It’s been a tough week or so for gubernatorial candidate (and former consultant) Katie Porter (D-Irvine) — the form of stretch that makes you marvel if her marketing campaign bus runs on gasoline or spite.
First, Porter, 51, threatened to stroll out of an interview with a neighborhood CBS affiliate after the interviewer had the unmitigated gall — gall! — to ask her what she would say to the 40% of California voters who voted for Trump.
Porter’s response was much less “measured stateswoman” and extra “substitute instructor after her fourth Starbucks of the day.”
“How would I want them so as to win, ma’am?” she snapped.
The reporter had some extent. In California, the highest two vote-getters emerge from the first and face off within the basic election, which means that whoever hopes to win would possibly want a number of Republican votes to place them excessive.
However the second was much less about math or civics — and extra about tone.
Then got here the meltdown. “I don’t wish to hold doing this. … Not with seven follow-ups to each single query you ask. … I don’t wish to have an sad expertise with you, and I don’t need this all on digital camera.”
In case you’re first studying about this in print — the place facial expressions and inflection are more durable to convey — Porter’s vibe was … intense. Let’s simply say, you wouldn’t wish to ever have an “sad expertise” along with her.
After which, one other shoe dropped — this time, courtesy of Politico, which unearthed a 2021 video displaying Porter barking at a staffer who had walked into body whereas she was recording a dialog.
“Get out of my f—ing shot,” she instructed an worker, whereas recording an interview with then-Power Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
After the staffer pleaded their case, Porter doubled down with the demeanor of a DMV employee on her final nerve: “OK, you additionally have been in my shot earlier than that. Keep out of my shot.”
For anybody who’s ever had horrible bosses (all of us have), it was harking back to “The Satan Wears Prada” — if Meryl Streep had a whiteboard and a congressional pension, that’s.
Now, Porter’s “imply boss” act won’t matter if she have been some fringe candidate that no person was being attentive to. However she’s at the moment the front-runner for subsequent yr’s California gubernatorial race.
And the factor is, we’ve now bought a sample, a story, a development. What this implies is {that a}) there might be extra movies to come back (leaked, little doubt, by a plethora of disgruntled staff she’s left in her wake), and b) we’re additionally being reminded of previous indiscretions that all of the sudden make extra sense.
In 2013 divorce proceedings, for instance, Porter’s husband alleges she dumped scalding mashed potatoes on his head, “routinely” referred to as him a “f—ing fool,” shattered a glass espresso pot as a result of their home wasn’t clear sufficient and wouldn’t let him have a cellphone “as a result of, ‘You’re too f—ing dumb to function it.’”
In case you’ve ever been warned to “Watch how your date treats the waitress, as a result of ultimately she’ll deal with you a similar approach,” Porter is beginning to seem like the same ticking time bomb.
Now, Porter’s defenders will say she’s simply “robust” and that she’s not right here to play good. I imply, gained’t Democrats want somebody sturdy to tackle President Trump and MAGA?
Positive, however there’s a yawning chasm between being robust on the Republicans and being merciless to the interns. Voters desire a fighter. However they don’t desire a jerk. Virtually everybody has had a nasty boss who made them dread Mondays — or on daily basis. They usually keep in mind that trauma.
Others will say, “Properly, isn’t it sexist to criticize a strong lady for being assertive?” Possibly. But additionally, occasions have modified. Nobody will get a cross anymore to behave like Porter has. If the sequence had premiered in 2025, Ari Gold from HBO’s “Entourage” would have been canceled earlier than the primary episode completed airing.
We’ve collectively determined that possibly individuals shouldn’t be screamed at only for making an attempt to do an trustworthy day’s work and acquire a meager paycheck.
Heck, even our soccer coaches have began firming down the verbal abuse of gamers.
Sarcastically, one of the best argument for defending Porter’s conduct is the one being made by individuals who assume anti-bullying insurance policies have made Individuals too “mushy” (Pete Hegseth, name your workplace).
Look, politics isn’t for the weak. However voters can inform the distinction between toughness and meanness. Between grit and malice. Between combating for individuals and simply combating individuals.
And sadly, Porter appears to veer into the latter.
Throughout his presidential campaigns, Democrats have been fast to criticize Trump’s lack of temperament. They stated “character is future.” That they had some extent.
When somebody exhibits you who they’re — particularly when you’ll be able to see a number of examples of it on video — the logical factor to do is easy: Consider them.
Matt Okay. Lewis is the creator of “Filthy Wealthy Politicians” and “Too Dumb to Fail.”
