A recent photograph of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who has set his sights on joining Kamala Harris in the impending 2024 presidential race, has found itself in the crosshairs of social media criticism. The image, featuring Walz munching on a donut outside Daube’s Cakes and Bakery in Rochester, is as ironic as it is emblematic of the disastrous consequences his rigorous COVID-19 lockdowns inflicted on local businesses. While he enjoys a pastry, the bakery in question has been shuttered for good—an unintentional testament to the disastrous policies of the radical left.
Daube’s Cakes and Bakery had been a staple in the Rochester community for over 30 years until Walz’s stringent measures crushed its livelihood. According to reports, after facing insurmountable pressure from the lockdowns, Daube’s announced its closure in June 2020, leaving behind not just empty storefronts but devastated employees and patrons who had come to rely on its sweet offerings. While Walz stands smiling with a donut, the reality is that his administration left countless small businesses, like Daube’s, gasping for breath.
It turns out the bakery that Sen. Tina Smith and Tim Walz are at in this photo, Daube's Cakes, closed its doors for good after over 30 years in June 2020 due to Walz' covid lockdowns https://t.co/6CoAfwXl89
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 5, 2024
The backlash against Walz and his policies has not been limited to just social media snark. Former bar owners, crushed under the weight of fines exceeding $300,000 as a direct result of Walz’s draconian enforcement of COVID mandates, have publicly denounced him as an “evil man.” Real stories of real consequences for Minnesotans reflect the agony experienced by many throughout the state. One defiant grandmother even faced jail time for opposing these absurd lockdown orders. Her warnings against Walz’s approach underscore a chilling reality: with his purported public health measures came a blatant disregard for individual rights and small business vitality.
Social media users have turned their collective ire on Walz, proclaiming that this photograph of him outside a closed bakery encapsulates the sheer hypocrisy of the left. Comments ranging from sarcastic musings on his “joy” amid “economic devastation” to outright accusations of fraudulence highlight the growing discontent toward Democrats who seem blissfully ignorant of the wreckage they leave behind while pursuing their political ambitions. The sentiments resonate deeply, as many see this not just as a picture but as a glaring symbol of Walz’s inability to govern effectively while simultaneously indulging in life’s luxuries.
As images of Walz enjoying his treat circulate, they serve as a reminder of the real-world ramifications of leftist policies. The history of Daube’s, along with countless other small businesses that have fallen victim to similar shutdowns, paints a bleak picture of what happens when politicians prioritize control over common sense. While he can pose with pastries, the sad truth is that many hardworking Minnesotans are left searching for a crumb of stability in a rapidly crumbling economy. The question remains: is this the kind of leadership Minnesotans want representing them on a national stage?