California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom recently debunked some common right-wing claims about crime and the reality is quite a doozy.
He also called out the Democratic Party for not including direct refutation of GOP misinformation in DNC messaging.
Republicans love to talk about blue states as though they are bastions of crime, but the statistics tell a completely different story.
You can watch an excerpt of Newsom refuting GOP rhetoric on crime here:
Newsom Knocks Democrats For Poor Messaging On Successes Versus Republicansyoutu.be
On Tuesday’s Alex Wagner Tonight on MSNBC, host Wagner played a clip of Newsom from May when he addressed the leaked draft of the Supreme Court’s decision on Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization overturning Roe v Wade, eliminating reproductive freedom as a right.
Newsom told a gathered crowd:
“Where’s the Democratic Party? Where’s the party?"
"Why aren’t we standing up more firmly, more resolutely?"
"Why aren’t we calling this out?”
Wagner then asked California's Democratic governor:
"How lacking are we at the national level in the Democratic Party?"
Newsom responded:
"There’s no doubt that states are on the front lines of the rights battles, period, full stop."
“I’m not going to deny the substantive challenges our party has as well—addressing those tough and pressing issues."
He added the Democratic Party has a messaging problem.
"It’s not just a messaging problem, but a messaging problem that has persisted for years and years. Constantly on the defense."
Newsom then addressed common GOP rhetoric—blue states are lawless and crime riddled due to liberal gun policies.
"Eight of the top ten states with the highest murder rates—all are Republican states.”
“How do Democrats not know that?"
"In fact, it’s really nine out of 10 because Georgia, which went for Biden, it’s clearly a Republican state or at least a red state."
"Eight out of 10. And we’re losing that message?"
Newsom then fired back at Texas, one of the red states that often vilifies California in their GOP messaging.
"Crime is higher, as well as taxes here for the average citizen in Texas.”
The California Democrat was in Austin, Texas over the weekend for the Texas Tribune Festival.
“It’s higher—crime higher, violent crime and property crimes—than in the state of California."
"Sixty-seven percent higher gun death rate in Texas. Why don’t we push back?"
When Wagner asked why Democrats don't push back on Republican misinformation, he replied:
"I don’t know. I’m optimistic about our ability turns around if we go on offense."
Newsom then cited his own efforts to push back.
"That’s why I’m doing the billboards. That’s why I’m doing these ads."
"That’s why I’m doing these TV commercials in other states."
"Take it to them and take it to that damn social media."
True to his word, Newsom shared a clip of the interview on his Twitter account.
\u201cHere\u2019s what the @GOP don\u2019t want you to know:\n\n- 8 of the 10 states with the highest murder rates are Republican states\n\n- CA actually has lower middle class tax rates than TX\n\n- The gun death rate in Texas is 67% higher\n\n@WagnerTonight\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1664340564
A lot of Twitter users agreed wholeheartedly with Newsom's assessment.
\u201c@GavinNewsom @GOP @WagnerTonight Absolutely spot on everything my CA Governor @GavinNewsom said tonight about forcefully, succinctly calling out the GOP at every opportunity\u2026Dems need to make these opportunities & take our messages to people from coast to coast. Thx @WagnerTonight for the segment. \u2696\ufe0f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1664340564
\u201cGavin Newsom on Alex Wagner's show - Where is the Democratic message? Why aren't we speaking out against these facists? DEM leaders need to call it like it is. He's right. We need to get focused. Call out the red states that have higher gun deaths, poverty and crime. Let's go!\u201d— Jane Cates (@Jane Cates) 1664327905
\u201c@GavinNewsom @GOP @WagnerTonight Yes, I believe Democrats need to go on the attack more. The narrative is important and we shouldn\u2019t be allowing Republicans to control that.\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1664340564
Many of Newsom's constituents were very happy with his interview on Alex Wagner Tonight.
\u201c@GavinNewsom @GOP @WagnerTonight Facts and truth\u2014powerful. Great job, Governor! \ud83d\udc4f\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1664340564
\u201c@GavinNewsom @EmmaPeele3 @GOP @WagnerTonight You were great on @WagnerTonight ! I\u2019m so proud to have you as my Governor. Keep up the fight! \u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1664340564
\u201c@GavinNewsom @GOP @WagnerTonight that was a great interview with @alexwagner - so grateful you're taking the fight to the lying, fearmongering, civil rights reversing @GOP\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1664340564
The California governor didn't cite a source for his crime claims.
Centers for Disease Control homicide statistics go only to 2020 and do not encompass all the crimes Newsom referenced in some of his comments.
According to the CDC, in 2020 the top seven of 10 states for homicide were so-called red states—those that voted for a Republican in the last presidential election.
As of the 2020 CDC statistical data, Georgia ranked 11th in homicide rate.
While the homicide data is from 2020 and incomplete, it does lend credence to Newsom's assertion about red versus blue states and discredit the GOP rhetoric on crime.
Whether the DNC decides to start using that information in their messaging remains to be seen.
