California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom warned in an interview that aired Wednesday night that Democrats were getting destroyed on messaging heading into next week’s midterm elections.
“We’re getting crushed on narrative,” Newsom told CBS News’ Chief Washington Correspondent Major Garrett. “We’re going to have to do better in terms of getting on the offense and stop being on the damn defense.”
“I’m not paid to say that. I’m paid to say, ‘fate and feel.’ I mean, I get it,” Newsom continued. “Look, I mean I could be the cheerleader. I’m also pragmatic. You feel it.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is campaigning for embattled Democrats in an effort to bail out a party he says is being "destroyed on messaging.” He spoke exclusively with @MajorCBS addressing questions about whether his political ambitions extend beyond the Golden State. pic.twitter.com/CzVdOhz7kX
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) November 1, 2022
Newsom said in an interview back in September he was mad that Republicans own the “mantle of freedom” as he urged Democrats to be more aggressive.
“We have to wake up to it,” Newsom said. “We have to meet this moment head on, and damn it, the Democratic Party has to assert itself much more aggressively than we have.”
“These guys are ruthless on the other side,” he continued. “Where are we? Where are we organizing, bottom-up, a compelling alternative narrative? Where are we going on the offense every single day? They’re winning right now.”
Newsom has sought to boost his national profile by attacking Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and urging DeSantis to debate him after DeSantis flew dozens of illegal aliens to Martha’s Vineyard.
Newsom wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland falsely claiming that DeSantis — who is a lawyer — potentially engaged in “kidnapping” by having the illegal immigrants transported out of Florida.
Newsom claimed without evidence that the migrants were sent with “the intent” to be “humiliate[d] and dehumanize[d].” In fact, MSNBC reported in September that the illegal immigrants were “not angry with Ron DeSantis” and that they are “actually thanking him for having brought them to Martha’s Vineyard.”
DeSantis responded to the remarks during a press event, saying that the over-the-top amount of hair gel that Newsom uses was “interfering with his brain function.”
“So, the governor of California sent a letter to the Department of Justice saying, ‘You need to prosecute Texas and Florida governors,’” DeSantis said.
“And all I can say is, I think his hair gel is interfering with his brain function,” DeSantis said as the audience and officials on stage with him erupted into laughter and cheers.
Newsom bizarrely went and found a tweet from from disgraced journalist Dan Rather in which Rather suggested that CNN’s new CEO Chris Licht host a debate between Newsom and DeSantis.
“Hey @GovRonDeSantis, clearly you’re struggling, distracted, and busy playing politics with people’s lives,” Newsom claimed. “Since you have only one overriding need — attention — let’s take this up & debate. I’ll bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray. Name the time before Election Day.”
Related: Gavin Newsom Blames Fox News Host For ‘Aiding And Abetting’ Paul Pelosi Attack