Newsom's message to the Democratic Party: Be more 'culturally normal' (CNN)

[Munu]

Newsom's message to the Democratic Party: Be more 'culturally normal' (CNN)

California Governor Gavin Newsom sits down with CNN's Dana Bash to talk about the future of the Democratic Party. He says the party should be "less prone to spending disproportionate amount of time on pronouns, identity politics. More focused on tabletop issues, things that really matter — the stacking of stress in terms of the electricity bills and childcare costs and health care and obviously housing costs."

Also video at link.

Playing into the hands of Republicans.

[Walleye]

1. But, the Democratic Party has to stand up for minorities and their constitutional rights, or no one will

I really don’t know what they’re talking about with the pronouns. What are they afraid of?

[Pisces]

26. Yes, and you do that by getting elected and then effect change with your power. The key is getting

elected first.

[Walleye]

37. I got to agree with that 100%

[Bobstandard]

85. This happened two months ago.

The Newsom haters stay busy, and not all are Republicans but still

[ColoringFool]

2. Dear Gavin, We Do. [See: Campaign, Harris/ Walz].

[LymphocyteLover]

4. We do what?

[ColoringFool]

71. Ha! I Think I Meant "We Are [What He's Suggesting]."

[LymphocyteLover]

3. So dumb, because no one is talking about pronouns & identity politics right now

Shows Newsom hires and listens to advisors living in the centrism world. Weird because Newsom is really good and forward thinking in other ways.

Also, pronouns & identity politics have their place-- but they aren't the fucking problem. I've never seen any Dem make pronouns & identity politics the whole center of their campaign.

[Eddie Haskell 60]

10. Newsom does have potential

I love that he's a fighter like Trump and it's something Dems need but you're right, his advisors are falling behind. For example, this week he pulled back on his 'Israel is apartheid state' remark which was spot on. I'm like WTF? The base and center are starting to see the crimes Israel commits, and now we have the war with Iran started in large part of Israel's push, and Newsom backs off?!? Not good.

[LymphocyteLover]

13. Exactly. For every great point he makes, he backtracks on something else. He's really pissed off a lot of lefties.

[Fiendish Thingy]

15. Being the loudest voice in the room is not being a "fighter". Nt

[Eddie Haskell 60]

19. That's not what is meant how Trump fought for GOP

[Fiendish Thingy]

29. Just how did Trump "fight for the GOP"?

From my perspective, he only fights for himself.

[Eddie Haskell 60]

35. I listen to a lot of Reich-wing radio

They love his approach to politics. He exploited unwritten rules and tradition. He tells people what they want to hear and knows what they don't want to hear. Project 2025, for example, he denied knowing anything about it yet once he got into office he followed it page by page.

It reminds me of what my old favorite liberal blogger used to say in that people WANT to be lied to. Mondale told the truth at DNC in 1984 where he said, "Mr. Reagan will raise taxes, and so will I. He won't tell you. I just did." Mondale lost 49 states that year.

So how to fight? Hold principles and don't run away from them. Don't try to play the middle and lie when required. I can't tell you how many times I heard on Reich-wing radio how they want an unapologetic and uncompromising conservative.

[David__77]

5. There is something SO off kilter about him saying this.

[Cirsium]

6. No

It is the right wingers who need to be "less prone to spending disproportionate amount of time on pronouns, identity politics" and other "culture war" issues, not Democrats.

Stop running scared. Stop tacking to the mythical "middle."

[MustLoveBeagles]

47. This in spades

I hate it when Democrats buy into RW framing
I like Gavin but it annoys me when he does this.

[Cirsium]

52. The middle

They try to position themselves in the middle, which is understandable. It is really our job to move the location of that middle. One of the ways we move that needle is by calling it out when politicians adopt right-wing framing — otherwise the terms of the debate are set for us. The politicians represent us. We need to be clear so they have something to represent.

[Renew Deal]

7. Got that, nerds!

[orangecrush]

8. Sounds like out of context

Almost as if someone feels Newsom is a threat

I don't see "culturally normal" between quote marks.

[True Dough]

9. Some candidates are more prone to "unforced errors" than others.

That is all.

[AStern]

11. Be less like all those right wing talking points say that say you are.

[Ritabert]

12. Hey Newsom if you can't say anything positive don't say anything

[edhopper]

14. The Democratic Party is for

defending ALL minorities. But it spends time talking about working people and helping the whole country.
Gavin, it is the Repukes who spend their time vilifying these people.

[Fiendish Thingy]

16. Translation:

“Culturally normal” = “anti-woke”

Or, in the vernacular, “be more straight, white and male”

[LearnedHand]

34. I was thinking exactly the same thing

Only in typographical swearing symbols swirling around my head. Gavin, fuck ALL THE WAY OFF for saying this.

[everyonematters]

17. He is right about the party not doing enough on kitchen table issues.

[questionseverything]

23. Look at the last bill that was signed into law by Biden,

It gave fairly well off retirees money they had given up their claim to when they accepted their government jobs…. Lots of people here at du were thrilled but now social security will go broke a year earlier

[Skittles]

39. yup

also giving relief for college loans left a lot of the blue collar folk feeling ignored

[valleyrogue]

57. You didn't understand the repeal of WEP/GPO.

We didn't get what we didn't earn, understand? I fucking had $174 a month stolen from my SS because of the idiot offsets from five years in Nevada public employment and because I didn't have 30 years of so-called "substantial earnings" in covered work to not have those fucking offsets attached to my SS. It was about one-fourth of my SS benefit. I have been in the labor force for nearly FIFTY years, much of it working for school districts on a nine-month "full time" employment contract. As long as I worked in classified employment in these districts, I would NEVER, EVER earn enough in a year from my job to be counted toward "substantial earnings." I would be a few hundred or a couple thousand dollars short once I went "full time" (35 hours a week, hourly) for it when I was 67 years old.

The WEP offset was calculated from a giant pension of $300 a month. If you had a "big pension" in states that didn't pay into SS, you didn't qualify for SS in the first place. To get those "big pensions," you would have to work 20, 30, or more years in the first place. Certainly not somebody like me who had just gotten my five years vesting when I was kicked to the curb.

It was a godsend to get the money back that I had EARNED.

SS isn't going "broke," either.

[questionseverything]

59. Unless it's fixed ss will have to reduce benefits by 23%

In 2031 instead of 2032

[AZProgressive]

53. Harris campaigned on fixing price gouging and building the middle class

Democrats were more focused on issues that deal with the economic impacts of the post covid economy. It was Republicans that used wedge issues to drive their voters to the polls.

Culturally normal based on what the right thinks is probably a straight white bigoted male is probably considered "normal".

[Nanjeanne]

18. Shut up.

[questionseverything]

20. Newsom paved the way for same sex marriage by allowing and fighting for

Same sex civil unions ,

Lest yall forget

[Pisces]

30. Everyone want to parse words and tear our own candidates down. Let's focus on replacing Repubs and we

need to win elections period!! We need to follow Spanbergers lead and win on issues that matter to all people. When in power you can effect change, until then its just hot air.

[LearnedHand]

36. No starting from less than zero with our candidates

If they cede this ground they set to precedent for ceding any ground in the future. A big fat fuck no.

[LearnedHand]

45. That doesn't mean he's right about this

It just means he’s letting the right wing bigots set the terms of the debate. We don’t want to start from less than zero for Pete’s sake.

[leftstreet]

21. He's had a month to walk this back

He gave that interview over a month ago

Do his people not realize it'll keep resurfacing?

[Buckeyeblue]

22. I don't know what normal means. But he is right that the focus should be on the economy

It's always about the economy. Even civil rights issues are about the economy. Good candidates can help make that connection for people.

[LudwigPastorius]

24. I can't think of a more "tabletop" issue than civil rights.

Get bent, Gav.

[GreatGazoo]

25. 'Culturally normal' meaning CIS white male who grew up around billionaires

including the Gettys?

Wow Newsom, this isn't throwing people under the bus. It is turning the bus 180 so you can run them over. Selfish and cowardly.

[Bread and Circuses]

27. Hard NO!

Newsom should realize that the potential candidates for 2028 are MANY and so far they all seem to be similar .

We want a DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST!

We want a PROGRESSIVE!

NO More Republican apologists

[Boo1]

65. Who's "WE"?

Because I don't want anybody that calls themselves either of those things.

[Bread and Circuses]

73. We the People who take risks .

I’ve taken risks and stood up for marginalized communities my entire life. WE need substantial, transformative change now.

The status quo is the problem.

[Boo1]

84. The fuck it is

"Transformative change" gave us Trump.

[maxsolomon]

72. I want to win.

That's what I want.

I don't expect a Democratic Socialist to have a snowball's chance in hell (and I'm basically a Democratic Socialist).

[Bread and Circuses]

74. It happened in NYC without mainstream D support.

We need substantial change now. There’s no time .

I know it’s swimming upstream , but I’ve always taken up the tough battles.

[maxsolomon]

86. America is not NYC.

But sure, OK. If a Democratic Socialist wins the nomination I will vote for them. I've never not voted for the Democratic Socialist - my rep is Pramila Jayapal.

If Newsom wins the nomination, I will vote for him. I've never not voted for the Democrat.

[Bread and Circuses]

87. I love congresswoman Jayapal! yeah

[Blaukraut]

28. After watching the whole video

He makes it perfectly clear that he is talking strictly in the strategic, political sense. That's just reality. The portion of voters we need to reach to WIN elections don't pay attention to politics on a regular basis and don't care about anything but economic issues.

[Keepthesoulalive]

49. Most don't care about economic issues

The majority of white people have voted for republicans since LBJ. The poorest states vote republican. They consistently vote for people who take their votes and steal their ability to thrive. Economics is a woman’s right to decide the size of her family, minorities rights to be able to get a job and not be discriminated against because of their heritage, I’m looking at you drunk Pete. Why is it always white males saying economics should be our focus and those other pesky things that don’t affect us shouldn’t be discussed?

[Cosmocat]

62. You are not wrong mostly

I 100% agree that our country has devolved in a way that the vast majority of voters do not vote for their ACTUAL best interests financially.

But, I agree with Newsome that getting into culture wars is a problem because of that.

You can be resolute in standing up for the most vulnerable without making it easier for Rs to drone on about the culture bullshit.

And, find a way to SIMPLY make economic priorities. Gotta get general talking points that can be easier adapted by the "average" american.

[Keepthesoulalive]

63. They make crap up

And the useless idiots fall for it. Eating the cats and dogs, immigrants are criminals with big calfs, blacks are DEI hires and welfare queens. I will not vote for republican light nor will I vote for someone who is not supportive of all Americans and wants the office for ego . This country is on its knees and I hope we find someone who can fix this disaster.

[CTyankee]

31. But Gavin, THEY are not culturally normal! They are crazy. The crazy wing has taken hold in the Republican Party!

[Chasstev365]

32. Be an unashamed NEW DEAL DEMOCRAT!

[LearnedHand]

38. Yes!

And when someone tries to talk about pronouns or trans athletes, you answer ANOTHER QUESTION about the economy or housing or infrastructure or healthcare etc. NEVER answer a question the other side frames with this cultural bullshit.

[ProfessorGAC]

44. Great Plan

Let them being it up & keep changing the subject to what DEMS want to talk about.
Rs have been controlling the narrative with bullet points for too long.
Make the message about economics, personal finance, and tax fairness. (Greater progressivity)
They'll get tired of getting no reaction.
Then all they've got is "socialist" and that's an easy argument to refute.

[gulliver]

33. He's right of course

Harris and Walz tried to downplay the identity politics big time. To their credit. We did a lot better in the election because of it, imo. I voted for them, and I thought they were going to win right up until election day.

We may need to actually oppose identity politics straightforwardly. That's what I favor, and what I see Newsom beginning to do. Identity as a group concept instead of an individual one has done nothing but harm to the "identities" who were supposed to be helped by it. Whose idea was it anyway?

Absurd levels of cold, impersonal, superficial identity awareness were never voted on by anyone to my knowledge. I think they're illegitimate and wrong.

[LearnedHand]

40. No Dem ever did this

The right is the only entity who ever says this, and anyone who tries to answer it, even with no we didn’t, is allowing the culture vultures to frame the terms of the debate. This is Newson’s biggest mistake here.

[gulliver]

42. Newsom may be our candidate in 2028

I like agreeing with our leadership in the Democratic Party, and I think he's definitely among our leaders. I don't think he's making a mistake at all. I think he's leading. And I think we need it.

[ck4829]

43. Bingo, it's a right frame...

One might as well just say...

Are you OK with the status quo or are you political?
Do you see white, straight, and male as the norm or are you political?
Do you think billionaires are wiser and more intelligent than everyone else or are you political?

[LeftInTX]

66. We inadvertantly align with fringe groups

It's happening here. Party leaders need to be aware of this. The fringe groups are not Democrats. Yes, you can be compassionate with their message, but when Democrats are parading around with fringe groups, it needs to stop. There is too much of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" (until they aren't!!!) Think Code Pink, Green Party, Antifa (shoot me), LW Anarchists, Party for Socialism and Liberation, and many fringe groups affiliated with them. The party needs to ignore the noise and focus on what resonates with voters.

I'm seeing numerous Democratic Parties around the country parading around with Party for Socialism for Liberation. Hell No! They are a political party that hates the Democratic Party! Don't they "get it"?

[ck4829]

41. So I guess the 2024 election did not happen?

Or is just not "identity politics" when it's the identity and politics of white men without college degrees?

[AZProgressive]

54. Personally I think it is a false choice

I think the Democrats are stronger when they fight for both the rights of minorities and the working class which there is often overlap.

I also don't support a reality where Republicans can say whatever they want when it comes to social issues while Democrats must not only shut up about they must also oppose.

[Blaukraut]

56. I get what he is saying

Less focus on identity politics during the election cycle. More bread and butter politics in order to win. We can help the disenfranchised minorities better once we hold power. It sucks, but that's how the Dems are being forced to play the game. Unfortunately, the Republicans will tie identity politics around our necks like anvils no matter what. Profess any type of empathy for the Trans community? "Whaaa, the Dems want transgender women to compete in women's sports". Oppose the nazi goon tactics of ICE? "Whaaa, the Dems want open borders and lawless illegals to collect all of our tax money and commit crimes while they cash their welfare checks".

So what is the solution here? If we want to win in order to change the way the game is played, do we have to play their game? I honestly don't know, but I can understand both sides.

[Munu]

60. Harris and Walz tried to downplay the identity politics big time. -- And lost

There is a lesson in that.

[B.See]

70. The lesson was for US. The LESSON is

there IS no perfect candidate.
there IS no checking of all the boxes.
there is only our BETTER option.
there is only the BIGGER picture,

Stop cutting off the nose to spite the face.

See the FOREST, in SPITE of the trees.

[Johonny]

46. The GOP is filled with abnormal freaks

Forcing their culture on us, but we need to change?

Who the fuck in the White House is normal; RFK, Vance, Trump? Ever listen to Bessent talk? Dude sounds like a privileged kids lecturing about shit he never saw, never experienced and about to get beat up over...

[MorbidButterflyTat]

48. This interview happened over a month ago

Already hashed out here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221046845


Lots has happened since then.

[bigtree]

50. whatever

...jfc, if people aren't sure of what they want by now with a dangerous idiot and his toadies in charge.

Fucking tired of stringing people along who should know better. Just fucking tired of it.

I don't see anything wrong with the party or what we believe or express, because we are diverse and people oriented. Not going to spend my time worrying whether what I express pleases or displeases someone with a full of shit view of what we stand for in a binary system of elections where one party is trying to either end or own us.

It's just fucking projection thinking Democrats haven't expressed themselves the right way to get people to turn away from what's hurting them. We're the ONLY political coalition that's focused on the people.

The other one is busing tearing everything down and putting the cash they find in their own pockets. Stop the navelgazing and talk about THAT!

Tell his ___ self to tell himself what to say, and say it, ffs.

[aeromanKC]

51. 1000 times YES!!

Its the Economy stupid!!
Its Democracy stupid!!

Stay on message!!

Get elected!!

[Celerity]

55. De rec. You did not mention that this article is 5 weeks old and the whole thing has been flogged to death on DU already

[Bettie]

78. I was wondering if I had lost my sense of time

because I didn't think he would still be talking about that.

[0rganism]

58. Said no GOP candidate to Republicans, ever

So what, exactly, is this cultural norm of which Democrats are lacking? Does it involve pretending to be happy and making polite conversation as we gobble down our shit sandwiches? Does it involve forced apologetics for a cruel pedophilic war criminal? 'Cause I don't think I'm gonna do well with either.

[Cosmocat]

61. he is not wrong

You can resolute in standing up for the vulnerable without running face first into walls.

The "culture" wars are a big net gain for the Rs.

[LeftInTX]

67. We need to be careful "who" we associate with and "who" we elevate...

No Trotsky for me! Leave the Che shirt at home!

[mr715]

64. Way to lose my tenuous support, Governor.

The only reason we're in this mess is because we engage in fake culture wars. Stop letting the GOP frame our society. It immediately makes us flat footed.

Instead, I submit, Democrats should fight aggressively for equity, justice, and fairness, regardless of your genitals or colors

[mntleo2]

75. You said what I was thinking

...I am sorry I guess I am a Bernie supporter and unlike Sanders whose stands have been much the same for 40 years, Newsome goes with the wind. Ooooo - go this way and then ooooo go that way. I will vote for him if he is nominated but to be honest I do not trust him as I do Bernie who has been right more times than any of them. And yes I am a far leftiy, but voted straight ticket Dem every time in my 60 years of voting. In my activism I have met many of these people in person (not Newsome).But from where I sit, he is not much different than many I have met.

Truthfully, I am sorry we have such "middle of the road" (+ Republican lite) candidates sometimes.

Cat from Seattle

[mr715]

79. Sen. Sanders has issue discipline like no other.

He isn't my favorite politician. I still have scars from 2016, but in terms of who has been right longest about economic issues for most Americans, he's had the loudspeaker since he was in the House 400 years ago.

[Blue Full Moon]

68. This post sums this up for me

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221133193
Add this one also
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221133522

[yourout]

76. That's some third way BS.

[pfitz59]

77. He is right

Speak more to the mainstream and less to the margins.

[Mark.b2]

80. Sounds like he's already in general election mode....

His people must be feeing good about the primaries.

[AllyCat]

81. 🙄 oh, yeah, I can feel the enthusiasm (or something)

[usonian]

82. Related or not, the GOp has hijacked "populism" into "popular racism" when it should be the "populism" of working people

a la Bernie Sanders and AOC.

If the Democratic party has been identified by "promouns and identity politics" it is because of unrelenting focus on thos issues by the monster RW media machine.

The Democratic Party has not won the banner of populism and workers because it has not focused on the elephant in the room, the insane and criminal concentration of wealth by a few oligarchs.

THE ISSUE IS THERE FOR THE TAKING.

It is the cause of almost all the ills in society.

Not to mention the penchant of said oligarchs for illicit sex with minors.

THEY ARE THE EPSTEIN CLASS.

Press, really press the BIG ISSUE and the party won't be identified by whatever Pox News chooses to identify it as.

[DBoon]

83. So I'm supposed to watch football and drink Budweiser, maybe drive an F150

to be a "culturally normal" Democrat?