's largest employers and a key driver of tourism.
The power struggle started when Disney, under then-CEO Bob Chapek, criticized the Florida government for a state education law that opponents have dubbed "Don't Say Gay." DeSantis signed the bill into law in March 2022 amid growing speculation that he might challenge former President Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination.
Disney's lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, dramatically escalates the fight. The company alleges that a retaliation campaign was "orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech" and "now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights."
"Disney regrets that it has come to this," the company said in the first section of the lawsuit. "But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials."...
Bootsie made the unwise decision to take on one of the world's largest companies, one with very deep pockets and battalions of lawyers. Why? He arrogantly thought he could bully them, as he has others, into capitulating to his self- serving "war on woke," "freedom for me, not for thee" anti- LGTBQ agenda. Disney nailed it by calling out Bootsie's campaign of "targeted retaliation" and "weaponization of government power." Bootsie's proof positive of the devolution of a party of small government and deregulation to a full- bore fascist movement.
And boy, does this meatball have the look of a not- ready- for- prime- time loser with this ill- conceived gambit finally blowing up in his face just as he's failing to launch his challenge to the Malignant Loser. Speaking of which, we can imagine the Malignant Loser is likely pleased he's not the only one going to court.
(Image: Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
