California Governor Gavin Newsom recently suggested that his comments perceived as condescending were merely a reflection of his ongoing battle with dyslexia.
Newsom made these remarks during a forum with black voters in Atlanta over the weekend.
I’m not trying to impress you. I’m just trying to impress upon you that I’m just like you. I’m not better than you. I am a person with SAT 960. And I’m not trying to offend anyone. If I get 940 points, I will try to do my best. But it’s literally someone with a SAT of 960. You’ve never seen me read a speech because I can’t read one. Maybe I’m in the wrong business.
In a matter of moments, he shifted from pandering to what many found to be a racially insensitive comment.
With backlash circulating on social media, Newsom directed his frustration at Fox News host Sean Hannity.
Hannity remarked on Twitter, “Gavin Newsom thinks getting a 960 SAT makes him look like a black American. Understand that.”
Newsom then reacted, stating, “I didn’t care that the president of the United States posted a video of President Obama with a monkey or called African countries shitty. But you’re calling me a racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia? Please spare me the false outrage, Sean.”
However, that doesn’t seem to align with what he had said.
In the video, Newsom wasn’t genuinely discussing his struggles with dyslexia; rather, he appeared to be trying to connect with the audience by implying they could relate to him due to his low SAT scores and reading difficulties.
It’s as if he looked at the crowd and assumed they all shared similar academic struggles.
He really should have chosen a different approach.
As I noted earlier, the times have changed. The media can’t keep covering for Newsom by spinning stories or reshaping narratives. Newsom is undeniably intelligent and spent considerable time crafting his response, but all he landed on was the notion of his “disability.” That speaks volumes about the gravity of his comments.
Senator Tim Scott voiced agreement, stating, “Black Americans have never been held to a low standard. We’ve built empires, we’ve created movements, we’ve outmaneuvered, outmaneuvered, and outmaneuvered people like you. Stop using mediocre academic performance as a means to patronize the community. It’s ridiculous.”
Newsom has presidential aspirations for 2028, but these remarks may come back to haunt him.
These comments will undoubtedly shape his legacy moving forward.
