Following news that three-time NBA champion LeBron James would be joining the Los Angeles Lakers, the California Democratic Party welcomed the superstar with a tweet that included an invitation to join the state party’s bandwagon heading into November midterm election.
A handful of Twitter users, in addition to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif), jumped at the greeting by blasting liberal leadership and policies in the Golden State.
The state party’s official handle tweeted the following: “Welcome to the neighborhood, @KingJames. For once you’ve moved in: https://registertovote.ca.gov/“
Welcome to the neighborhood, @KingJames.
For once you’ve moved in:https://t.co/xVN1SJuWZ5 https://t.co/oL8KAiNd1A
— California Democratic Party (@CA_Dem) July 2, 2018
Among the contentious back-and-forth mean-spirited jabs to be expected with political social media posts today were replies from various accounts warning King James about the state’s day-to-day expenses, taxes on the wealthy, and more factors in a state where Democrats control every part of the capital in Sacramento — and where the Republican Party deals with being a perpetual minority.
“Welcome to the one-party state. You will be able to experience the results of the Dem Party policies: high cost of living, thousands of homeless people on streets, prosperity of the top 1%, the median home $600k, the median salary &67k,” wrote Twitter user @freedom4all117.
Welcome to the one-party state. You will be able to experience the results of the Dem Party policies: high cost of living, thousands of homeless people on streets, prosperity of the top 1%, the median home $600k, the median salary &67k.
— Love&Happiness (@freedom4all117) July 2, 2018
“LeBron once you see all the people living in tents and cardboard boxes you will understand the real meaning of DEMOCRATS. They put them there.go talk to them , ask them what DEMOCRATS have done to help them. Families living in filth,” responded Twitter user @viper___jet.
LeBron once you see all the people living in tents and cardboard boxes you will understand the real meaning of DEMOCRATS. They put them there.go talk to them , ask them what DEMOCRATS have done to help them. Families living in filth.
— X NFL FAN (@viper___jet) July 2, 2018
In January 2018, PJ Media contributor Michael Walsh highlighted California having the highest poverty rate in the country — noting “increased welfare spending,” “highly restrictive land-use ordinances,” and “environmental restrictions.”
Twitter user Brian W, who describes himself as a retired Airport Crash Rescue firefighter in his bio, had some advice for the four-time MVP and 14-time All-Star.
“Keep your home of residence in Ohio. Seriously. I may end up moving back after I retire. That party that’s controlled this state for decades has made it untenable for middle class retirees to enjoy it,” he posted in the thread of Twitter replies.
Keep your home of residence in Ohio. Seriously. I may end up moving back after I retire. That party that’s controlled this state for decades has made it untenable for middle class retirees to enjoy it.
— Brian W (@crashresq29) July 2, 2018
Should LeBron choose to pick up a player option on the fourth and final year of his contract with Los Angeles, he would be 38 years old by the end of his last season in Los Angeles — the same age that five-time NBA champion and Laker great Kobe Bryant chose to retire.
With James making his big move to Hollywood to continue and potentially end his basketball career, post-NBA opportunities may await in the entertainment business with him having already built up a résumé as an accomplished executive producer, writer, and actor.
In his last press conference as a Cleveland Cavalier, he hinted that the next step in his career would be more than just about money.
“The one thing that I’ve always done is considered, obviously, my family. Understanding especially where my boys are at this point in their age. They were a lot younger the last time I made a decision like this four years ago. I’ve got a teenage boy, a pre-teen and a little girl that wasn’t around as well,” he said when asked about a possible move out of Cleveland.
Despite the liberal policies that Twitter critics slam, his very presence in Los Angeles could be a boost the local economy — if his former basketball homes in Cleveland and Miami are any indication.
Continuing with the theme of slamming Democrats in charge of California, more Twitter users sounded off with their negative outlooks regarding the state — even calling out James’s own political support.
“Welcome to the Democrat utopia you have sided with all these years. They’re excited to grab as much from you as possible to redistribute to their designated causes, and themselves. The glitz and glam will be fun though, surely it’ll be worth it all. Time will tell,” chided @MansplainHonest.
Welcome to the Democrat utopia you have sided with all these years. They’re excited to grab as much from you as possible to redistribute to their designated causes, and themselves. The glitz and glam will be fun though, surely it’ll be worth it all. Time will tell.
— Mansplain (@MansplainHonest) July 2, 2018
“Prepare for HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH TAXES!!” said @mnpitbullmom.
Prepare for HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH TAXES!!
— Mary (@mnpitbullmom) July 2, 2018
User @Joelseph28 put it very bluntly: “Welcome to hell.”
Welcome to hell
— ✝🇨🇦 JOEL 🇺🇸✝ (@Joelseph28) July 2, 2018
According to an analysis from Forbes that considers multiple factors of LeBron’s assets, he could face over $21 million in additional state income taxes over the life of the contract.
As for his politics, LeBron has been outspoken from his platform as the world’s best basketball player about protesting and criticizing President Donald Trump — even during his most recent NBA Finals appearance in which the Golden State Warriors swept his now former team four games to zero.
“I know no matter who wins this series, no one wants an invite anyway. It won’t be Cleveland or Golden State going,” the former Cleveland Cavalier said in an NBA Finals press conference when asked to comment on the president uninviting the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles from a White House visit, as well as a possible visit from the team that would eventually win this year’s finals.
Just before the 2016 election, James denounced a comment from Donald Trump about “locker room talk” without naming the then-candidate by name.
“I’ve got a mother-in-law, a wife, a mom and a daughter, and those conversations just don’t go on in our locker room,” he said.
“What goes on in our locker room is sporting events that happened the night before, about family, about strategies that we may have that night, about a highlight that may have happened, you know, if there was a home run in the bottom of the ninth or there was an alley-oop dunk from a player the night before. That’s what happens in our locker room,” he continued.
(Former teammate J.R. Smith might be an exception to the James rule as he was captured on video pouring champagne over an unidentified woman at a 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers championship celebration held at the XS Nightclub in Las Vegas and also singing along with the Migos hit “Look at My Dab [B***h Dab].”)
J.R. Smith, ladies and gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/VILj1X5e35
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) June 20, 2016
Just over a month before the November 2016 election, LeBron endorsed Hillary Clinton for the presidency in a Business Insider op-ed.
“Policies and ideas that divide us more are not the solution,” James wrote. “We must all stand together — no matter where we are from or the color of our skin. And Hillary is running on the message of hope and unity that we need.”
Some in media seem to hope that the franchise-changing player also plays a pivotal role in California’s Resistance to President Donald Trump and his policies this fall.
Former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather, part of the reason for PJ Media’s existence today, tweeted:
“We know LeBron James has been outspoken about Trump. So it makes sense to head to California, the heartland of the #resistance. The fact that he will be trying to resist the dominance of the Warriors is an added plot twist.”
We know LeBron James has been outspoken about Trump. So it makes sense to head to California, the heartland of the #resistance. The fact that he will be trying to resist the dominance of the Warriors is an added plot twist.
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) July 2, 2018
New York Times bestselling author Molly Knight added:
“Only fitting that LeBron move to the headquarters of the Resistance. I can’t wait for November, for two reasons now!!”
Only fitting that LeBron move to the headquarters of the Resistance. I can’t wait for November, for two reasons now!!
— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) July 2, 2018
The era of LeBron James in Los Angeles is only just beginning.
Stay tuned.
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