On Tuesday, in an article I wrote titled, “Gavin Newsom Needs to Be Less of an Instagram Influencer, More of a Governor,” I was heavily critical of California Governor Gavin Newsom in using people’s tragedy as a platform for his agenda, likely without the permission of the people had lost everything:

“Most recently, “candid” (see: staged) photos were taken of him chillin’ near the ashes and debris where someone’s house once stood.  Decked out like he was headed down the runway at a fashion event, perfectly manicured hands and sculpted hair, the governor likely didn’t have permission from those property owners nor were those property owners probably even yet allowed back by authorities to their destroyed property.  Either way, there he was, poppin’ a squat at someone’s picnic bench in the middle of all the destruction.  Gavin then got up to lecture us all on global warming and how it is to blame for all the problems California faces.”

It turns out, that was correct.  Governor Gavin Newsom and Vice Presidential Candidate and Senator Kamala Harris toured the destruction on Tuesday, making sure they stopped to their photo op in the middle of the destruction.

Climate change is real. pic.twitter.com/iy1uuRpyQr

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 15, 2020

Spent time surveying a burn site with @GavinNewsom in an area that has been devastated by the recent wildfires in California. I’m incredibly grateful for the courage of our brave firefighters and those who have come near and far to help those fleeing the destruction. pic.twitter.com/EHSUPgkOsl

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 15, 2020

The only problem is that they did not have permission from the homeowner to be there AND that homeowners had not been allowed back to their property in the first place.  In other words, Newsom and Harris were more concerned with their photo op than they were in the people behind the photo op, that lost everything.

Bailee Patton took to Facebook to criticize Newsom and Harris for their extremely tacky means of using their tragedy for their own gain.

Patten’s brother also expressed a similar sentiment online.

Interesting how Newsom and Harris think that standing in the literal ash of someone’s life is a great place to make their point about a political movement.  Without any regard for how the family felt, they stood there, at a place the where the property owner isn’t even allowed at this point, to discuss a policy change that wouldn’t even solve the current problem for decades to come. Shame on them.