LOS ANGELES (AP) – California Republicans on Wednesday took advantage of a failed Democratic attempt to link Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed withdrawal to the US Capitol insurrection, describing it as a dangerous act of desperation by Democrats and new evidence. that the governor needs to go.
The criticism came when the Orange County Republican Party launched a new round of fundraising calls for the recall, saying Democrats were trying to inflame political tensions in a time of national conflict.
“There is nothing more democratic than an election,” the party said in a statement, defending the proposed call that could take place later this year.
A day earlier, Democratic State President Rusty Hicks and a group of elected Democratic officials said the recall effort was a “coup” to remove Newsom, led by far-right extremists, including white and neo-Nazi supremacists. However, they did not provide any evidence to support the allegations.
The dispersion of claims and inflammatory language has even drawn criticism from fellow Democrats.
In the twilight of President Donald Trump’s administration, and after his baseless allegations of widespread electoral fraud, “we all have a responsibility to commit ourselves again to the truth and the facts,” said Roy Behr, a Democratic strategist who worked for California politicians, including former US Senator Barbara Boxer.
“Although the other side has clearly shown that facts and reality are irrelevant to their arguments, I think that our side can be effective without having to resort to it,” said Behr. “There are so many good reasons to oppose the recall, they don’t have to resort to that particular line of argument.”
Samantha Corbin, a Democratic and influential lobbyist for the state government, wrote on Twitter that she was “extremely disappointed and disturbed” to see the party use such language, especially in a time of national crisis and threats of violence, including at the Capitol in Sacramento.
“Linking a legally and constitutionally appropriate recall attempt (California) to the violent US Capitol insurrection and an ongoing coup attempt is worse than a bad public relations call. It is irresponsible, it will generate division and perpetuate ignorance ”, she wrote.
It looked like the Democrats were trying to hitch a ride on national attention over Washington, but the event also signaled that the party was recognizing the recall as a legitimate – perhaps even inevitable – threat to the governor.
The recall organizers say they have collected more than 1.1 million of the nearly 1.5 million petition signatures needed to put the recall on the ballot, and they have until mid-March to reach the required threshold.
Newsom was elected in a landslide victory in the heavily democratic state in 2018, but he saw his luck sour, as many residents grew tired of the long-standing restrictions on coronavirus that closed schools and businesses as he struggles with the aftermath of a huge fraud scandal unemployment insurance.
He became the focus of public outrage after being caught having dinner with friends in an opulent restaurant – sitting together and without masks – after telling state residents to reject social gatherings and stay at home to avoid the risk of spreading the virus .
Unlike a coup, usually a violent and illegal attempt to seize power, revocation elections are authorized by state law. Democratic governor Gray Davis was removed in a revocative election in 2003 and replaced by Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Claremont McKenna College political scientist Jack Pitney said Democrats are trying to put an extremist label on the recall at a time when the movement remains largely unknown to the state’s nearly 40 million residents. He noted that President Richard Nixon once wrote that the best way to set his supporters on fire is to rally them against a visible opponent. He said that a loyal supporter will fight hard for you, but “he will fight twice as much against your enemies”.
Democrats “were trying to identify this enemy,” said Pitney.
But it can be largely overlooked, with the nation’s attention focused on Washington and Trump’s second impeachment. “As people were paying attention, it backfired,” he said.
Randy Economy, a senior consultant in the recall effort, expressed dismay at the accusations. He said traffic to the group’s website hit a record high on Tuesday, which he attributed to the Democratic event.
“Are they going there?” he asked, referring to the allegations. “It shows how bad the Democratic Party is in California.”
The event also made it clear that Democrats are concerned about a possible candidacy from former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer, a moderate, discreet and avuncular Republican who came to power in 2013 after a sexual harassment scandal ended his term in office. his predecessor, Democrat Bob Filner. Faulconer was chosen to receive criticism from Democrats.
Among potential Republican Party candidates, Faulconer established a committee to start raising money. Republican businessman John Cox, Newsom’s rival in 2018, has signaled that he intends to run if the recall qualifies. Another name that circulates in Republican circles is Trump’s former acting director of national intelligence, Richard Grenell, who lives in California. Grenell did not respond to an email asking for comment.