Our story starts back on October 27, when the San Francisco Chronicle reported on California Governor Newsom getting his COVID-19 booster shot that day. Newsom made a point to allow media video coverage of him getting the shot while he smiled and flexed his muscles. Although his prior vaccination consisted of the one-shot J&J product, Newsom said, “I’m choosing not to do J&J today — Not because I had any problems with J&J — in fact, it went beautifully — but to make the point about the opportunity to mix and match.” CDC had included Johnson & Johnson recipients in the group who should get a booster. The Chronicle reported that the FDA had then authorized folks to get a booster from any brand, regardless of the initial vaccine product used, the so-called “mix and match” approach, which phrase we heretofore associated with clothing separates or perhaps a lunch menu. Newsom’s videotaped shot was administered by the California Secretary of Health and Human Services Mark Ghaly, who said there are health benefits to mixing and matching: “Let’s mix up the modalities, really challenge the immune system, get that response looking a little different.” The newspaper also noted that Newsom had gotten his flu shot the prior week. Now, the Governor has been missing-in-action due to undisclosed “family obligations” ever since the booster. He was due to travel to Scotland to attend a major climate event. This trip was cancelled.
Flash forward to November 8, and we check in again with the Chronicle who titled that day’s follow up, “Gavin Newsom’s wife, California Democrats bristle at questions about governor’s continued absence.” Newsom had not been seen publicly since “abruptly” cancelling the trip to the Glasgow, Scotland climate conference on October 29, raising suspicions that he might have suffered an adverse vaccine reaction.
Newsom’s office said the trip was cancelled based upon “family obligations,” and gave no further details when pressed by the Chronicle. During the time since, the Governor has had no press conferences, “or public appearances of any kind, which is uncommon for the usually highly visible governor.” In a November 8 comment, Newsom’s press secretary said his boss was working at the Capitol and would be going back to, “resume normal appearances sometime this week.” After building curiosity, “fueled largely by a lack of transparency,”
The Governor has only been seen in a prerecorded video and in a family Halloween picture.
‘Get a Life’
Newsom’s wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom, sent out a tweet: “It’s funny how certain folks can’t handle truth. When someone cancels something, maybe they’re just in the office working; maybe in their free time they’re at home with their family, at their kids’ sports matches, or dining out with their wife. Please stop hating and get a life.” The Tweet went out Sunday night, and was deleted soon after.
Where’s @GavinNewsom?
Unlike the generally liberal Chronicle, The US version of The Sun tends more to the gossip side of things, but their recent piece on the Newsom puzzle is worth a review if one maintains a skeptical attitude. Per The Sun, after cancelling the trip to Europe with a planned virtual appearance, the later was also cancelled. In his stead, Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis led Californian’s delegation. Regarding her boss’ absence, she said, “The governor has a young family and we should all be understanding, especially those of us who have been there.” While still active on social media, Newsom has not provided any further explanation for his AWOL status.
Republican attorney Harmeet K. Dhillon tweeted to offer her view on the missing governor: “Good morning, California! Gas is $5/gallon, homes cost $850k, you have to take drugs to keep your job or go to school, we’re supposed to just ‘get over’ rampant crime and illegal immigration… Where’s @GavinNewsom?” she wrote. Kevin Kiley is a California politician who also tweeted his view: “I don’t know where Gavin Newsom is and won’t speculate. But it’s pretty strange for the Governor to disappear for 11 days without explanation.”
According to Fox News the California Governor’s press secretary shared he would return to work sometime this week.