Newsom Blasted For Calling California ‘The Freedom State’
After years of governing as an unabashed leftist, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom has seemingly attempted to position himself as a moderate in recent days, fueling speculation that he is mounting a shadow campaign to enter the 2024 presidential race.
Although he has denied any such intent, his decision to support a bill increasing the penalty for child trafficking and veto a bill designed to take children away from parents who do not endorse radical transgender ideology have come as a surprise to many Americans on both sides of the aisle.
As he prepares for a debate of his own against GOP presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis, Newsom welcomed all the candidates participating in Wednesday’s Republican primary debate to his state with a social media post declaring California “the freedom state.”
Incredulous commenters inundated his post with derisive remarks and memes, including actor Kevin Sorbo, who pointed out the mass exodus of residents from California as GOP-led states like Texas and Florida see their population numbers soar.
“Weird, I don’t remember there ever being a time people fled from democracy,” he wrote. “You must have a different definition.”
Writer Gabriella Hoffman agreed, writing: “If there’s so much freedom in California, why have millions of us — who were born and raised here — left for actual freedom-minded states? Politicians like this guy RUINED my home state and have made it unlivable.”
Taking the argument even further, conservative pundit Erick Erickson said the entire situation is “all very East German.”
The California governor is sure to be the topic of consistent political interest as the 2024 presidential race heats up — at least until he faces off with DeSantis for a debate set to air on Fox News next month.
Host Sean Hannity will moderate the 90-minute debate, which will air during his prime-time slot on the cable news network on Nov. 30.
As President Joe Biden’s approval rating plummets and polls increasingly show GOP primary front-runner Donald Trump leading the incumbent, a majority of Democrats say they do not want Biden to run for a second term.
Earlier this month, Democratic strategist Michael Starr Hopkins said that Newsom appears to be launching a “plug-and-play” strategy to take over if Biden is either forced out of the race or decides to step aside.
“It’s why you’ve seen him do things like being willing to debate Gov. DeSantis and go on these tours around the South,” he said. “It’s so that he could prepare himself should President Biden not run or to better position himself in the next election should Biden win and then it be an open primary.”
