Following the Democratic National Convention, an interview of Governor of California Gavin Newsom aired.
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently made waves with a tongue-in-cheek remark about the process that led to Vice President Kamala Harris securing the Democratic presidential nomination. In an interview posted Friday on “Pod Save America,” Newsom joked that he was “told to say” the nomination process was open and inclusive, poking fun at the whirlwind series of events that culminated in Harris’s rise to the top of the ticket.
“We went through a very open process, a very inclusive process. It was bottom-up; I don’t know if you know that. That’s what I’ve been told to say,” Newsom said, chuckling.
President Joe Biden’s unexpected announcement last month that he would not seek re-election left a void at the top of the Democratic ticket, which Harris quickly filled. Her sudden ascent sparked debate, particularly because she hadn’t gone through the traditional primary process or received any votes from Democratic voters. Despite this, Harris has seen a boost in both polling and fundraising as the party rallies around her.
However, not everyone is convinced that the process was as democratic as party leaders claim. Critics argue that Harris’s nomination was more about political maneuvering than the will of the voters. Newsom’s comments during the interview seemed to add fuel to that fire, as he laughed and quipped that the Democratic Party held a “30-minute convention” between Biden’s tweets announcing his exit and endorsing Harris.
“It’s been amazing,” Newsom said, with a tone that many interpreted as sarcastic. His remarks have drawn sharp criticism, especially as the clip circulated widely on social media. Prominent journalist Glenn Greenwald condemned the process, suggesting that the Democratic Party’s approach was anything but democratic. Other critics echoed this sentiment, accusing the party of orchestrating a “top-down coup” and questioning the sincerity of their commitment to democratic principles.
Even within the Democratic Party, there are those who insist that Harris’s nomination was not preordained. Figures like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have defended the process, claiming it wasn’t orchestrated in Harris’s favor. Yet, the swift and seemingly seamless transition from Biden’s campaign to Harris’s leadership has left some skeptical about the true level of inclusivity and voter input involved.
The Party of Democracy sits around guffawing at how anti-democratic and vote-free and secret was their process for choosing and then imposing the new Democratic presidential nominee on the country.pic.twitter.com/yCJz7E79ua
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) August 23, 2024
If Newsom is comfortable coming out and saying this the internal polls must be brutal.
