LOS ANGELES (AP) – Republicans in California on Wednesday seized a failed Democratic attempt to link Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed recall with the Capitol uprising, portraying it as a dangerous act of desperation by the Democrats and new proof that the governor must go.
The criticism came when the Orange County Republican Party launched a new round of fundraising efforts for the recall, saying the Democrats were trying to stir political tensions at a time of national struggles.
“There is nothing more democratic than elections,” the party said in a statement defending the proposed recall that could take place later this year.
The day before, Rusty Hicks, chairman of the state’s Democratic Party, and a line-up of democratically elected officials claimed the recall was a “coup” to remove Newsom led by far-right extremists, including white supremacists and neo-Nazis. However, they have not provided any evidence to support the allegations.
The accumulation of claims and inflammatory language even drew criticism from fellow Democrats.
In the twilight of President Donald Trump’s administration, and in response to his baseless allegations of widespread electoral fraud, “We all have a responsibility to take back the truth and the facts,” said Roy Behr, a Democratic strategist who has worked for politicians in California, including the former US Senate. Barbara Boxer.
“While the other side has clearly shown that facts and reality are irrelevant to their arguments, I think our side can be effective without our having to rely on it,” Behr said. “There are so many good reasons to oppose the recall, they don’t have to resort to that particular reasoning.”
Samantha Corbin, a Democratic and influential state government lobbyist, wrote on Twitter that she was “extremely disappointed and alarmed” to see the party using such language, especially at a time of national crisis and threats of violence, including in the Capitol. in Sacramento.
“Linking a legal and constitutionally appropriate (California) recall attempt to the violent Capitol uprising and ongoing coup attempt is worse than a bad PR call. It’s irresponsible, will divide and perpetuate ignorance, ”she wrote.
It appeared that the Democrats were trying to piggyback on the nationwide attention for Washington, but the event also indicated that the party recognized the recall as a legitimate – if not inevitable – threat to the governor.
The organizers of the recall say they have collected more than 1.1 million of the nearly 1.5 million petition signatures needed to put the recall on the polls, and they have until mid-March to reach the required threshold. fetch.
Newsom was elected during a 2018 landslide in the heavily democratic state, but saw his fortunes sour as many residents grow weary of the long-running coronavirus restrictions that schools and businesses have closed down as he faces fallout from a massive unemployment benefit fraud scandal.
He became the focal point of public outcry after being caught dining with friends at a lavish restaurant – close together and without masks – after telling state residents to turn down social gatherings and stay home to watch it. risk of spreading the virus.
Unlike a coup d’état, usually a violent and illegal attempt to take power, revocation elections are allowed under state law. Then-Democratic Governor Gray Davis was impeached in a 2003 recall and replaced by Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Claremont McKenna College political scientist Jack Pitney said Democrats were trying to put an extremist label on the recall at a time when the movement is largely unknown to the state’s nearly 40 million people. He noted that President Richard Nixon once wrote that the best way to activate your supporters is to rally them against a visible opponent. He said a loyal supporter will fight hard for you, but “he will fight twice as hard against your enemies.”
Democrats “were trying to identify that enemy,” Pitney said.
But it can be largely forgotten, with the country’s attention focused on Washington and Trump’s second impeachment. “To the extent that people are paying attention, it backfired,” he said.
Randy Economy, a senior advisor on the recall, expressed dismay at the allegations. He said traffic to the group’s website hit a record Tuesday, which he attributed to the Democratic event.
“Are they going there?” he asked, referring to the charges. “That’s how bad the Democratic Party in California is.”
The event also made it clear Democrats are concerned about a potential candidacy of former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer, a moderate Republican with a quiet, fatherly style who came to power in 2013 after a sexual harassment scandal ended the tenure of San Diego. its predecessor. Democrat Bob Filner. Faulconer was criticized by the Democrats.
Among potential GOP candidates, Faulconer has set up a committee to raise money. Republican businessman John Cox, Newsom’s 2018 rival, has indicated that he plans to flee if the recall qualifies. Another name circulating in Republican circles is former acting director of national intelligence, Richard Grenell, who lives in California. Grenell did not respond to an email asking for comment.