Gavin Newsom, the Democrats’ Governor of California, recently sparked outrage among Republican voters when he tweeted that California is the “true freedom state.”
His tweet was met with a barrage of criticism from people who pointed out that California has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country, has high taxes, and has struggled with drug addiction issues.
Many also cited the state’s high cost of living and criticized Newsom for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has included imposing strict lockdowns and mask mandates.
One critic, Phil Labonte, a resident of New Hampshire, pointed out that his state has lower taxes, looser gun laws, and lower crime rates. Film producer Errol Webber shared a video alleging that officials in San Francisco give out free needles to drug users, while journalist Liz Highleyman asked how a middle-class person could afford to buy a home in one of the state’s major cities.
Actress Leigh-Allyn Baker, who is best known for her role on the Disney Channel show “Good Luck Charlie,” criticized Newsom for imposing vaccine mandates, claiming that she had to flee the state because her children’s medical exemptions for school were taken away.
Many Republican voters were quick to point out that California is far from being a “freedom state,” and that Newsom’s leadership has been lacking. They also highlighted instances of Newsom’s hypocrisy, such as a Politico article from November 2020 that showed him attending a lavish dinner party while encouraging residents to avoid gatherings with their families during the holiday season.
In short, Newsom’s tweet claiming that California is a “true freedom state” was met with widespread derision from Republican voters, who cited the state’s high taxes, strict gun control laws, and various other issues as evidence to the contrary. They also criticized Newsom’s leadership and pointed out instances of hypocrisy on his part.
