NASHVILLE — Are California and Tennessee's governors barreling toward a Twitter War Between Two States?
Shortly after Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed into law a measure last week restricting drag shows, California Gov. Gavin Newsom weighed in on Twitter to say this:
"Tennessee has the 8th highest murder rate in the nation. It ranks 44th among states for health outcomes. And this what the Governor is focused on," the progressive Democrat texted, linking to an Associated Press article stating Lee had signed the restrictions measure, making Tennessee the first state in the nation to make such a bill law amid recent outcry from conservatives.
The bill prohibits "adult cabaret" on public property or anywhere a child could be present, making it a criminal offense. The law bans performances by topless, go-go or exotic dancers, strippers, or male or female impersonators, who under state law provide entertainment that is "harmful to minors."
Tennessee's law has drawn national attention. A dozen or so GOP-led states are considering similar legislation.
A day after Newsom's post, Lee punched back with his own Twitter post:
"I'm often asked why so many families & companies move from California to Tennessee. People want to live in a low-tax state that supports families & believes freedom & opportunity belong to everybody -- not just the elite."
Lee added, "if you like rankings, we recommend the Uhaul Growth Index," and provided a link to a January 2022 article in the National Review, a conservative publication, with the headline "U-Haul Literally Ran Out of Trucks Leaving California."
FILE - California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks in Sacramento, Calif., Jan. 10, 2023. Democratic governors in 20 states are launching a network intended to strengthen abortion access in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court nixing a woman's constitutional right to end a pregnancy. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas, File)In response to Chattanooga Times Free Press questions Monday, Lee Press Secretary Jade said via email, "The governor is proud to welcome people from California and across the country who want to live in a state that values their freedom and opportunity for all."
A progressive, Newsom weighs in on Twitter with some frequency on actions taken by his conservative counterparts in other states. Last month he criticized Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on his efforts in the Sunshine State to get lawmakers there to weaken state laws that have for decades protected journalists against defamation suits and frivolous litigation.
Linking to a Politico article on efforts by DeSantis, which comes as he seriously weighs challenging former President Donald Trump for the GOP's 2024 presidential nomination, Newsom offered this:
"DeSantis' version of 'freedom' means he controls what you learn, what is said, and how you express it. He is single-handedly targeting all the individual pillars of the first amendment: freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, and now -- freedom of the press."
In another recent post, he wrote:
"Happy Monday! Here are some facts that Fox + @GOP don't want you to know" and went on to state seven of the 10 states "most dependent" on the federal government are "red" states controlled by Republicans while "blue" counties that are Democratic "equal" 70% of the U.S.'s GDP and blue states account for 61% of GDP.
"So which party is fiscally conservative?" Newsom wrote.
Prior to Lee's signing the bill, the governor was asked by a progressive blogger about a 1977 high school photo of Lee, as a teenager and football player, wearing a cheerleader outfit and wig as part of a "powderpuff" game event.
"What a ridiculous, ridiculous question that is. Conflating something like that to a sexualized entertainment in front of children is a very serious subject," Lee said.
After Lee signed it, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized the law when asked about it.
Swastika banner
Tensions have run high over the law, which will take effect July 1.
After Lee signed it into law, a banner featuring a red-drenched design in the shape of Tennessee with a white circle and a black swastika -- an emblem of the German Nazi party -- was displayed on a fence in Nashville near a state-maintained bridge, according to the Tennessee Holler left-leaning news outlet.
The banner used homophobic slurs to thank the governor for fighting against gay and transgender people. It also made a white supremacist statement.
The banner was first defaced and then removed.
Responding to questions from the Times Free Press on Monday, Tennessee Department of Transportation spokeswoman Beth Emmons said via email, "We sent out crews to remove it as soon as we saw the Twitter post. By the time we got there with the (Tennessee Highway Patrol) -- it was gone."
It's not known whether the banner was put up by people who were, in fact, thanking the governor for signing the legislation or by people protesting it by satirizing such a sentiment.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com.