Florida state senator’s “Ultimate Cancel Act” bill draws laughs, scorn from across the country

by | Mar 1, 2023



  • Florida State Senator Blaise Ingoglia has proposed a bill called the “Ultimate Cancel Act” that aims to cancel any political party for their past support of slavery.
  • The bill does not name any specific party, but would require the Division of Elections to “cancel” the filings of any qualifying political party.
  • The proposal is an obvious political stunt rather than a serious proposal. Even in the unlikely event it passed, it would have little impact as the “canceled” party could simply rename itself while keeping all of its registered members.
  • Walking directly into the trap, the Florida Democratic Party issued a harsh reaction statement that tacitly acknowledged the party’s past history of supporting slavery. 

Florida State Senator Blaise Ingoglia is promoting a new bill called the “Ultimate Cancel Act,” and though it doesn’t explicitly name the Democratic Party, it’s clear from the context that Democrats are his target. Whether they are the target of actually being cancelled or just being trolled is a matter of interpretation. The proposed bill, if passed, would require the Division of Elections to immediately cancel the filings of a political party if the party’s platform has previously advocated for, or been in support of, slavery or involuntary servitude.

In comments, Ingoglia noted that the Democratic Party had adopted pro-slavery positions in their political platforms during conventions in 1840, 1844, 1856, 1860, and 1864.

“For years now, leftist activists have been trying to ‘cancel’ people and companies for things they have said or done in the past. This includes the removal of statues and memorials and the renaming of buildings,” Ingoglia said in a statement. “Using this standard, it would be hypocritical not to cancel the Democratic Party itself for the same reason.”

But some of Ingoglia’s colleagues appeared to understand the bill proposal as more of a political stunt rather than a serious proposal. State Rep. Alex Andrade retweeted a post by another user congratulating Ingoglia for “trolling” Florida Democrats:

Others, however, either didn’t like, or in some cases, didn’t get the joke. The Florida Democratic Party, now under the leadership of Nikki Fried, immediately attempted to turn the proposal into a political win. But in the process the FDP tacitly acknowledged that the bill, which doesn’t explicitly name any political party, would in fact apply to them:

“Presenting a bill that would disenfranchise 5 million voters is both unconstitutional and unserious. Under Ron DeSantis, Senator Ingoglia is using his office to push bills that are nothing more than publicity stunts instead of focusing on the issues that matter most to Floridians, such as reforming property insurance, addressing housing affordability and combating climate change,” the FDP’s emailed statement said. “The sooner DeSantis and his puppets in the legislature learn that Florida is a Democratic Republic and not a Banana Republic, the better it will be for all Floridians.”

Another commenter on Yahoo! News named “Mark S.” wrote, “Some politicians cannot seem to accept the fact that once you get elected, you have an obligation to represent everyone, not just people who agree with your political ideology.”

Another commenter seemed to realize it was a stunt but took issue with it nevertheless. “Doug E.” wrote, “You can’t do this. It violates the First amendment. And it’s just wrong to even think about. I’m a Republican. Since Reagan. I am conservative. And even I don’t like this. This seems like a terrible stunt that is bound to backfire.”

Indeed the stunt wouldn’t have much impact, even in the unlikely event it passed and was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Ingoglia included a provision that would allow the “canceled” Democratic Party to simply rename itself while keeping all of its registered members.

And even Ingoglia seemed to acknowledge in his statement that he has an ulterior purpose behind the bill filing. “Some people want to have ‘uncomfortable conversations’ about certain subjects. Let’s have those conversations,” Ingoglia said.

8 Comments

  1. Deborah Coffey

    Considering Republican actions against people of color over the past decades and winning first prize for hatred, racism and bigotry in THIS century, the GOP deserves only scorn. Look who they hate in Florida right now…women, Blacks, gays, businesses, baseball teams and of course, Democrats. Who is left but White men? Can’t get more 1787 than that!

    • Brian Burgess

      The meaning of words means nothing anymore. Accusations of “hate” and “racism” are so liberally thrown around anymore they have no meaning in modern discourse.

      • Deborah Coffey

        Really? Apparently, TRUTH has no meaning to the Republicans anymore. I meant those words literally, Brian, and I know enough Republicans to make my statement true. These are not just accusations. If we made them felonies, I’d see you all in court…and I’d win.

      • Geez

        Says you…the hate and racism rag editor. 🤣

    • Robert

      The Inconvenient Truth about the Democratic Party

      Since its founding in 1829, the Democratic Party has fought against every major civil rights initiative, and has a LONG history of discrimination (and that’s an understatement).

      The Democratic Party defended slavery, started the Civil War, opposed Reconstruction, founded the Ku Klux Klan, imposed segregation, perpetrated lynchings, and fought against the civil rights acts of the 1950s and 1960s, etc, etc …

      Hate, racism, bigotry? The above is just a small inkling of the truth about the Democratic Party. Want the rest of it? Just ask –

      And I’m not a Republican –

      • Deborah Coffey

        Here’s a FACT. A poorly informed (misinformed) citizen is a bad citizen. Who passed the Civil Rights Act? Your comment is so ignorant, I don’t even know where to begin.

        • Robert

          Now allow me to present YOU with a fact. On this date, the House overrode President Andrew Johnson’s (a DEMOCRAT) veto of the Civil Rights Bill of 1866 with near unanimous REPUBLICAN support, 122 to 41, marking the FIRST time Congress legislated a civil rights act ! Now … WHOSE comment is ignorant ? And You’re a teacher ??

  2. Frank Thompson

    Meanwhile, Florida residents continue to struggle with ever increasing homeowner insurance premiums, annual FPL rate increases approved by Tallahassee, high rents.

 

What is the most glaring political issue facing Floridians ahead of Legislative Session?
×
%d bloggers like this: