Democrats are Supporting the Newsom Recall

Opponents of the Recall are not trying to defend Gavin Newsom. That, of course, is an impossible task. Instead, they’re engaging in what a corrupt political class always resorts to when its power is threatened: character assassination.

Remember the talk of Newsom’s Recall “war council”? It’s been operationalized. The Democrats’ political director just accused me and the GOP chair of fueling domestic terrorists by opposing the Governor’s policies. This vile allegation follows the “California Coup” event, where Newsom’s cronies likened a citizens’ movement 1.3 million strong to a violent overthrow of the government.

The latest desperate broadside came from one of Newsom’s closest allies, a prominent State Senator, who yesterday tweeted that “anyone who enables the recall is participating in a MAGA revenge fantasy.”

That would certainly come as a surprise to Chamath Palihapitiya. He’s a tech billionaire who supported Michael Bloomberg for President and just came out in favor of the Recall. It would also come as a surprise to David and Jacqueline Sacks, a couple that gave the maximum $58,400 to Newsom’s campaign in 2018 and is now financially supporting the Recall.

But most telling, dozens of the Senator’s own liberal supporters immediately refuted his assertion:

• “Excuse me? Your most ridiculous tweet ever,” wrote one. “I take offense with being lumped as a Trump supporter because our Governor is failing to do his job. Life long Democrat here who happily signed his recall. Newsom is destroying this state.”
• Another replied: “I actually like you and vote for you. You’re off point here. I’m telling you, the dissatisfaction with Newsom goes beyond party lines. You’d do yourself good and your constituents good, by recognizing that.”
• Another follower, a Bernie Sanders fan, said: “As a constituent, I would love to see you bring the same energy to legislative oversight of the vaccine rollout, EDD, and Gavin’s many other failures,” adding in another tweet: “I’m voting yes on the recall.”
• “That is insane,” read another reply. “I’ve signed the petition and I voted him (and you) in. Newsom has given us the most restrictions with the worst outcomes. Period.”
• Another person told the Senator he’d supported him “for years,” but said “Californians have been defrauded of over $30+ billion dollars” and “holding those responsible accountable is our duty.” He added: “should I simply prioritize being on the right team? This is a lame and disappointing take.”
• Another follower, who was recently calling for Republican Members of Congress to be arrested for treason, replied: “are you honestly giving him a passing grade re: handling of PG&E, EDD, vaccine rollout, schools? Stressing party over performance seems so dishonest.”
• “I have been a big supporter of yours since you were my SF Supervisor,” another replied. “But if schools are not opening in the Fall I will certainly support recalling Gov. Newsom.”
• “Me too,” added another. “If @GavinNewsom won’t ensure that all California schools are fully open no later than August 2021, I will support a recall.”
• A critic of Republicans in Congress wrote: “with all due respect, the recall effort is democratic and constitutional. @GavinNewsom let us down with EDD, arbitrary decisions on lockdowns, schools, and vaccines. Voters decide what happens next as it should be.”
• Another follower, who commonly retweets the likes of AOC, said: “The EDD mess is going to have millions of people siding with the recall people.”
• Another, who was repeatedly calling for the 25th Amendment to be invoked, replied, “If somebody doesn’t do something about the problems at the employment development department then he will be recalled.”
• Another who recently gloated about buying a “Mitch McConnell tears” coffee mug rebuked the tweet, noting Newsom’s “lackluster” COVID response, among other things.
• Another, who has tweeted comments like, “Vote Biden not murderers and psychopaths,” wrote: “Senator, gov has violated many rules himself, failed everyone, including those who cannot help themselves…Gov has failed 2keep up what we Ca stand for.”
• “It’s odd to hear you defend Newsom,” said another.” You’ve been so much more results-oriented than people like him. He’s all talk and no action.”
• “I voted for him. He needs to go.”

The replies continue along these lines. I speak every day with Democrats and Independents, in addition to Republicans, who’ve simply had enough. They may not agree on much politically, but they agree we deserve so much better. They agree our lives should not be turned upside by a corrupt Governor. They agree there’s no reason California should ever rank 50th out of 50 in anything – let alone just about everything.

A couple days ago, I had the chance to share this with a national audience on Fox: how the Recall is a citizens’ movement like we’ve never seen. You can watch the interview here.

Meanwhile, Newsom is calling California’s “progressivism” the “roadmap to success” for the Biden Administration. That is the absolute height of delusion. But it does show why the Recall has national significance. It’s an urgent warning not to copy California’s failures.

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