The slick-haired, forever-ambitious Governor was in Atlanta to promote his new memoir, but by the time Newsom stepped off stage, few cared about his ‘Young Man in a Hurry.’ Instead, a tidal wave of criticism surged across conservative media, capturing what critics say is the true face of progressive soft bigotry. And if you haven’t seen the viral videos already – brace yourself. Newsom didn’t just insert his foot in his mouth; he delivered the entire liberal playbook of pandering and condescension, straight to a crowd of black voters.
Newsom’s Atlanta Meltdown: ‘I’m Like You… I’m a 960 SAT Guy… I Can’t Read’
At a Sunday night book tour event with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Newsom attempted to relate to the predominantly black crowd by referencing his self-described ‘learning disability.’ Instead, he landed a bombshell:
‘I’m like you. I’m no better than you. I’m a 960 SAT guy… I cannot…you’ve never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read,’ Newsom said, stunning the room and instantly drawing accusations of racial insensitivity from both sides of the political aisle.
To make matters worse, Newsom’s team tried spinning the utterly tone-deaf remark as an appeal to shared struggle. But the internet wasn’t buying it for a second. Clips shot around conservative X (formerly Twitter), prompting not just scrutiny, but genuine outrage and ridicule. During the very same event, Newsom linked his identity to the black audience simply by admitting to a mediocre SAT score and reading struggles. Immediately, this prompted a flurry of social media criticism decrying his words as another example of what many call the ‘soft bigotry of low expectations’ – a subtle but damaging form of racism that presumes black Americans need pity or sympathy rather than respect.
What really stoked the flames, however, was not only the racial undertone, but the implication that black voters should see themselves in Newsom’s self-admitted academic shortcomings. The reality is, SAT data released in 2024 by the College Board showed the average for black test-takers at 907, compared to 1083 for white test-takers. But as conservatives noted across the web, reducing a vibrant, diverse crowd to a statistical footnote isn’t connection – it’s condescension.
Rapper Nicki Minaj, not typically seen on the right, even weighed in, unleashing a scathing rebuke of Newsom’s performance and accusing him of addressing black voters ‘as if they’re children.’ Minaj’s viral retort evidenced that frustration with Newsom’s gaffe extended far beyond right-wing circles.
Piling On: Conservative Icons Torch Newsom’s ‘Soft Bigotry’ and Liberal Media Duck For Cover
It didn’t take long for conservative kingpins to grab hold of the gaffe and use it as fresh ammunition in the culture war. Mark R. Levin, legendary talk radio host, summed up what countless Americans were thinking: ‘If any Republican said what this moron Newscum said, their political careers would be over.’
In fact, Mark Levin wasn’t alone; heaps of influential right-leaning personalities – from podcaster Dave Rubin to Tomi Lahren – lined up to label it ‘the single best example of the soft bigotry of low expectations.’
Rubin, Lahren, Megyn Kelly, and Brilyn Hollyhand – not to mention a slew of viral conservative accounts – torched Newsom’s remarks as racially insensitive, arrogant, and out-of-touch. Each mocked him for trotting out his dyslexia and subpar test scores as if that somehow bridged a cultural gap, while the proud urban audience in Atlanta looked on with disbelief. Echoing the sentiment of a great many parents and voters, one X commentator posted, ‘We all watched it. Don’t let them gaslight you. Newsom really did say it.’ And yes – the entire exchange was captured for posterity.
But don’t count on CNN or MSNBC to question a powerful Democrat in 2026. With Biden’s presidency over and the media’s favorite future candidate floundering, the left-wing press appeared more interested in burying the news than holding Newsom accountable. In key purple states, meanwhile, Republican strategists seized the moment, contrasting Trump’s direct, plain-spoken style with what they called Newsom’s ‘elitist performance art.’ For grassroots activists and everyday conservatives, it proved what’s been said all along: the professional left condescends to working-class and minority voters they claim to champion, and everyone outside their donor circles can see it.
Beyond this Atlanta disaster, a pattern of tone-deaf outreach dogs the California governor. On the ‘All The Smoke’ podcast months ago, Newsom awkwardly deployed street slang, described growing up on ‘Wonder Bread and Mac ‘n’ cheese,’ and bragged about hustling to pay family bills – attempts to ‘pass’ for blue collar and urban that came across as performative and shallow.
Once again, liberal Hollywood cheered while real working-class voters rolled their eyes.
Book Tour Chaos: Newsom’s ‘Relatability’ Implodes As 2026 Political Stakes Rise
Newsom’s attempted roadshow to rescue his image and soft-launch a potential White House run has now burned him in perhaps the most important demographic battlegrounds in America. His memoir tour began in Nashville, stopping in Atlanta – where he delivered the infamous one-liner – and charted next for South Carolina and New York, all eyeing states with diverse electoral bases and outsized national influence. The itinerary alone reads like a presidential test run, but with each misstep, insiders say Newsom’s national viability is crumbling.
The optics? Grim. Even before the Atlanta debacle, Newsom’s record with black voters was tepid at best, hurt by the perception that he’s yet another out-of-touch Californian with little in common with working America. Critics claim that this pattern of behavior – from hustling stories to fake humble-brags – demonstrates a patronizing attitude toward the very people Democrats claim as their base. Now with the 2026 midterms fast approaching and Trump’s reelection momentum strong, every Democrat gaffe is amplified to a deafening roar. Will Newsom’s team find a way to spin the humiliation, or will they double down on out-of-touch identity politics? So far, the reaction from progressive media has been radio silence. The reality – as any frustrated Georgian will tell you – is accountability isn’t coming from the left.
As one local caller into a popular Atlanta AM station put it, ‘We don’t need another white liberal coming in and telling us how sorry he is for being stupid. We want someone who respects us.’ Now, conservative grassroots movements are already turning Newsom’s misfire into a rallying cry.
As the tour limps toward South Carolina and New York, pressure mounts for exposure of the Democrats’ hypocrisy. The Newsom debacle isn’t just a gaffe; it’s a revealing moment in the ongoing realignment of minority voters. Under Trump’s 2024 landslide, more working-class and nonwhite Americans moved rightward. Now, after this clumsy moment, insiders predict even deeper shifts as voters recoil from ‘relatable’ millionaires who talk down to them on book tours. Meanwhile, true conservative voices keep hammering the message: merit, respect, and honest discourse are what every American deserves – not the recycled, patronizing scripts of yesterday’s Democrats.
