California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, already busy defending himself from a growing threat of recall led by the Republican Party, is now dealing with a new front of attacks by members of his own party on the treatment of the coronavirus pandemic.
Democrats have been reluctant to speak up and criticize the governor, fearing it will provide fodder for the recall campaign. But in recent weeks, a number of prominent Democrats and Democratic operatives have begun to openly express some of their frustrations.
Many of the criticisms stem from what many see as a lack of transparency in the Newsom administration. State health officials have largely refused to publicly disclose the data on which Newsom is basing his orders.
ARCHIVE: California Governor Gavin Newsom describes his proposed 2021-2022 state budget during a news conference in Sacramento, California.
(AP)
Democratic Congresswoman Laura Friedman told the Los Angeles Times that many lawmakers were left in the dark regarding the governor’s logic behind their orders.
“I would love to have a better understanding of the reason behind many of these decisions and the data behind them, and I think the public should know that data too,” said Friedman. “It would make people feel much more comfortable with the different executive actions that are transmitted and the different orders. I would have loved it if months ago, we really understood what was coming and that the audience understood a little more.”
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Still, Friedman, like many of his fellow Democrats, remains firmly committed to supporting Newsom.
“I think what will hurt Newsom in the end more than anything is not people talking, but him failing,” Friedman told The Times. “So the best way to prevent him from being called back is to help him succeed.”
Former California Department of Public Health director Karen Smith said that Governor Newsom needs to do a better job of telling the public why his government makes important decisions – especially when it involves reversing or imposing a new blockade order.
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“This guy’s worst problem, even politically, comes from the fact that he just doesn’t communicate well and he certainly doesn’t have time to communicate in a way that presents people with something, gives them more information, and then you o, “said Smith. “It’s crazy, because it’s kind of basic and how you talk to people when you want them to be on your side.”