Honestly, one of the main reasons I am paying attention to Gavin Newsom's gubernatorial run is the fact that his Communications Director is a childhood acquaintance of mine. But I've got to admit, even though I'm a Republican, Newsom is definitely the candidate that intrigues me the most. I don't agree with him on the Prop 8 / Gay Marriage (he prefers the PC term 'Marriage Equality'), I like the way he handles himself. He has beliefs, and listens to those who disagree with him, but sticks to his beliefs. He even answered a very serious question with an honest 'I don't know.' I think he played to the audience a little too much, by going back to the Marriage issue again and again, but he's probably in a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation with that. It's his most identifiable issue, and he really can't dance around it. This statewide office election is a tricky dance, you've got to get the nomination by pandering to those who agree with you first, then once that's in hand, you can reach out to those who don't.
I also felt like he was a little condacending about the issue towards those who disagree with him. A continuing answer of saying that he respects people of faith doesn't mean much when the unspoken continuation of that answer is that he thinks they are wrong about the issue, and should move aside and change their minds, because his can't be changed. Now I disagree with both sides of the issue. Or perhaps I should say that I agree with parts of both sides of the argument. And it is an issue that highlights the extreme polarization of our political system. The same people who demonized George Bush's statement to the world that you're either with us or against us, use the same language in this battle. And don't get me wrong, there is hypocrisy on both sides of the aisle. Though I do think the left has a little stronger claim on the double speak, with the simultaneous demands for tolerance and the attacks (not to mention Homeland Security led investigations) against those who disagree with their message.
I went to this event hoping to hear one thing from Newsom not about Gay Marriage, and not about Health Care, as I consider those his stock expert subjects. And he didn't disappoint. The last question was about water (posed by a very nervous young lady who nonetheless was very articulate with her question). And his answers were very impressive. Mostly because he didn't try to simplify his way out of a complicated question. But also because he acknowledged that many people on his side of the aisle would not be happy with his solutions (see Jim Boren's article), but that they were solutions that would benefit the entire State, and therefore he would push them forward. The entire event was worth that answer.
Take a look. I agree with the estimate of 250 people at the event, though at least 25 were campaign folks. I don't know if they were local.
Honesty is definitely a nice thing to hear from a politician.
I also felt like he was a little condacending about the issue towards those who disagree with him. A continuing answer of saying that he respects people of faith doesn't mean much when the unspoken continuation of that answer is that he thinks they are wrong about the issue, and should move aside and change their minds, because his can't be changed. Now I disagree with both sides of the issue. Or perhaps I should say that I agree with parts of both sides of the argument. And it is an issue that highlights the extreme polarization of our political system. The same people who demonized George Bush's statement to the world that you're either with us or against us, use the same language in this battle. And don't get me wrong, there is hypocrisy on both sides of the aisle. Though I do think the left has a little stronger claim on the double speak, with the simultaneous demands for tolerance and the attacks (not to mention Homeland Security led investigations) against those who disagree with their message.
I went to this event hoping to hear one thing from Newsom not about Gay Marriage, and not about Health Care, as I consider those his stock expert subjects. And he didn't disappoint. The last question was about water (posed by a very nervous young lady who nonetheless was very articulate with her question). And his answers were very impressive. Mostly because he didn't try to simplify his way out of a complicated question. But also because he acknowledged that many people on his side of the aisle would not be happy with his solutions (see Jim Boren's article), but that they were solutions that would benefit the entire State, and therefore he would push them forward. The entire event was worth that answer.
Take a look. I agree with the estimate of 250 people at the event, though at least 25 were campaign folks. I don't know if they were local.
Honesty is definitely a nice thing to hear from a politician.
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