John Cox, one of the many Republican candidates in the running to replace the governor of California, threatened with dismissal in an upcoming referendum, caused a sensation on Tuesday, May 4, by inviting a brown bear to his meeting.
The candidate has, in fact, decided to campaign on the theme of “Beauty and the Beast”, “Beauty” being, for him, the Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, renowned for his Hollywood smile and his cinema physique, while that he himself presents himself as “the Beast” who will shake up the Californian routine. The brown bear is also the symbol of California and features prominently on its flag.
“Pretty politicians failed in California”, launched the candidate during a meeting in Sacramento, the administrative capital of the state. “We need big, bestial changes to save her. I’m going to cut taxes, make California more affordable and shake up Sacramento ”, he assured. Already a candidate for the governor’s election in 2018 against Gavin Newsom, he obtained only 38.1% of the vote.
Use of the bear strongly criticized
For his publicity stunt, John Cox used a kodiak bear, considered the largest bear species. It is, in this case, an animal called “Tag”, approximately 500 kilos, born in captivity and trained to appear in films and series.
Visibly placid in character, Tag was content, Tuesday, to wait patiently for the end of John Cox’s speech, nibbling on treats given by his trainer or making his toilet with great licks.
The use of bears for political and advertising purposes has been strongly criticized by animal rights activists, such as the organization PETA which has ruled “Unhappy and ashamed that Tag the kodiak bear was exploited in this way”. “Bears should be left in peace, not held in an enclosure on asphalt and transported to events”, reacted the NGO on Twitter, urging “Anyone with an ounce of decency to keep wild animals out of their advertising operations.”
The number of signatures required to hold a referendum on the dismissal of Governor Newsom has been reached (around 1.5 million). No date has yet been set for the poll, which will have to ask state voters whether they want to replace Mr Newsom and if so, by whom. It is thanks to such a referendum that the star Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected in 2003 as head of the most populous state in the United States on behalf of the Republican Party.
Polls and experts believe Gavin Newsom should be able to keep his post, as California voters overwhelmingly voted for the Democratic camp in the last election.
