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angrychair

(12,029 posts)
Tue Feb 24, 2026, 11:07 PM 18 hrs ago

Newsom says Democrats need to be more "culturally normal"

Last edited Wed Feb 25, 2026, 09:33 AM - Edit history (1)

To be unambiguously clear, while I do not support Newsom as a presidential candidate if he officially becomes our candidate for 2028 I will absolutely vote for him.

My point of OPs like this is to highlight there are better candidates out there that better align with Democratic Party values that most in the country, regardless of Party, also agree.

He says the party should be "less prone to spending disproportionate amount of time on pronouns, identity politics. More focused on tabletop issues, things that really matter


Also saying that Democrats need to be more "culturally normal".
I would argue that at a time when LGBTQ people are feeling more and more hate and more and more states are doing all they can to strip them of their rights, we need to stand up for everyone's right to exist.

Yes, economic issues are important but we shouldn't be throwing our LGBTQ family under the bus to make that point. Our LGBTQ family matters and their concerns are real. Their lived experience is real. They have a right to be treated with equity and equality.

The Democratic Party are "culturally normal" and it's the Republican party that are on the fringe, protecting and promoting pedophiles and murderers.

Reference:
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/23/politics/video/inside-politics-gavin-newsom-two
63 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Newsom says Democrats need to be more "culturally normal" (Original Post) angrychair 18 hrs ago OP
repub response: Newsom says dems are culturally abnormal (they will leave out cuturally) msongs 18 hrs ago #1
So he's saying minorities are abnormal? leftstreet 18 hrs ago #2
He's Saying RobinA 17 hrs ago #11
Then he needs better consultants leftstreet 17 hrs ago #14
The only people who "bring up" cultural pronouns are magats. Ferrets are Cool 6 hrs ago #33
We do not control the narrative. Therefore, Republicans will always ask, "Why do you refuse to talk about pronouns!?" Oneironaut 5 hrs ago #48
The only time I hear about "Hot Button Issues" is from right wing media AStern 5 hrs ago #49
Shrug. Shit like this works on Bill Maher Johonny 18 hrs ago #3
Malcolm Nance for president gab13by13 18 hrs ago #4
We *are* culturally normal. They're the ones with dysfunctional, antisocial bigotry unblock 18 hrs ago #5
Democracy is also on the table by the way. Gov. yorkster 18 hrs ago #6
He means devoid of culture. LuvLoogie 17 hrs ago #7
I Agree With Him RobinA 17 hrs ago #8
people who get "freaked out" by pronouns are not "culturally normal" WhiskeyGrinder 17 hrs ago #13
I agree with him and you 100% calguy 6 hrs ago #29
I agree OC375 5 hrs ago #46
It's the REPUGS who keep talking about "cultural issues!" Wednesdays 17 hrs ago #9
Or cultural pronouns. Ferrets are Cool 6 hrs ago #34
Like I've been telling you all, Newsom won't be the 2028 nominee. Fiendish Thingy 17 hrs ago #10
Yep, he's against taxi taxing mega rich something even MAGA wants uponit7771 9 hrs ago #21
We are. The right wingers, esp the 30%, are the outliers Iris 17 hrs ago #12
Whose culture? misanthrope 14 hrs ago #15
Governor Max Headroom can STFU TexasBushwhacker 14 hrs ago #16
You rang? LearnedHand 6 hrs ago #31
Most of the base agrees with him on the culture war stuff BannonsLiver 6 hrs ago #43
What matters most is winning. We need to do whatever we need to win. Sometimes it means we don't have to be so open JI7 12 hrs ago #17
Exactly. For all that we hate them, and I, who previously didn't hate anyone, do hate them, Scrivener7 10 hrs ago #18
We're told we spend so much time on this stuff, but it's the Republicans who are constantly talking about it. Vinca 10 hrs ago #19
Thank you. Ferrets are Cool 6 hrs ago #35
THANK YOU! MustLoveBeagles 6 hrs ago #39
I think there is a difference between ... Whiskeytide 9 hrs ago #20
I don't usually see this issue so much from the candidates themselves fujiyamasan 9 hrs ago #22
I think people started reacting when employers starting forcing people to give their pronouns Wanderlust988 8 hrs ago #23
As someone pointed out before, 9 and 88 are interesting Scrivener7 7 hrs ago #25
Hit and run artist, doesn't stck around to reply. JoseBalow 5 hrs ago #47
It means absolutely nothing. I just found those numbers easier to hit on the keyboard. Wanderlust988 5 hrs ago #50
Ah. Of course. So it's all just a coincidence. Scrivener7 5 hrs ago #51
Honestly, I have no idea what you're talking about? I don't know what it's supposed to mean. Wanderlust988 4 hrs ago #55
... BannonsLiver 4 hrs ago #52
Such bad luck to innocently choose 2 white supremacy codes! Scrivener7 4 hrs ago #54
Uhh...I'm black! Pro-black too. Wanderlust988 4 hrs ago #56
Sounds serious Torchlight 2 hrs ago #61
People deal with trans people pretty much uniformly across the country. Some people just don't know it. WhiskeyGrinder 7 hrs ago #27
Well, they have always demanded women's marital status Bettie 3 hrs ago #60
Um, that statement is not true Bettie 8 hrs ago #24
Thank you MustLoveBeagles 4 hrs ago #58
This issue is settled for Gen Z RainCaster 7 hrs ago #26
My take Mz Pip 6 hrs ago #28
That is exactly what he is saying Soul_of_Wit 4 hrs ago #53
I don't say much. bucolic_frolic 6 hrs ago #30
This message was self-deleted by its author BannonsLiver 6 hrs ago #42
This is objectively incorrect. Holy crap. Oneironaut 5 hrs ago #45
It gives JustAnotherGen 6 hrs ago #32
WTF does that mean? Initech 6 hrs ago #36
It means a Newsom hater found something to criticize Bobstandard 6 hrs ago #38
Its a talking point aimed at low information Johonny 3 hrs ago #59
Which is why Newsom isn't a good candidate. Ritabert 6 hrs ago #37
What is the matter with this guy? Our "candidate in waiting" for the next election can't get people who can help script CTyankee 6 hrs ago #40
... BannonsLiver 6 hrs ago #41
"Be Normal" is a smear constantly used against LGBTQIA+ people. Oneironaut 6 hrs ago #44
He is correct.. Cherrycheeks 4 hrs ago #57
I agree, and I only just learned that "female" is an insult. This is fuel for the other side. Doodley 1 hr ago #62
I am tired of him already. milestogo 1 hr ago #63

msongs

(73,406 posts)
1. repub response: Newsom says dems are culturally abnormal (they will leave out cuturally)
Tue Feb 24, 2026, 11:09 PM
18 hrs ago

leftstreet

(39,839 posts)
2. So he's saying minorities are abnormal?
Tue Feb 24, 2026, 11:10 PM
18 hrs ago

Anyone not black, female, gay, trans...is normal? wt actual f

RobinA

(10,478 posts)
11. He's Saying
Tue Feb 24, 2026, 11:33 PM
17 hrs ago

Let's talk about stuff the majority of Democratic voters can get behind instead of hot button issues that drive people away. Pronouns et.al can be debated while we're in office, but first we need to get there.

leftstreet

(39,839 posts)
14. Then he needs better consultants
Tue Feb 24, 2026, 11:43 PM
17 hrs ago

and comms people

Bless his heart, but he's a decade too late for these admonishments. People AREN'T talking (or joking) about pronouns. They ARE talking about their $300 utility bills. They're talking about medical costs, unaffordable rents, etc.

No one's waiting for someone to get in office to talk "cultural issues."

Identity politics - dead
Class politics - alive

Oneironaut

(6,260 posts)
48. We do not control the narrative. Therefore, Republicans will always ask, "Why do you refuse to talk about pronouns!?"
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 12:01 PM
5 hrs ago

They’ll accuse Democrats of deflecting. The evil amongst us would suggest that, to prevent this, Democrats should completely cave on trans rights and adopt the Republican position that trans people shouldn’t exist at all, and,
society should eradicate trans people entirely. It’s the only solution to stopping the trans rights debate.

We don’t have a choice to debate trans rights or not. Republicans are the ones who won’t leave it alone. Therefore, Democrats need to get consistent and form a plan to approach this topic.

AStern

(795 posts)
49. The only time I hear about "Hot Button Issues" is from right wing media
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 12:04 PM
5 hrs ago

Hearing Newsome repeating those talking points is disappointing.

Johonny

(25,889 posts)
3. Shrug. Shit like this works on Bill Maher
Tue Feb 24, 2026, 11:12 PM
18 hrs ago

But really who the fuck is normal on the other side of the aisle?

gab13by13

(31,818 posts)
4. Malcolm Nance for president
Tue Feb 24, 2026, 11:12 PM
18 hrs ago

Take politics out of it.

When Jack Smith can't get confirmed as AG, then Malcolm can make him acting AG, and when his term expires appoint another acting AG.

unblock

(56,122 posts)
5. We *are* culturally normal. They're the ones with dysfunctional, antisocial bigotry
Tue Feb 24, 2026, 11:19 PM
18 hrs ago

Huge problems facing hundreds of millions yet they are obsessed with children's genitials in high schools sports and public bathrooms and they want to take rights away to make their ethnic cleansing easier.

As walz said, they are *weird*.

yorkster

(3,757 posts)
6. Democracy is also on the table by the way. Gov.
Tue Feb 24, 2026, 11:23 PM
18 hrs ago

Yeah, of course I'll support the eventual nominee if I'm still around.

RobinA

(10,478 posts)
8. I Agree With Him
Tue Feb 24, 2026, 11:26 PM
17 hrs ago

Look, I'll call anybody by any pronoun they want. But some people get freaked out by it and it drives them and their vote away. The idea is to win the next election and the big one after that. We can't get what we want done if we aren't in office, we'll just righteous losers living in MAGAWorld.

calguy

(6,120 posts)
29. I agree with him and you 100%
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 10:33 AM
6 hrs ago

Democrats need to figure out how to appeal to the people who didn’t vote for us in past elections. That means not driving away potential voters who agree with us on most issues, but will not vote for us if we keep pushing one minority issue they are adamantly against.
I won’t name any of the minority issues I have in mind d, because doing so would ignite a flood of posts accusing me of hating one group or another. I’ve had several of my posts removed in the past because some folks are over sensitive about their pet issues, so I just don’t express my opinions one those matters anymore on DU.

OC375

(615 posts)
46. I agree
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 11:29 AM
5 hrs ago

There are often better ways to address a concern when we find the bits that are common and hammer those to build a new approach. Hammering hot buttons has gone on long enough, IMHO. I'm starting to lose focus myself, as I'm do mad about things all the time now. If feels like all I do is react and plot, rather than plan and aspire. Who really wants to hang with a reactionary? Feels miserable. What can we find to get excited about beyond what appeals exclusively to us?

Fiendish Thingy

(22,660 posts)
10. Like I've been telling you all, Newsom won't be the 2028 nominee.
Tue Feb 24, 2026, 11:31 PM
17 hrs ago

Comments like this might help him get endorsements from centrists, Third Wayers and Problem Solvers, but it will not help him win primaries.

misanthrope

(9,456 posts)
15. Whose culture?
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 03:12 AM
14 hrs ago

There are lots of them and they vary state to state, region to region in a nation this large.

TexasBushwhacker

(21,156 posts)
16. Governor Max Headroom can STFU
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 03:18 AM
14 hrs ago

Seriously, HE needs to stick to the issues that are important to the Democratic party and that includes LGBTQ. Jesus Christ on a pogo stick, shit like this is what ALIENATES some our most dedicated Democratic base!

BannonsLiver

(20,395 posts)
43. Most of the base agrees with him on the culture war stuff
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 11:09 AM
6 hrs ago

I know people around here don’t want to hear that, but alas, it’s true.

JI7

(93,410 posts)
17. What matters most is winning. We need to do whatever we need to win. Sometimes it means we don't have to be so open
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 04:54 AM
12 hrs ago

about our position on certain issues. Focus on getting our people in the courts so when cases come up we can win there .

Trump did it with abortion where he refused to be clear about his position.

Scrivener7

(59,170 posts)
18. Exactly. For all that we hate them, and I, who previously didn't hate anyone, do hate them,
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 07:00 AM
10 hrs ago

we can learn something from them. We don't have to talk about all of it during election season.

Not talking about it in election season will allow us to safeguard it once we are elected.

Just as they said, "No, I don't know nothin' about fascism and Project 2025," we can say, "I don't know nothin' about expanding and safeguarding civil rights for all."

Vinca

(53,667 posts)
19. We're told we spend so much time on this stuff, but it's the Republicans who are constantly talking about it.
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 07:11 AM
10 hrs ago

Newsom shouldn't fall into their trap. Don't blame Democrats, blame Republicans. We just want everyone to be able to use the damn bathroom.

Whiskeytide

(4,649 posts)
20. I think there is a difference between ...
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 07:49 AM
9 hrs ago

… “throwing our LGBTQ community under the bus” and “falling into the rebublican’s trap of divisive identity politics”. I know more than a few voters, in the South especially, that decide how to vote based on cultural issues. They don’t like the current Republican party much at all, but they just can’t bring themselves to vote contrary to these deep prejudices that have been drilled into them since birth. For many of them, it’s not that cultural issues are more important than other issues, it’s simply that they don’t see enough separation between the two parties on non-cultural issues.

In a perfect world, we shouldn’t need their votes to get elected to office - but the reality is that we do. At the very least, we need them to stop voting against us.

I think Democratic candidates can express support for the LGBTQ community without letting MSM interviewers and opposition candidates make it all about culture. Create clear separation on economic issues, and most voters will be much less concerned over pronouns and drag queens.

fujiyamasan

(1,478 posts)
22. I don't usually see this issue so much from the candidates themselves
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 08:19 AM
9 hrs ago

The last several presidential nominees were pretty normal, especially in comparison with the brain rotted pedophile that’s president now.

The problem with our side is we have a grifter class. It’s basically a group of consultants and it’s a revolving door with so called not for profits that drift in and out as advisors. Sometimes they claim to represent various groups, and then candidates feel compelled to cater to them. In the past there was also an inclination to use language better suited for academic settings, that seeped its way into democratic politics. Latinx, critical race theory, “cis” gender…just a few examples. Very few use these terms in real life. But the right has a field day with all of them.

Take Harris’ comments from the ad in the last election over transgender surgeries for inmates. It was from the 2020, primaries where candidates were tripping to “out woke” each other. This was a good example of a complete self own. Harris could have simply kept an ambiguous position about it, or simply chose to avoid talking much about it. Instead she bragged about it. We also saw absurd accusations during those primaries that Obama was the “deporter in chief”, while in reality he was simply enforcing immigration law.

In short, our candidates are a hell of a lot more culturally normal than the pedophile party. Unless we’re seeing our culture itself so fucked to the point where pedophilia is normalized, which is what the other side is trying to do (see Megyn Kelly’s comments).

Wanderlust988

(771 posts)
23. I think people started reacting when employers starting forcing people to give their pronouns
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 08:31 AM
8 hrs ago

And yes, I was at a job that did ask everyone to give their preferred pronouns. Like anything, when people are being asked or forced to do something like that, that has nothing to do with the job, some can get upset....especially in areas of the country where people don't deal with a lot of trans people. This led to the backlash, I think.

Scrivener7

(59,170 posts)
25. As someone pointed out before, 9 and 88 are interesting
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 10:13 AM
7 hrs ago

numbers to choose for your name. Can you tell us what they stand for?

The question was originally asked in your thread saying Newsom said something he never said. I didn't see any answer.

JoseBalow

(9,411 posts)
47. Hit and run artist, doesn't stck around to reply.
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 11:58 AM
5 hrs ago

Posting history tells a story, I would hope MIRT could do something.

Scrivener7

(59,170 posts)
51. Ah. Of course. So it's all just a coincidence.
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 12:21 PM
5 hrs ago

Glad to hear it. It would be vile if it were intentional.

Wanderlust988

(771 posts)
55. Honestly, I have no idea what you're talking about? I don't know what it's supposed to mean.
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 12:55 PM
4 hrs ago

Scrivener7

(59,170 posts)
54. Such bad luck to innocently choose 2 white supremacy codes!
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 12:39 PM
4 hrs ago

And then get tricked into posting maga propaganda. Really a shame.

WhiskeyGrinder

(26,770 posts)
27. People deal with trans people pretty much uniformly across the country. Some people just don't know it.
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 10:20 AM
7 hrs ago

Bettie

(19,533 posts)
60. Well, they have always demanded women's marital status
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 02:06 PM
3 hrs ago

Miss, Mrs. and later Ms.

The same people who are angry about pronouns, were angry about Ms.

And, it is right wingers who whine about that, most normal people acknowledge and move on....it's literally basic politeness: calling people what they prefer to be called.

If someone's name is Robert and he prefers Bob, just call him Bob! If someone prefers to be referred to as "they" rather than he or she, do that. You never hear people whining about that sort of thing, so they CAN adjust, they simply choose not to.

Bettie

(19,533 posts)
24. Um, that statement is not true
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 09:12 AM
8 hrs ago

Last edited Wed Feb 25, 2026, 02:14 PM - Edit history (1)

He says the party should be "less prone to spending disproportionate amount of time on pronouns, identity politics. More focused on tabletop issues, things that really matter".

Except we don't scream endlessly about those things, we simply call people by the pronouns they prefer and treat them with respect.

It is Republicans who spend disproportionate time on these issues.

It annoys me that people use this as a way to denigrate Democrats who aren't the ones screaming about it 24/7.

RainCaster

(13,565 posts)
26. This issue is settled for Gen Z
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 10:19 AM
7 hrs ago

To them, this is a settled issue, and all are accepted and loved just the way they are. So let's just add that to our platform and move on. The few who dislike this stance will never vote for a Democrat anyhow.

Mz Pip

(28,414 posts)
28. My take
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 10:32 AM
6 hrs ago

Republicans have done a good job of painting Democrats as being only focused on what many people in the country consider fringe issues. Democrats need to be able change that narrative.

That’s what I think he’s trying to say.

Soul_of_Wit

(65 posts)
53. That is exactly what he is saying
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 12:33 PM
4 hrs ago

Democrats are the victim of the Republican framing of any issue being accepted without question by everyone from liberals to the media to MAGA.

bucolic_frolic

(54,754 posts)
30. I don't say much.
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 10:34 AM
6 hrs ago

Trump would never have been elected in 2016 if we hadn't led with same sex bathrooms. It alarmed people, particularly blue collar. The issue was tolerance, not remaking identities. Gender change emerged as an issue in 2024. Again, tolerance, Christian inclusion. We got pasted again.



Response to bucolic_frolic (Reply #30)

Oneironaut

(6,260 posts)
45. This is objectively incorrect. Holy crap.
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 11:29 AM
5 hrs ago

The Democrats lead with “same sex bathrooms” in 2016? Do you mean trans people in bathrooms, which we have been using for over 30 years without any controversy? Not only did Clinton barely talk about trans people, but, I don’t remember Republicans talking about us much either. At least no where near as much.

Also, blaming trans people for Trump winning is absolutely wrong. You’re falling for propaganda. If trans people stopped existing suddenly, they would have found some other wedge issue. You would have more of an argument for Trump winning in 2024 because of trans people, but, that’s also incorrect. The real issue is that Democrats did not control the narrative enough. There were other issues wrong as well that lead to Trump winning.

JustAnotherGen

(37,891 posts)
32. It gives
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 10:39 AM
6 hrs ago

Go after the white magapub votes vibe.

They can't be moved. That 30/31% of Magapubs who approve of this idiot can never be moved. I'd go so far as to say that in the midterm - the Magapubs will tap on the Green / Stein (she popped up from her evil lair yesterday) to push Green/Marxist/Anarchist voters and find something to make the Magapub voters of 2024 TERRIFIED for the midterms.

That's NOT where it's at. We are starting to see first time PRIMARY voters this year. Non Voters and lackadaisical voters are where it's at. Magapubs are garbage.

Initech

(108,305 posts)
36. WTF does that mean?
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 10:49 AM
6 hrs ago

MAGAs are the ones who need to be more "culturally normal". Their idea of fun is attending expensive black tie galas at Trump's disgusting shithole.

I go to punk rock and metal concerts. The tickets cost $50 and you don't need to wear a tuxedo or a ball gown.

Bobstandard

(2,231 posts)
38. It means a Newsom hater found something to criticize
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 10:57 AM
6 hrs ago

It’s a lot easier to tear down someone than build up someone else, a candidate you support, for instance. Democrats are great at the circular firing squad.

Johonny

(25,889 posts)
59. Its a talking point aimed at low information
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 01:48 PM
3 hrs ago

Voters. I.E. people that think all democrats do all day is create new pronouns and teach their dog to be a vegan.

It's not a message toward or for the Democratic base, but the 2 to 6 percent swing vote he needs to win in 2028. It's shit that sounds great on Bill Maher's show, but actual democratic voters shrug and know they are fucking normal and don't have porn watch buddies or are featured in the Epstein files.

Ritabert

(2,242 posts)
37. Which is why Newsom isn't a good candidate.
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 10:51 AM
6 hrs ago

His Trump trolling is amusing but we don't need anybody who advocates marginalizing other groups.

CTyankee

(68,025 posts)
40. What is the matter with this guy? Our "candidate in waiting" for the next election can't get people who can help script
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 11:04 AM
6 hrs ago

him? And why doesn't he get this himself?

I'm losing hope for him....geez...

Oneironaut

(6,260 posts)
44. "Be Normal" is a smear constantly used against LGBTQIA+ people.
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 11:15 AM
6 hrs ago

There is no such thing as normal. There is only cis, white, heteronormativity, which our society values over all others.

I don’t trust anyone who thinks LGBTQIA+ people are an inconvenience.

Cherrycheeks

(314 posts)
57. He is correct..
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 01:03 PM
4 hrs ago

Everyone I know who says both parties are the same or who don't vote any more say,those issues don't help them. I know many who say every time there is an election becomes about personal matters not about jobs,money or housing.

Doodley

(11,827 posts)
62. I agree, and I only just learned that "female" is an insult. This is fuel for the other side.
Wed Feb 25, 2026, 04:12 PM
1 hr ago
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