A New Low for Newsom with “California Coup” Stunt

Only in California would a vote of the people be considered a coup.

Yesterday, the chair of the State Democratic Party and other top Newsom allies held a press conference titled, “Defending against the California Coup.” One Newsom surrogate, the Mayor of San Diego, said: “We are asking the public to join us in taking a stand against this recall, against this California coup.”

Here’s how CalMatters began its story on the event:

“When is a constitutionally outlined petition campaign to remove an elected leader actually a ‘treasonous’ effort to subvert the democratic process. According to the California Democratic Party, when Republicans are on one side of the campaign and Gov. Gavin Newsom is on the other.”

It’s hard to imagine a greater sign of desperation. As Politico’s California reporter noted, “This press conference does not happen unless Gavin Newsom is seriously worried about the recall effort.”

It also almost certainly would not have happened without Newsom’s personal blessing, and it echoed his campaign’s own false claim that the Recall is a “refusal to play by the rules” and somehow comparable to incitement of “domestic terrorists.”

Observers of all political affiliations blasted the stunt, once again showing Newsom’s wonderful ability to bring people together – in opposition to him. His own former deputy chief of staff said, “It’s absolutely insane to frame a recall where the voters go to the polls a coup.” Many people pointed out it minimized the horrifying events of last week for Newsom’s own political gain.

One leading Democratic campaign operative was quoted saying the press conference “was most likely deeply damaging” both to “Newsom and Democratic party efforts to stall the recall.” In perhaps the most ominous sign for Newsom, the Party Chair suggested they might throw him under the bus and “put forward an alternative candidate on the recall ballot should the grassroots effort qualify.”

That didn’t work out so well in 2003 for Cruz Bustamante, whose farcical “No on the Recall, Yes on Bustamante” campaign was a total bust. If the Recall succeeds, voters are unlikely to settle for more of the same.

In fact, at this moment the California public has never been more attentive to the failures of our state government. That means a successful Recall, more than just a change of personnel, promises change of a more fundamental kind – reshuffling the stacked deck of our political system. By rejecting corruption, incompetence, and division, it could inaugurate not just a new Governor but a new paradigm for our public life.

That would set our state on a new course, with no limit as to what we could achieve. And it would set the stage for restoring the greatest gift of our Founders: government that is truly by the people.

It’s the exact opposite of a “coup,” and it’s what has Gavin Newsom and the political class he represents panicking.

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