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Rhetoric has no place in San Luis Obispo County politics

January 26, 2026

Tom Fulks

OPINION by ERIK GORHAM

As the national debate over immigration and customs enforcement intensifies, that tension has now spilled into San Luis Obispo County, this time fueled not by policy disagreements, but by reckless rhetoric from a local political leader.

Two weeks ago, local Democratic Party Chair Tom Fulks appeared on The Dave Congalton Show. Known for his provocative style and casual relationship with facts, Fulks did not disappoint. But during this segment, he crossed into new and troubling territory.

At several points, Fulks engaged in rhetoric that went well beyond political critique.

In one instance, he appeared to suggest that Second Amendment activists should take up arms against ICE officers. In another, he claimed, without evidence, that ICE may include members of the far-right group the Proud Boys among its ranks.

These are not minor exaggerations or heated metaphors; they are serious allegations and implications that, when broadcast publicly, risk inflaming tensions and encouraging dangerous misunderstandings.

This type of messaging fits what scholars describe as stochastic or scholastic terrorism: the use of inflammatory language by public figures that does not explicitly call for violence, but increases the likelihood that a small segment of listeners may feel justified in taking violent action.

While such rhetoric has unfortunately become common at the national level, it is deeply unsettling to see it emerge from a local party leader in SLO County.

The segment itself was riddled with misinformation and contradiction. At one point, Fulks stated that he does not believe President Trump won the election, only to quickly retreat from the claim, seemingly to avoid being labeled an election denier.

This kind of rhetorical whiplash underscores the larger problem: when facts become optional, public trust erodes.

The real question is not whether one agrees or disagrees with ICE, President Trump, or federal immigration policy. Reasonable people can, and should, debate those issues vigorously.

The real question is what has happened to our local political culture when leaders feel comfortable advancing unsubstantiated claims, demonizing law enforcement wholesale, and flirting with language that could inspire real-world harm.

Disagreement is healthy. Propaganda is not. Passion is necessary. Recklessness is not.

Local leaders should be held to a higher standard, because words spoken on the radio do not stay on the radio. They ripple outward, shaping perceptions, fueling anger, and, in the worst cases, putting lives at risk.

SLO County deserves better.

Erik Gorham is a fifth generation San Luis Obispo County resident and a voting member of the SLO County Republican Central Committee.

 


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I have heard Fulks on the show. He throws out an exaggeration then walks it back.

As for the author he’s exaggerating that Fulks is using their weapons against the officers. “Using” is action. Similar to January 6th rioters “using” the American flag to beat up cops, break windows and punch holes in the walls of the US capitol. Why haven’t we seen the protestors using their weapons on law enforcement? I watch FOX and looks like the opposite is true. Law enforcement is using weapons against the public.

 As for the rest of the article. Trump has done all of these things 10 fold. So is the author saying it is okay for the most powerful politician in the world to do all these things on a world wide stage-but it isn’t ok for local political hack to say these things on a single small town radio station?

 I have heard both the author and Fulks on KVC. Both of these guys are

firmly in their corners. They have that right and should be promoting themselves instead of whining about the other guy.


-22

“The real question is what has happened to our local political culture when leaders feel comfortable advancing unsubstantiated claims, demonizing law enforcement wholesale, and flirting with language that could inspire real-world harm”


The lack of self awareness by republicans is mind numbing. This quote perfectly describes a pathological lying Trump, his cult followers, and every sycophant on television twisting to support their failed leader.


-25

FUCX ICE


-55

Spoken like an intellectual giant.


26

The left loves to spew dangerous rhetoric to incite chaos and violence. They are a group of weak humans that create dangerous situations then turns around to play the professional victim!!!!!


The conservative leadership in our country right now has made the Biden/Harris look like amateur hour!!!!


AMERICA IS BACK!!!


22

This time around, MAGA really doesn’t know anything other than licking boots and blaming the left for the taste.


-25

Tom Fulks is simply just engaging in what democrats do on a daily basis, puke out so dangerous rhetoric. Not surprising. And Dave Congalton leans far left as well, so I’m not surprised one bit.


Just libtards being libtards, we all should expect nothing less at this point.


19

Funny how this piece clutches its pearls over “reckless rhetoric” while coming from the same political camp that spent years screaming “invasion,” “traitors,” and “enemy within” from the rooftops. Spare us the sudden concern for tone and public safety.


Let’s talk about “stochastic terrorism” for a second. You don’t get to discover that term in 2026 and pretend it hasn’t been a full-time strategy in national politics for a decade — especially when it’s been aimed at immigrants, journalists, teachers, election workers, and anyone not wearing the right red hat.


And the hand-wringing about “misinformation”? That’s rich. We just survived an era of mass election denial, COVID conspiracies, and January 6th being called a “tourist visit.” Now we’re supposed to believe this is about defending truth and calm discourse? Come on. That dog don’t hunt.


If the standard is that no public figure should ever say anything inflammatory about law enforcement or federal agencies, then let’s apply that standard across the board — including to politicians who casually paint entire cities, communities, and professions as criminals and enemies of the state. Consistency matters, or else this is just selective outrage dressed up as civic virtue.


You can criticize Tom Fulks. Fine. Debate him hard. But don’t pretend this is about protecting democracy and public safety when it’s really about scoring partisan points while pretending to occupy the moral high ground.


SLO County does deserve better — better than performative concern, better than one-sided accountability, and better than lectures about civility from people who only discover manners when the microphone points the other way.

#FDT #Republicansaredestroyingamerica


1

Are you kidding with the line, “when leaders feel comfortable advancing unsubstantiated claims?” Isn’t that exactly what the Trump administration, which I assume you support, does everyday. Claims such as Good and Pretti were “domestic terrorists.” Claims such as if you go to a protest you shouldn’t carry a gun when there are reels of video of right wing protesters with long guns on the streets, such as those who showed up at the Michigan capitol a few years ago.


And I could go on and on and on, because this administration is the king of “unsubstantiated claims.” Donald Trump lies about anything and everything. I have never seen a president who so disrespected the American people to tell them things they can see are clearly false.


So, yep, Fulks is a blowhard who has zero power, but maybe you should take a hard look at people in power such as Trump, Miller, Noem, Patel and Bovinho who have done nothing but lie to us about what this so-called immigration enforcement, which more and more resembles a Three Stooges film gone violently wrong, is really all about. Because the Obama administration deported over three million illegal immigrants, 90% with criminal records, without this sturm and drang. No one was shot in the street and the administration did not tell us bald faced lies about what they were doing.


-24

Too bad folks could not have been caught up and prosecuted in the scandal along with his buddy hill, he has been a royal pain in the rear for years.


61

Perfectly said, Erik! These inflammatory comments made by public figures and state leaders inciting violence against law enforcement is extremely dangerous. We are a nation of laws and if local, state, and federal leaders start to demand that our law enforcement officials are the enemy and that our laws shouldn’t be enforced, then it’s anarchy and the end of our civilized society. One can protest and advocate for change, but violence is never a good way to garner change.


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