"parents, not politicians, should decide what their children eat, especially when it comes to spending their own money. Despite its good intentions, I cannot support this unwise and unprecedented governmental intrusion into parental responsibilities and private choices."
That was Gavin Newsom explaining why as outgoing Mayor of San Francisco he vetoed the ordinance passed by the City Board of Supervisors which banned the practice of the inclusion of toys in McDonald's "Happy Meals". Never mind the Supervisors have enough votes to override his veto, and doubtless will within two weeks, and that he has to know that. The main thing to realize here is that he has purposely misrepresented the ordinance. As many of his critics have pointed out, the ban is on the use of toys as a marketing tool for Happy Meals. The Supervisors ruling even stated that the toys could instead be used in menus that featured healthier alternative foods. However, Happy Meals themselves were not banned by the measure.
Newsom further elaborated the position that, in his opinion, overreaching rules and regulations such as this had transformed San Francisco into a laughing stock.
Newsom said his opposition is not just about policy, but also about reputation. The city already has been through the wringer nationally and internationally for its ban on plastic bags and a mandatory recycling law in which residents can get in trouble for not composting – ordinances the mayor supports. But Newsom said the toy ban, which has captured the attention of Jon Stewart, “Dr. Phil” and national headlines, goes too far.
“There’s a reason there’s not a TV station in this country that hasn’t candidly been mocking us,” Newsom said.
My question is, has he just now become aware of this? Is it possible that San Francisco is that insulated from the outside world that they aren't aware of their reputation? That would explain a lot, but I don't buy it.
Newsom is looking toward the future, and I have a very good idea he is making plans to run for Governor of California-not in eight years, but in four. He wants to make sure the people of California know that he is not the stereotypical Bay Area leftist lune. He is a successful businessman with a record of accomplishment as Mayor, and takes a common sense approach to situations and to the problems that face the every day Californian.
That's plain to see, but the question is, why now, well over a month before his scheduled swearing-in as California Lieutenant Governor? Others think his actions are cynical politics, such as a commenter at Queerty who also speculates that Newsom is trying to pivot toward the center. But again, why? The election is barely over, and though he hasn't even taken office yet-he won! So what's the big deal?
I think he sees the runaway train screeching down the tracks and knows California is about to experience the biggest crash since New York defaulted a few decades ago. In fact, this will be much, much worse. He knows its coming, and he knows Jerry Brown will be unable to do the hard work necessary to get California back on the right track, even if he had the political will to do what was necessary to set things right again. But, while Jerry Brown will likely be seen as the favorite lap dog of the California State Legislature and the unions, Gavin Newsom might well play the role of the pitbull willing and eager to go for their throats. We might have just seen a preview of that.
When the crash comes, it will be a national issue, and there's a good chance California will go through a political upheaval such as it has never experienced. By positioning himself early as a moderate, one willing to stand up to the legislature and the unions, as well as other specially targeted interest groups, Newsom might well think he can avoid the coming bloodshed, and even profit from it.
There's also a possibility that he holds national aspirations. If he does run for Governor of California in 2014, and wins, he would have to be considered a top contender to run for the presidency in 2016. In the meantime, there has been talk of a potential challenge to Barak Obama from the left in the next primary season. If California is suddenly in play in 2012, which is very possible depending on what happens between now and then, Newsom might position himself as a liberal on social issues, while at the same time portraying himself as a friend to business, families, and the middle class, thus capturing for himself that spark that lit the Obama movement in '08.
Alternately, if he doesn't challenge Obama, it might well be that he could help keep California in the Democratic column that year. It might not be enough to save the presidency of Barak Obama, but it would be enough to earn him serious consideration as Obama's heir apparent. That will be all the more true if his help is vital in re-electing Obama. In that scenario, he will be owed big time, and remember, California is on the edge of default. When that happens, whether before or after the next election, there will be a significant push to bail out the entire state, which would amount to a massive federal expenditure.
There will then be a push for reform of the states pension systems and tax and regulatory systems as well. If Newsom is seen as the man that saves California by instituting these reforms, and making them stick, he could be well on his way to a major place in the Democratic Party firmament, and beyond.
Watch him but believe nothing that you hear and no more than half of what you see.
