Ron DeSantis danced round and round instead of answering when asked about Trump's bogus claim of "presidential immunity" by Kaitlan Collins at a CNN townhall in Iowa this Thursday.
COLLINS: You're running for president, obviously. I want to ask you about the limits that you think you would have as president. The former president keeps claiming that he can't be prosecuted for anything that happened while he was in office because he has presidential immunity. If you were the nominee and if you're elected president, do you think you would have blanket presidential immunity?
DESANTIS: Well, look, I mean, I'm going to, you take an oath to support and defend the Constitution. I did it when I was commissioned as an officer. Anyone that serves in the military does it. I took an oath as governor.
As president, you're taking an oath to take care that the laws are faithfully executed, and to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So I'm going to wield my authority with that obligation in mind. And if I don't think something is constitutional, I am duty-bound to oppose it. That's just the nature of the job.
So, I make constitutional judgments all the time. It doesn't mean a court always agrees with it, but I am going through that analysis. So for example, if Congress sends me a piece of legislation that I think violates the Constitution, even if I think it's a good idea policy-wise, I am duty bound to veto it. And I will do that.
You're going to see an energetic executive. I'm going to wield article 2 power to the farthest extent to be able to advance the agenda I'm running on, and we're going to be able to deliver big victories. But that oath means something to me, and I will satisfy that oath of office.
And by the way, you talked about what's going on now. Joe Biden took an oath to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. Is there anybody in this room that thinks he is satisfying that oath when it comes to our southern border? I don't think so.
So no answer and a lame attempt to change the subject to the border of all things. Collins pressed him again and he pretended that Trump's lawbreaking was just too difficult for him to understand.
COLLINS: But what about blanket presidential immunity, that a president can do whatever they want? Do you agree with that?
DESANTIS: If you're abiding by the Constitution, none of that is going to matter at that point. So, follow the law, follow the Constitution. This stuff gets into the weeds legally about what can happen to a president when they leave office based on conduct that may or may not have been official.
It's not for me to adjudicate that. I can just tell you this, if you nominate me, I'll get elected, I'll serve, and we won't even be discussing these issues. We'll be discussing your issues. You're not going be... to have to worry about my conduct. I'll conduct myself in a way you can be proud of. I'll conduct myself in a way you can tell your kids, that's somebody you should emulate. And we will have success as a result of that.
It's not going to matter because his campaign is in a tail-spin, not because he wouldn't be just as bad as Trump if he managed to get elected president. I'm not sure why any of the networks are even bothering with these townhalls or debates. I guess they do serve one useful purpose, which is to remind everyone that the rot in the Republican party definitely does not begin and end with Trump.
