California governor Gavin Newsom’s campaign is running ads in Florida and other states touting his state as a beacon of “freedom” on key social issues. Observers say the ads are an effort to boost his standing for a possible 2024 run for president.
Back home, Californians quip that the “freedom” Newsom seems to be most interested in is the ability to practice blatant hypocrisy without limits.
This week, news broke that the governor was vacationing in Montana despite California’s ban on state-funded travel to Montana over its alleged anti-gay policies. The governor’s office refused to reveal whether or not state-funded security accompanied the governor on his trip.
This isn’t the first example of Newsom flouting the rules. He famously violated his own indoor-dining ban in 2020, when he attended a birthday party at the deluxe French Laundry restaurant in Napa. Months later he appeared maskless at a football game where face coverings were mandatory.
Last summer, he had to pull one of his kids out of a summer day camp that did not require kids to wear masks, a violation of state policy.
Conservatives should welcome a Newsom presidential candidacy in 2024. Not only would he have to defend the state’s horrific record on taxes, education, and crime, but you’d have to breakout the popcorn as he is forced to explain his “Rules for thee, but not for me” philosophy.