Gov. Newsom’s Call for Freedom Is a Winner
Republican blockades on popular policies and popular will offer Democrats the opportunity to stake their claim on being the party of freedom.
Some very smart people are noticing the profound divide facing the United States as the one day where we’re all supposed to be proud of our nation approached. And they’re all-but-certain the situation is going to get worse.
Maybe, Maybe not. Here’s a little ray of hope…
I’ve always had mixed feelings about the authenticity of California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom. But on the issue of pushing back against the tide of negativity and despair that is an integral part of the current political climate, I gotta give him credit.
After complaining about what the Democratic party isn’t doing, Newsom has put his money where his mouth is.
Follow the leak of the draft of a Supreme Court decision to overturn the constitutional right to abortion, Gov. Gavin Newsom spoke to his party’s timidity in remarks at a Los Angeles Planned Parenthood office:
“Where the hell is my party? Where’s the Democratic Party? You guys paying attention to what’s going on?” he asked. “Why aren’t we standing up more firmly, more resolutely? Why aren’t we calling this out? This is a concerted, coordinated effort. And, yes, they’re winning. They are. They have been. Let’s acknowledge that. We need to stand up. Where’s the counteroffensive?”
His media buy on Florida’s Fox stations may have been small in comparison to the size of the Governor’s re-election war chest ($26 million), but the messaging was spot on.
“It’s Independence Day — so let's talk about what's going on in America. Freedom is under attack in your state. Your Republican leaders? They’re banning books, making it harder to vote, restricting speech in classrooms, even criminalizing women and doctors.
“I urge all of you living in Florida to join the fight — or join us in California, where we still believe in freedom: Freedom of speech, freedom to choose, freedom from hate, and the freedom to love. Don't let them take your freedom."
Republican blockades on popular policies and popular will offer Democrats the opportunity to stake their claim on being the party of freedom.
While the right is parading around, wrapping themselves in the flag and waving evangelist-blessed crucifixes at the unfaithful, they are taking away liberties left and right.
Now it’s apparently okay to kneel on a football field as long as it’s an act of Christian devotion. Barely disguised vigilante groups are undermining the electoral process. Some are even going door-to-door claiming to represent authority and demanding to know about who and how citizens voted.
And then there’s the state-sanctioned vigilantism aimed at abortion patients, medical workers, and even web sites deemed to be contrary to draconian laws.
Taking it one step further, the widespread effort to promote the Big Lie (elections in 2020 were stolen) and Republican efforts to legislate restrictions on the electoral process, offer progressives an opportunity to take the high ground as advocates for democracy.
GOP efforts to restrict the ballot initiative process in various states, and passing legislation dictating the policies of businesses, schools, and health care providers can all be cast as anti-democratic.
They’re selling the idea that they know better than voters who support increases in the minimum wage, banning residents with solar panels from selling back excess energy to their utility company, and funding for public education.
Meanwhile, the right in this country has acquiesced to those among their ranks who advocate for violence, especially the kind of psychological violence inflicted on educators, election officials, and those willing to advocate for civil rights.
Before it became public knowledge that former White House staffer Cassidy Hutchinson was going to testify before the House Select Committee on January 6, the death threats (both opaque and direct) rolled in.
The committee opted to move up the timing of her testimony, in part because of these threats. And the hearing room was swept for bombs prior to her appearance.
Violent rhetoric and threats are becoming normalized in everyday politics, from school boards to election officials. Proud-boy type cadre are barging into libraries, seeking to shut down events they find offensive. A hundred or so masked advocates for white supremacy marched through Boston this week.
Moving back to look at the bigger picture, Red states are crafting policies based on input from the Koch Bros.’ American Legislative Exchange Council aimed at punishing investment managers whose strategies claim to be supportive of environmental goals or social activism.
In the investing world such strategies are known as ESG (Environmental, Social, & Governance principles).
Here’s columnist Michael Hiltzik at the LA Times:
For Republicans and the right wing, ESG is the new “critical race theory.” It’s a concept nebulous enough to be made to seem offensive or evil.
The term itself can be weaponized as a catchphrase to rile up the base; insofar as the base has no idea what it even means, so much the better. (Not even the most hidebound anti-CRT flag-carriers can explain what CRT is.)
It doesn’t take much to notice the changes going on in the environment, yet there are people in power who put short-term profits over the well-being of humans.
All these actions are aimed at increasing the alienation and despair Americans feel. The cure for this ailment is hope, something that’s in short supply these days.
Since any specific programs making life easier for programs are going to be caught up in the gaslighting tactics of the GOP, becoming advocates for freedom and democracy can be powerful motivators with an implicit criticism of what Making America Great Again really stands for.
I’m speaking to the behavior of politicians seeking our votes. Gov. Newsom has shown us one way to cut through all the venom spewed by those who favor a more autocratic system over a more perfect union..
Let’s take advantage of this opportunity by creating branding strategies built around support for fundamental ideas like “freedom” and “democracy.”
Email me at WritetoDougPorter@Gmail.com