Friend,

Just hours after the news broke that the Republican Recall campaign officially submitted the signatures required to trigger a recall election, the Sacramento Bee published an op-ed blaming not the right-wing radicals behind the recall, but California Governor Gavin Newsom himself.(1)

This narrative is false, incredibly dangerous, and it must be stopped now.

The media is focusing on a dinner at French Laundry, signature counts, and Caitlyn Jenner -- ignoring the $400 million the state might spend on the recall, which is an obvious power grab by extremist, conspiracy-theorist Republicans.(2) Courage California is leveraging our crack communications team to get the word out.

We’re launching an advertising campaign to get the truth out about the Recall campaign before the media circus is out of control. Will you rush a donation to our emergency effort today?

Don’t get me wrong -- Newsom isn't perfect. And we have been pushing him to be more progressive since Day 1 of his term.

But nothing he has done rises even close to the level of misdeed that should be required for a recall.

This isn’t a matter of a recall of a deeply unpopular governor -- Newsom actually has a majority approval rating -- but rather an effort from right-wing extremists who have combined anti-vaxxers, QAnon theorists, and militiamen to create a furor and trigger a recall.(3)

The Recall election could cost $10 per Californian to hold -- despite the fact that Newsom is up for reelection next year anyway.(4) It’s undemocratic, ridiculously expensive, and challenges the voices of the tens of millions of voters who put Newsom in office in the first place.

The media circus has already begun, with Kardashian family member Caitlyn Jenner, former porn star Mary Carey, and millionaire John Cox with their hats in the ring.(5) This kind of circus is how we ended up with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and a $25 billion budget deficit.(6)

We need to get the word out online, on billboards, and on television just how dangerous this Recall effort is to our democracy, and how it’s just a Republican power grab. Will you donate today?

Yes, I’ll donate to Courage California today.

Yours in the fight to end corporate control of government,

Irene, along with Angela, Annie, Caitlin, Deepthi, Jay, Lindsay, LisaMarie, Molly, Raquel, and Scottie (the Courage team)

Donations go to support all of Courage California's work for a more progressive California and country. Follow us now on Facebook or Twitter!

Footnotes:
1. https://www.sacbee.com/article250967769.html
2. https://www.latimes.com/politics/newsletter/2021-04-26/election-costs-gavin-newsom-recall-essential-politics
3. https://www.businessinsider.com/gavin-newsom-recall-california-people-behind-campaign-orrin-heatlie-2021-4#orrin-heatlie-lead-organizer-for-recall-gavin-newsom-2
4. https://www.latimes.com/politics/newsletter/2021-04-26/election-costs-gavin-newsom-recall-essential-politics
5. https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-04-26/whos-running-against-newsom-california-recall-election
6. https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/12/30/mercury-news-editorial-schwarzenegger-legacy-is-crippled-by-budget-deficit/