We reported Tuesday on how Gov. Ron DeSantis used the occasion of the first day of the LGBTQ “Pride Month” to sign a bill into law that effectively bans transgender women (people born men but who identify as women) from competing in biological women’s sports in Florida.

As per the norm, DeSantis’ actions triggered the Usual Suspects, including the unhinged fanatics at the Human Rights Campaign, which is as strong an indicator as there can be that DeSantis absolutely did the right thing.

During the signing ceremony, the popular Republican governor’s young daughter Madison was next to him and handed him pens with which to sign the bill, as seen below:

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signs a bill that will ban transgender students from participating in girls’ youth sports. pic.twitter.com/hXNaIHZdn9

— The Recount (@therecount) June 1, 2021

For reasons only known to him, longtime Lincoln Project advisor and Principled Republican™ Stuart Stevens – one of the more outfront members of the group – thought it’d be a good idea to use DeSantis’ daughter as a weapon with which to attack him:

I wonder when this girl grows up, how she’ll feel about being used as a prop in selling a piece of legislation that hurt people she is likely to go to school with, work with, go to church with. Using kids to sell hate for political gain is a favorite @GovRonDeSantis move. https://t.co/aZnGrjRmhd

— stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) June 2, 2021

That a man with such close ties to a group that looked the other way for months as allegations of predatory grooming behavior towards young men were being made against Lincoln Project co-founder John Weaver would feign he cares for the young daughter of a governor he despises solely because of his political alliance with former President Trump was not lost on others who absolutely roasted him for his lack of self-awareness and audacity:

I wonder when any children of this guy grows up and how they'll feel about their dad being part of an organization that knew about and covered up that a child predator was in its inner circle. https://t.co/dkrnbQRAK2

— Physics Geek (@physicsgeek) June 2, 2021

This is rich. That is his daughter. And as someone who plans to have children someday, knowing my daughters will have a fair shot in sports matters way more than your feelings. Your position is ostensibly anti-woman, and I won’t listen to this “photo-op” nonsense. https://t.co/9jEMotzQJg

— Erielle Davidson (@politicalelle) June 2, 2021

Because we know if the Lincoln Project cares about anything, it's the well being of minors. https://t.co/NpwZ8inTXA

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) June 2, 2021

Jon Weaver molested children while you ran cover for him. Where's your sympathy for those children? https://t.co/W2wLCspgS1

— Daniel Collins (@dcollins324) June 2, 2021

When you’re scared of @GovRonDeSantis so you go after his kid instead…🙄

— Emily Domenech (@ehdomenech) June 2, 2021

Perhaps she’ll be happy that she can compete on a level playing field and then shower in privacy and safety.

— Zaab Sethna (@ZaabSethna) June 2, 2021

We’ll only know for sure once she grows up, and that assumes she’ll weigh in on the issue at all. Her voice, her choice. For now, she’s a child, and Stevens should do the right thing and respect that instead of projecting his obvious faults and inadequacies onto Gov. DeSantis. But then again, we know respecting underage kids (and women, for that matter) is not the Lincoln Project’s strong suit, so we shouldn’t really expect any better from this clown.

Related: Miami Herald Reveals Just How Desperate They Are to Find Something on Ron DeSantis