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MoveOn's Founding Director, Challenging Jerry Brown in CA-Gov Dem Primary

by: Peter Schurman

Tue Apr 06, 2010 at 13:49:21 PM PDT

Friends, I have some big news today: I'm running for Governor of California, in the June 8th Democratic primary, challenging Jerry Brown as a progressive.

Please join my campaign, at: http://PeterForGov.org.

From my four years as MoveOn.org's founding Executive Director (2001-2005), and an organizing career almost two decades long, I know what it takes to win:

* Take bold, principled stands on the key issues
* Run a vigorous grass-roots campaign
* Make the best possible use of the Internet

Peter Schurman :: MoveOn's Founding Director, Challenging Jerry Brown in CA-Gov Dem Primary

I'm an old fan of Jerry Brown -- I worked my tail off campaigning for him when he ran for President 18 years ago -- but I don't see him doing any of these things.

Six-plus years of Republican mismanagement have left California in a fiscal and civic crisis. We've got to win the Governor's office, and the way to win is to fight for our core values, not run away from them. We have to campaign vigorously, on our principles. Nothing less will be enough to beat Whitman's corporate, Wall Street billions.

I'm taking strong stands on the key issues facing California:

We have to close our budget gap by making corporations, big commercial property owners, and the richest people pay their fair share. If you care about protecting our children, our grandparents, the most vulnerable Californians, you must support raising revenues. Jerry doesn't. Meg Whitman is actually campaigning on cutting jobs -- her true Goldman Sachs colors are shining through.

We also have to break the Republican minority's stranglehold on our state, by ending the 2/3 rule for raising revenues. Democracy means a majority vote, not rule by a few obstructionists. Jerry's doesn't support this change -- in fact he's been sabotaging it. Whitman wants to keep things the way they are, with the Republican boot on California's neck.

At MoveOn.org, I fought hard to pass the California car-mileage and climate-change law that President Obama's E.P.A. just adopted nationwide. If you're reading this, there's a good chance you were part of that campaign -- thank you! But Meg Whitman wants to suspend another major California climate change law. She's got it totally backwards. Clean tech is today's great economic opportunity, and California can't get left behind. Whitman trying to undermine it is like going back 30 years and cutting funding for the development of the Internet. Where would eBay be today?

We need real leadership. Not politics.

Join my campaign for California's future at: http://PeterForGov.org

Thanks.

- Peter

Tags: CA-GOV, primary, 2010, Democratic, Jerry Brown, Peter Schurman, Moveon, Meg Whitman, (All Tags)

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MoveOn's Founding Director, Challenging Jerry Brown in CA-Gov Dem Primary | 12 comments

write-in? (0.00 / 0)

Are U running a write-in campaign, OR did you submit the required paperwork by the deadline earlier in March?

Regardless, do you have a viable plan as part of your apparent campaign to get our next Democratic governor--hopefully Brown--to take forthright and principled positions on the progressive goals you share?

You say we need real leadership; not politics. Of course, real leadership and politics are by no means mutually exclusive. In fact, showing real leadership in moving the ball forward on progressive policy goals often requires smart politics. I'm pretty sure you already know this, but I thought it is worth mentioning anyway.

MoveOn has done very good work on a range of high-profile issues, and no one should diminish the work that you've done as part of that MoveOn effort. Nevertheless, Brown will be our nominee and I'm going to work as hard as I can to get him elected in November, while at the same time supporting efforts to eliminate the 2/3 requirement and to create a 'split roll' prop. 13 reform.

p.s. Brown, as the state's Attorney General, has also been a leader in supporting, protecting, and defending the state's clean car regulations and the global warming solutions act.

by: DanKalb @ Tue Apr 06, 2010 at 22:26:42 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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He filed in time (0.00 / 0)

He'll be on the ballot as a candidate in the Democratic primary.

You can check out any time you like but you can never leave

by: Robert Cruickshank @ Tue Apr 06, 2010 at 22:29:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

How we win. (0.00 / 0)

Dan -

Thanks for your great questions and comments.

First, Robert's right. I'm on the ballot; I filed and I've received confirmation from the Secretary of State.

I've tried the front door with Jerry Brown -- a lot of folks have -- and I believe that his campaign is stumbling on so many fronts that the only path now is to lead by example.

We can win from this in all kinds of ways:

* If Brown follows our lead and takes some real stands on the issues, that's a huge win, because progressive grass-roots and donor energy will reward him.

* If Brown cleans up his Internet act, he'll start building a stronger campaign almost immediately, even if he stays in the back room.

* If he comes out and starts talking with voters, they'll be energized, and maybe he will too.

* If he does none of these things, and merely triangulates away from us, he'll probably see that as a win, reinforcing his apparently centrist positioning.

* We'll be in a position to go after Whitman more aggressively than he may choose to, if he's the nominee.

* If he's the nominee, we'll have built a movement we can put behind him.

* If we win, the Dems will have a truly progressive standard-bearer who loves campaigning, going into the November election. There's no better way to confront a Wall Street billionaire.

Join us at http://PeterForGov.org

Tweet:
I'm with @PSchurman in CA Governor race. We need leadership, not politics. Join us at http://Peter4Gov.org Pls RT #CAGov #wallstreetwhitman

Thanks,

- Peter

by: Peter Schurman @ Tue Apr 06, 2010 at 23:54:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why did you wait so long to announce? (0.00 / 0)

Got endorsements, war chest and people ready to work? Otherwise this just seems like a vanity campaign.

Sorry to be harsh, but coming in this late is a distraction to the much needed effort to push Brown to be a better candidate.

Guess I still have San Francisco hippie values, although I'm an engineer

by: caligal @ Wed Apr 07, 2010 at 00:24:24 AM UTC

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Time (0.00 / 0)

Brown announced only 4 weeks ago. We have 9 weeks ahead. 9 weeks to win.

This is Day 1. And already our campaign has gotten incredible press pickup, and tons of people are signing on.

Primaries are the time to sort out who can do the best job of building a campaign for November 2nd.

If you like Jerry's back-room, insider, old-school campaign, stick with him.

If you agree with me that California's progressives can do better, with a more vigorous campaign that actually fights on the issues that matter, join us:

http://PeterForGov.org

I am committed to electing a Democratic Governor. I'm also committed to electing the strongest possible progressive, Democratic Governor.

by: Peter Schurman @ Wed Apr 07, 2010 at 07:09:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why don't you have a "volunteer" button on your website? (0.00 / 0)

Without giving potential supporters an opportunity to volunteer, your outreach looks more top down than grassroots.

by: Luminous Animal @ Wed Apr 07, 2010 at 02:48:08 AM UTC

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We'll be presenting plenty of volunteer opportunities via email (0.00 / 0)

...so sign up, already. :)

- Peter

by: Peter Schurman @ Wed Apr 07, 2010 at 07:14:25 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

glad to hear it (0.00 / 0)

it's good to see someone taking up the challenge. i don't think people realize where Brown's politics really are these days - to the extent that even Brown knows, that is. having to face a primary opponent may help. we need someone to vote for, not just against.

by: tatere @ Wed Apr 07, 2010 at 23:35:33 PM UTC

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Seems more like Triangularization or Dimensional Chess.... (2.00 / 1)

Not that I watch local news much, but I haven't see a peep about your campaign. I frequent most of the major progressive blogs and MoveOn supported the very vague Public Option. Okay so you haven't been there since 2005, I see that, but I still believe Brown is largely playing a wait and see game. I know Whitmann and the California Chamber of Commerce are targeting Brown but let's be honest, unless you take the voters of California for being complete morons, eMeg or iCarly will never sniff the seats they want. This is play to grab more money and both will be exposed as slash and burn CEO's that went to school during Regan's run in office, they couldn't be moderate if they wanted too and will alienate the NEW Republican base if they try to move to the center.

I'm all for pushing Brown to the left of the debate and while he hasn't come out directly in support of SB810 or legalizing marijuana, all corner stone Progressive stances, he has flippantly supported doing away with 2/3rds for budgetary issues and supports AB32.

As for his e-campaign its off to a rocky start I agree but I think the bulk of the ideas, strategy and M-O-N-E-Y will come from the DGA and DNC once the primary hurdle has been jumped.

Not saying you should run, but why should I support you and not Laura Wells??

Its not like Democrats especially at the Federal level are covering themselves in glory.

by: djfourmoney @ Thu Apr 08, 2010 at 07:06:40 AM UTC

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Umm... (0.00 / 0)

Our current governor is a Republican so saying that the Republicans will just implode is not only a lie but the concept that a liberal tide will carry any Democrat into the office and any Republican will be washed away is an idea that can do horrible damage in an election.

If, say, the election has a low turn out because lack of enthusiasm we(Democrats) can lose. Republicans have a higher percentage of people that consistently go to the polls e.g. they vote all the time from president down to city council to dog catcher. In the past few elections they were ahead of us in this regard. The state turns blue, especially in 08, because of the high turn out and enthusiasm of newer voters and independents went for us.

Lets take the two conservative candidates starting with Whitman. If she wins she will have the money and the organization of the corporate Republicans behind her. She can field a good campaign because of her money and the organized votes. Now let's take a look at Poizner. From what I have seen he is well liked by the conservative grassroots and the Republican base. He will have the enthusiasm of the teabaggers to use in the election and probably much of the rightist machine that went to work to pass prop 8 will go for him as well.

Personally I am a progressive dedicated to making sure that no Democrat pulls a Coakly in the governor's race, which could happen if Brown adopts the attitude that a liberal tide will carry him into office. We need strong, active candidates in this race whomever they might be. Hopefully Whitman wins and Poizner decides to run anyway, does a Hoffman, and splits their party so badly that we win no matter what. This state, however, cannot afford to let us be so cavalier in the way we view this election. The future of our already shattered state depends on strong leadership. My hope is that every single Democrat in this race, and whoever our nominee is, campaigns hard for every single last vote.

by: Jgomez089 @ Sun Apr 11, 2010 at 06:21:26 AM UTC

[ Parent ]