All three networks on Tuesday covered the ominous news for Gavin Newsom that the Democratic governor is now, officially, facing a recall vote in the state of California. But ABC's Good Morning America seemed the most irritated, warning that the “Democratic darling” and “early [Covid] hero” is being targeted.
Reporter Matt Gutman framed the issue with loaded language: “A Democratic darling now finds himself in a fight for his political survival. This morning, California's governor Gavin Newsom facing that Republican-led effort to oust him from office.”
In case you didn’t get the point that this is all just GOP partisan warfare, the journalist started the segment by suggesting the recall partially happened because of “Republican backlash at Democrats' power in the state.”
From “Democratic darling,” Gutman turned up the praise, touting the early coronavirus “hero.”
On Monday, the state announcing the recall effort easily topped the 1.5 million verified voter signatures necessary to trigger a special election, likely this fall. This time a year ago at the start of the pandemic, Newsom jumped out as an early hero.
Gutman did allow one sentence to “voter frustration with what were believed to be some of Newsom’s heavy-handed restrictions over Covid.” With another sentence, he disposed of a major gaffe by the Democrat: “And then in November of last year, Newsom seen maskless at a dinner at one of the nation's most exclusive restaurants, French Laundry.”
But have no fear, the journalist wants you to know that things will likely be all right (for Newsom): “He won by historic margins in 2018 and is considered likely but not certain to prevail this time.”
Over on CBS This Morning, Anthony Mason opened the report by again making the whole thing partisan: “California officials say a Republican-led effort to remove Governor Gavin Newsom has collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.” Co-host Gayle King echoed her ABC colleague and reassured her fellow Democrats: “But Newsom seems to be feeling, ‘I got this.’” In March, CBS warned that the GOP is "hijacking" the recall effort.
In contrast, NBC’s Today offered a straightforward 30 second news brief with Savannah Guthrie simply informing viewers of the facts: “Let us get to our 7:30 headlines and the effort to recall California’s Governor Gavin Newsom is now official. State officials say organizers have collected well over the required 1.5 million ballot signatures.”
In the Spanish language media, both Univision and Telemundo used the “Republican-led” talking points to undermine the legitimacy of the recall.
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Transcripts are below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS This Morning
4/27/2021
7:25 AM ETANTHONY MASON: California officials say a Republican-led effort to remove Governor Gavin Newsom has collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. Newsom is in the middle of his first term. This would be the state's second recall election in less than 20 years, targeting a Democratic governor. At least four Republicans, including reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner have already announced plans to run against Newsom. The recall effort gain the momentum over Newsom's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. An election could be held as early as this fall. And it's interesting in California, because, apparently, the recall question is on the ballot. And so are the other candidates. So if he is recalled, you vote at the same time for who you would replace him with.
GAYLE KING: And then you pick one.
TONY DOKOUPIL: And if he’s recalled, you have to pick somebody. And for this to work, and the way it’s run it's run in the past, you need a lot of name recognition going in. So Caitlyn Jenner is the most concerning candidate for the Newsom camp.
MASON: There literally have been dozens of candidates in these recalls.
KING: But Newsom seems to be feeling, “I got this.”
Good Morning America
4/27/2021
...
7:11 AM ETSTEPHANOPOULOS: We’re going to go to California now where it appears the effort to recall governor Gavin Newsom will go forward. 1.6 million people have signed a petition to remove him from office but a majority of the state's voters say they oppose the recall. Matt Gutman is in Los Angeles with the latest. Good morning.
MATT GUTMAN: George, good morning. A combination of factors led Newsom to this point. First, Republican backlash at Democrats' power in the state, but also voter frustration with what were believed to be some of Newsom’s heavy-handed restrictions over Covid. Regardless a Democratic darling now finds himself in a fight for his political survival. This morning, California's governor Gavin Newsom facing that Republican led effort to oust him from office. On Monday, the state announcing the recall effort easily topped the 1.5 million verified voter signatures necessary to trigger a special election, likely this fall. This time a year ago at the start of the pandemic, Newsom jumped out as an early hero.
GAVIN NEWSOM: This next phase that is required under the circumstances to advance a proclamation of a state of emergency in the state of California.
GUTMAN: The first governor to declare a Covid emergency but he has since earned the frustration of some voters over state-mandated restrictions.
NEWSOM: We want to manipulate those numbers down. That's what this order is all about.
GUTMAN: And then in November of last year, Newsom seen maskless at a dinner at one of the nation's most exclusive restaurants, French Laundry. The recall gathering steam since and new faces including Caitlyn Jenner who announced with this tweet, “I'm in.”
Newsom has sought to counter recall momentum by touting the state's recent Covid success tweeting, “The state's positivity rate is the best in the country and that the light at the end of the tunnel is bright.” If he is ousted, Newsom would be only the second governor in state history to be recalled after Arnold Schwarzenegger unseated gray Davis in 2003. And getting enough signatures for a recall and getting voters out to the polls to oust Newsom are two very different stories. He won by historic margins in 2018 and is considered likely but not certain to prevail this time. Robin.
Today
04/27/21
7:31 AMSAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Let us get to our 7:30 headlines and the effort to recall California’s Governor Gavin Newsom is now official. State officials say organizers have collected well over the required 1.5 million ballot signatures. The election likely will take place in the fall. Voters will face two questions, should Gavin Newsom be recalled, and who should replace him. The votes on the second question will only be counted if more than half say Newsom should be recalled. Last week, Caitlyn Jenner joined the list of candidates running to replace him.
