California Gov. Gavin Newsom has run a new advert in Florida attacking Gov. Ron DeSantis, and encouraged Floridians to move out West where they “still believe in freedom.”
The advert, paid for by Newsom’s re-election campaign, ran on Fox News in Florida on Monday, costing $105,000, with CNN describing it as “a mashup of a classic campaign spot, business investment pitch, and one of those California tourism commercials saying how much better it is there.”
Newsom told residents of the Sunshine State that “freedom is under attack” in Florida, and proceeded to make a number of outrageous claims about Governor Ron DeSantis and his administration, in an attempt to criticise a number of his popular policies.
He claimed that Republican leaders in Florida were “banning books, making it harder to vote, restricting speech in classrooms, even criminalizing women and doctors.”
“I urge all of you living in Florida to join the fight, or join us in California, where we still believe in freedom,” Newsom concluded.
We’re about to celebrate Independence Day — but Freedom is under attack by Republican leaders in states like Florida.
Banning books.
Restricting speech.
Making it harder to vote.
Criminalizing women and doctors.
It’s time to stand up. Don’t let them take your freedom. pic.twitter.com/cFI5UzgZzX— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 3, 2022
“Freedom of speech, freedom to choose, freedom from hate, and the freedom to love. Don’t let them take your freedom.”
The California Governor did not elaborate on how freedom of speech was compatible with being free from “hate.”
Newsom’s statements were references to legislation passed and supported by Floridian Republicans, including legislation that removed sexually inappropriate material from schools, preventing teachers from discussing sexuality and gender with very young children as part of age-inappropriate conversations, and protecting the right to life of unborn babies.
Right Cheer / Matt Johnson / Flickr
Speaking to CNN, Newsom attacked DeSantis, who said was clearly planning on a run for the presidency in 2024. “I care about people. I don’t like people being treated as less of them,” he added.
“I don’t like people being told they’re not worthy. I don’t like people being used as political pawns. This is not just about him, but he is the poster child of it.”
The California Governor compared himself to “daylight,” while DeSantis was more like “darkness,” along with being a “fake conservative,” and a “betrayer of Ronald Reagan’s legacy.”
Read More: Trump Says He’s Open To Running With DeSantis as VP in 2024
Governor DeSantis did not directly respond to the attack ad, but his campaign spokesman had some choice words for Newsom. “Gavin Newsom might as well light a pile of cash on fire,” said Dave Abrams.
“Pass the popcorn for his desperate attempt to win back the California refugees who fled the hellhole he created in his state to come to Florida.”
Unsurprisingly, others on social media were also quick to point out that people were heading towards Florida from California, not the other way around.
If Newsom's ad is correct that Ron DeSantis is taking away so many freedoms in Florida… why is it that so many Californians have been moving there? 🤔
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) July 3, 2022
There is one simple rebuttal to this idiotic appeal from Gavin Newsom: https://t.co/vbP7wMyt3P pic.twitter.com/rlfm0wWdAS
— Brad Slager 🍸🥃🍺🎙 Lifetime Subscriber to CNN+ (@MartiniShark) July 4, 2022
California has lost one House seat and Electoral College vote after the 2020 census, with almost 300,000 people leaving in the last 2 years.
