House Majority Whip Tom Emmer didn’t mince words this past weekend when he took a jab at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, comparing him to California’s liberal darling Gavin Newsom. But with a twist: Walz is like Newsom, only with a flannel shirt, according to Emmer. The comment, made during an interview on ABC News’ “This Week,” was classic Emmer – sharp, direct, and dripping with just the right amount of sarcasm.
Emmer’s remarks come ahead of the highly anticipated vice presidential debate, where Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio will face off against Walz. And who better to help Vance prep for this showdown than a man who has worked side by side with Walz for years? Emmer knows Walz’s political playbook inside and out, having watched the governor’s so-called “Minnesota nice” act unfold firsthand.
“I’ve known Tim, oh, probably since he was first elected almost 20 years ago,” Emmer remarked. “I worked with him directly for four years.” Emmer, clearly unimpressed with Walz’s political evolution, has spent weeks reviewing Walz’s speeches and public appearances. He even dove into the governor’s mannerisms and favorite phrases. Why? So he could help Vance get ready to take on the Midwestern version of Newsom – minus the shiny California flair, of course. “My job was to be able to play Tim Walz so JD Vance knows what he’s going to see.”
Americans do not trust @Tim_Walz. For good reason.
When angry mobs burnt down Minneapolis and attacked police, he sat on his hands and refused to send in the National Guard to protect law enforcement and businesses from violent protestors. https://t.co/MwqwyLTsju
— Tom Emmer (@tomemmer) September 26, 2024
Emmer didn’t stop there, though. He laid out exactly why he thinks Walz has been a disaster for Minnesota. Walz, Emmer says, is all charm and folksiness until people realize what his policies are really about. “He’s so good at being this folksy, nice, kind of down-to-earth guy until people get to know him and his policies.” It’s an act, Emmer suggests, that falls apart the minute voters start paying attention to the details.
Walz has perfected the “aw shucks” persona, pretending to be a salt-of-the-earth, outdoorsy, farmer-friendly guy. But here’s the kicker: when it came time to run for governor, voters in his own congressional district saw through the act. And they weren’t having it. Walz lost his home district in both of his gubernatorial races. In the last one, by almost 10 points! It’s a clear sign that Minnesotans, especially those who knew him best, don’t buy into the myth of Tim Walz anymore.
“When you get to know the real Tim Walz, he’s like Gavin Newsom in a flannel shirt,” Emmer quipped. And frankly, it’s hard to argue with that assessment. Just like Newsom, Walz’s policies are right out of the big-government, left-wing playbook: high taxes, more government spending, and regulations that stifle businesses. The only difference? Walz tries to camouflage it all behind that folksy “I’m one of you” routine. But as Emmer pointed out, even his own district eventually caught on.
.@tomemmer: Tim Walz has been a complete disaster in Minnesota. His old congressional district where he played this character for several years of being a “folksy outdoorsman” — he lost it in both of his gubernatorial races by 10 points. He’s Gavin Newsom in a flannel shirt. pic.twitter.com/iGKSoL7sEX
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 29, 2024
The comparison between Walz and Newsom isn’t just about appearances. It’s about failed liberal leadership and progressive policies that don’t work. Minnesotans are waking up to the fact that Walz’s version of “Minnesota nice” is just as dangerous as Newsom’s California dream, and no amount of flannel can cover that up.
.@Tim_Walz is a left-wing radical who turned Minnesota into a liberal wasteland. Under his leadership, taxes have skyrocketed, violent crime is at record highs, and Minnesota families are worse off. pic.twitter.com/74YJx4wwAQ
— Tom Emmer (@tomemmer) August 8, 2024
