Democrats are painting the attempt to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom as a partisan effort pushed by conspiracy theorists. But this is a reckoning coming from Newsom’s own constituents, demanding he be held accountable for his terrible coronavirus response and his hypocrisy.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was the latest to jump on the bandwagon, saying that the recall effort was a “naked partisan power grab” by “extreme right-wing Republicans,” because (she says) Newsom is a true man of the people, one who “dares to listen to scientists and fights to put power in the hands of working people.”
Had a Republican governor been caught dining indoors, in violation of coronavirus restrictions he was imposing on the state’s residents, celebrating the birthday of a lobbyist at an up-scale French restaurant, Warren would have been one of the first to condemn him. But Newsom is part of her team, so she must run to his defense instead.
Newsom did not “dare to listen to scientists.” His coronavirus restrictions were an incoherent mess. He banned outdoor dining and limited the use of outdoor playgrounds, despite no evidence that they contributed to the spread of the virus. He restricted outdoor crowds at sporting events, with no evidence they contribute to spread, and the state remains one of the most restricted on school reopenings.
Newsom also hasn’t fought to “put power in the hands of working people.” He destroyed small businesses in California, enacting restrictions that apparently don’t apply to the Grammys. They didn’t apply to the rest of the entertainment industry either, as Hollywood got entertainment workers to be deemed essential in April and exempt from the state curfew in November thanks to their lobbying efforts.
The California gov’t has intentionally tried to kill the livelihoods of millions in the restaurant and bar industry and forced you all to stay locked up in your too small homes. Meanwhile talentless wannabes get to host maskless parties at the Staples Center to fete themselves. https://t.co/1sIYUhS09O
— Tiana Lowe (@TianaTheFirst) March 15, 2021
Newsom’s French Laundry party clearly wasn’t a one-off, given how responsive he is to well-connected lobbyists, but it was what gave the recall effort some legs. Only 42% of Californians currently favor keeping Newsom in office, in a state where Democrats make up 46% of registered voters. It isn’t just Republicans: Independent voters narrowly favor replacing him as well.
Newsom only has his own failures to thank for this, no matter how much he tries to make it about former President Donald Trump or the Proud Boys. He was the one who imposed harsh restrictions on everyday Californians while choosing to violate them in the most elitist way possible. He was the one who gave special carve-outs to celebrities. This recall is one of his own making, and he certainly deserves it.
