Patterico's Pontifications

5/21/2021

Gavin Newsom and His “Grassroots” Support

Filed under: General — JVW @ 1:37 pm



[guest post by JVW]

Have any of you guys seen that wretched anti-recall ad on Facebook where Governor Hair-Gel (D – French Laundry) addresses the camera and solemnly informs us that this is just a Republican-driven effort that will prevent California from reopening, getting businesses back up and running, and, yes, distributing vaccines? If you don’t care for the character playing the role of California’s 40th Governor — and I certainly do not — you will find a great deal of annoyance there. When not busy figuring out how to frivolously waste a budgetary surplus courtesy of misguided Washington priorities, Gov. Newsom is inveighing against the insolence of the unwashed hordes led by sour grapes Republicans who dare to question his benevolent rule.

However, the idea that his burgeoning anti-recall campaign is “grassroots,” as the Governor aggravatingly asserts, stretches that trite term well beyond its understood boundaries. For one thing, the very ad in which he makes the claim ends with the standard notice that funding is provided by the California Democrat Party, the Democrat Governors Association, and the Professional Engineers in California Government Association, among other — ahem, ahem — advocates for “good government.” And just this week, another small businessman provided his support to the embattled Hero of Sacramento:

Reed Hastings, the co-CEO of Netflix, has shelled out a whopping $3 million to a fund opposed to the recall of California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The contribution was reported to the California Secretary of State on Thursday afternoon, and is the largest single contribution to date to the Stop The Republican Recall.

Oh. Well, not to worry. No doubt that beyond Mr. Hastings there are millions of ordinary Californians pitching in to support the man who sent his kids to their tony private classroom while allowing his teacher union allies to keep your kids’ public school closed:

Newsom will likely have a huge war chest. He also has been raising directly for his 2022 campaign fund, with recent donors including JJ Abrams and Katie McGrath, who each contributed $32,400. Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg also each contributed that amount. Other donors include Sherry Lansing, Tom Rothman, Jeff Skoll, Chris Silbermann and Jeff Shell.

Ok, so just because it’s a really well-maintained lawn of the finest grass from an English country estate watered with the pure tears of nuns weeping on Good Friday doesn’t mean that it doesn’t qualify as grassroots. I mean we’re talking about a man of the people who in his last election raised money from such mom-and-pop operators as lawyers and lobbyists ($2.8 million), trade unions ($2.5 million), real estate interests ($2.1 million), securities and investments brokers ($1.7 million), tech companies ($1.4 million), public employee unions ($1.4 million), entertainment interests ($1.4 million) and Native American casino operators ($ .83 million). Certainly none of those donors want anything other than good schools, safe streets, and competent government.

Gavin Newsom is certainly entitled to vigorously oppose his own recall, and I don’t particular care to which sugar daddies he extends his perfectly-manicured baby’s-butt-smooth hand for the loot. But for a corrupt establishment creature like him to use the term “grassroots” any way other than ironically is deserving of the sort of derision that this slick hustler routinely brings upon himself.

– JVW

25 Responses to “Gavin Newsom and His “Grassroots” Support”

  1. One of the many reasons why I refuse to get a Netflix account is because I don’t want to directly or indirectly fund the Obamas’ $100 million production deal nor the political largesse of someone like Reed Hastings.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  2. Here’s another interesting thing about the ad: Newsom introduces himself as “Governor Gavin Newsom out here in California,” as if he is at least in part (perhaps in large part) pitching his solicitation to people who do not reside in the Golden State. Does the average Democrat resident of Lima, Ohio or St. Petersburg, Florida have a sensible reason to chip in to stop the Newsom recall? Probably not. But does some fat-cat progressive donor in New York City or Chicago or Houston who might have some business interest in California have a sensible reason to get on Newsom’s good side by passing along a check? Yep. But hey, grassroots.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  3. Interestingly, individual contributions to Newsom’s recall campaign are uncapped (obviously) because the recall is considered a ballot measure) but individual contributions to those who wish to replace him are capped because they are considered candidates. For all its reputation as a regulatory state, California has very loose political contribution laws.

    Rip Murdock (663335)

  4. Most “grassroot” groups in California are actually vehicles for corporate contributions. Look at any initiative campaign.

    Rip Murdock (663335)

  5. LOL.

    Here’s another interesting thing about the ad: Newsom introduces himself as “Governor Gavin Newsom out here in California,” as if he is at least in part (perhaps in large part) pitching his solicitation to people who do not reside in the Golden State. Does the average Democrat resident of Lima, Ohio or St. Petersburg, Florida have a sensible reason to chip in to stop the Newsom recall?

    I’ve received solicitations for cash from the so-called Republican governor of Florida and multiple so-called Republican senators from out of state. How is this any different?

    If someone is concerned about the party that gave science the finger during a pandemic, tried to steal an election and then staged an attempted coup somehow gaining power in the largest and most important state in the country, why wouldn’t they support Newsom?

    Dave (1542be)

  6. It’s not like the governor can be bought by a $3 million donation anyway! Any perk that falls Netflix’s way in the coming years will just be a coincidence.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  7. I’ve received solicitations for cash from the so-called Republican governor of Florida and multiple so-called Republican senators from out of state. How is this any different?

    Pretty sure there are limits on what you can donate. That’s one difference.

    If someone is concerned about the party that gave science the finger during a pandemic, tried to steal an election and then staged an attempted coup somehow gaining power in the largest and most important state in the country, why wouldn’t they support Newsom?

    I’m more concerned about a party that is succeeding in their own evil plans.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  8. I’ll take a California Democrat elite over the kind of trash who support Trump. Any day. Anywhere.

    nk (1d9030)

  9. Big money campaigns are the norm in California, the answer is to find your own “sugar daddies.” Peter Thiel, anyone?

    Rip Murdock (663335)

  10. I’ll take a California Democrat elite over the kind of trash who support Trump. Any day. Anywhere.

    And those are your two choices? There are at least two others: vote for a non-Trump GOPer or move.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  11. Peter Thiel, anyone?

    A piker among CA tech players. It’s kind of like the way “progressives” point at Fox when the monolithic MSM is discussed. The exception that proves the rule. Thiel wasn’t even in the top 100 nationally in 2020. Among Californians, Tom Steyer was first in 2020, donating $70 million to “independent” groups.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  12. Pretty sure there are limits on what you can donate. That’s one difference.

    Well sure, but JVW said he couldn’t imagine why anyone outside Cali should care about the recall.

    Dave (1542be)

  13. When the Attorney General of one state (backed by 18 others and half his party’s representatives in Washington) goes to the Supreme Court to throw out the legal votes of tens of millions of citizens of other states, all politics is national.

    Dave (1542be)

  14. @10And those are your two choices? There are at least two others: vote for a non-Trump GOPer or move.

    Do you mean a non Trump GOPer like Liz Cheney, Mitt Romney and Adam Kinzinger? There is no room for non Trumpers in the GOP. Trump is just a narcissistic grifter among many others who found an opportunity in the Republican Party. He isn’t the problem. The GOP is. Don’t hold your breath waiting a sensible and sane GOP presidential nominee in 2024. Tucker Carlson in 2024? Yeah baby!

    This recall election is going to be quite the spectacle.

    Purple Haze (848fb6)

  15. Newsom is so full of himself that I can’t bear to watch him.

    Not to mention clueless. He’s not at all concerned about people leaving California. He said he’s been hearing about the decline of California for a long time.

    Well, guess what, Gavin? Do you know how bankruptcy happens? Very slowly, and then all of a sudden. (No, I’m not saying that California will go bankrupt financially, especially with all the federal money floating around these days, although that too might happen when the unfunded public pensions hit. It’s a metaphor.)

    Get out while you still can, JVW! One of these days they will pass a law to tax you even after you leave California. I’d want to be on the early side of that cutoff date.

    I mean, how much are you willing to put up with for a coast and weather? For me, those sirens were superseded by the craziness years ago. I got so tired of the yearly or biennial terror known as the propositions.

    Old California was the wonder of the world. New California? Not so much.

    Unbelievably, the Ford Mustang continues to have a “California Special” edition. (It has nothing in the way of increased performance. The difference is all cosmetic.) It used to be something cool. Now it’s more of a stigma.

    norcal (84cdee)

  16. I’ve received solicitations for cash from the so-called Republican governor of Florida and multiple so-called Republican senators from out of state. How is this any different?

    And then later:

    Well sure, but JVW said he couldn’t imagine why anyone outside Cali should care about the recall.

    Is this just standard whataboutism, Dave? I’m kind of missing your point. I said that I don’t understand why a California governor is quite obviously seeking funding from outside of the state for his “grassroots” — did you happen to notice that this is a key point of my post? — campaign. Even though his major donors are wealthy progressives and organizational stooges from the Democrat rolodex. I don’t mind if somebody from out of state donates to save Gavin Newsom’s tired ass — heck, I sent Scott Walker money to stave off his recall — but I didn’t do so because Scott Walker sent out a message asking me for help, I did so because I thought Wisconsin Democrats were treating him unfairly. In this case, Governor Hair-Gel is just sending out the SOS far and wide. I suppose he’s kind of hoping to garner a significant number of small-bore donors so that he can try to elide the fact that it’s the wealthy corporate and union interests who are riding to the rescue.

    And deep down I know that you understand why a United States Senator might think that asking you for money is appropriate, considering that he or she votes on measures which directly affect you, versus why some out of state governor in a state far removed from you would do the same.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  17. Yes, California Assembly already tried a 0.4% world wide assets wealth tax with 10 year (declining amount) if you move out of California (I don’t think it passed–And they tried for a retroactive income tax increase too).


    Almost have to move out of California before the possibility of this stuff being inacted retroactively (the world wide wealth tax is thought to be overturned in court).

    BfC (d57b68)

  18. I may have messed up links–Forbes article is linked below.

    BfC (d57b68)

  19. Almost have to move out of California before the possibility of this stuff being inacted retroactively (the world wide wealth tax is thought to be overturned in court).

    BfC (d57b68) — 5/21/2021 @ 6:47 pm

    Yes, BfC. Get out now! I can’t believe California would float such a crazy idea. It just shows how far gone it is.

    norcal (6e6099)

  20. (I don’t think it passed–And they tried for a retroactive income tax increase too).

    I believe that Newsom and the Democrat leadership said, “Really, not now and not under these circumstances.” That doesn’t necessarily mean that they oppose the idea, so don’t be surprised when it rears its ugly head if (and when) we slip back into a budget deficit.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  21. Is this just standard whataboutism, Dave? I’m kind of missing your point.

    Clearly.

    I said that I don’t understand why a California governor is quite obviously seeking funding from outside of the state for his “grassroots” — did you happen to notice that this is a key point of my post? — campaign.

    To refresh your memory, I’ll quote the words I replied to (and quoted) again:

    Here’s another interesting thing about the ad: Newsom introduces himself as “Governor Gavin Newsom out here in California,” as if he is at least in part (perhaps in large part) pitching his solicitation to people who do not reside in the Golden State. Does the average Democrat resident of Lima, Ohio or St. Petersburg, Florida have a sensible reason to chip in to stop the Newsom recall?

    Why should “grass roots” support be limited to those in the state?

    And deep down I know that you understand why a United States Senator might think that asking you for money is appropriate, considering that he or she votes on measures which directly affect you, versus why some out of state governor in a state far removed from you would do the same.

    A fair point, which was directly addressed by another of my comments.

    First, few of the appeals I’ve received from so-called Republicans in the last five or so years had anything directly to do with “measures which directly affect me”. They were to inform me of all the terrible things The Bad People planned to do to me, and assure me that the mendicant politician would defend me from The Bad People if I sent him/her/it money. I haven’t watched Newsom’s pitch, but I imagine it’s the same old song in a different key.

    And second, I think your premise (that out-of-state officials can’t affect things I and others care about) is obviously untrue.

    The voters of Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin probably didn’t pay a lot of attention to the Texas Attorney General, until he went to the Supreme Court to disenfranchise them. So-called Republican governors of a number of states have, or will soon, obey Donald Trump’s directive to “get rid of the ballots” by signing voter suppression laws into effect. That could throw a close 2024 election to the fascist scumbag and affect all of us a great deal.

    Nor is election skullduggery the only reason to care. Democrats nationwide might prefer Newsom to the alternative on the basis of their strong beliefs about abortion, the environment, gun control, race/police or other issues. Similarly so-called Republicans might take an interest in an out-of-state candidate because he or she is perceived as a particularly loyal and sycophantic handmaiden to Donald Trump.

    As long as the so-called Republican party remains the sworn enemy of truth, democracy and the rule of law, all politics are national.

    Dave (1542be)

  22. #8
    NK
    I am confident that you will take note of the idiocy and assh@llery of left in CA and just retract that burp and then declare yourself Lichtenstein. No opinions, just send your check here

    steveg (ebe7c1)

  23. I’m sorry, I thought “grass roots support” was referring to you guys

    steveg (ebe7c1)

  24. JVW (ee64e4) — 5/21/2021 @ 1:39 pm

    I respect you for that, JVW. Having a good reason for a position is always worthy of respect. I purchase the hated Netflix on behalf of another, for whom it is an effective treatment -kind of like Methadone.

    felipe (484255)

  25. There is no room for non Trumpers in the GOP.

    That’s not accurate. It’s that opposing Trump pisses off half the people who might vote for you, and will never attract a single Democrat. In a democratic republic this is a problem.

    Of course, we could have a system like the EU, where all power is in interlocking boards and commissions and there is no room for populism, or any other form of voter control, save secession.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)


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