Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee voted twice against including a critical public option in the health care reform bill - even though poll after poll shows an overwhelming majority of Americans want this reform!
It's the final straw!
I'm frustrated and disappointed, just as I'm sure you are. But I refuse to take this lying down. Yesterday's results mean we need to fight harder for the beliefs we share, and we need someone who shares those beliefs to go to Washington to fight for them.
I've been thinking back to why I initially entered this race in 2007 -- my concern about the policies that were sending my son and daughters-in-law back to Iraq for a second tour of duty. Next week I'm going to Fort Benning, Georgia, to see my son and daughter-in-law off -- again. They will be starting their third tours of duty in Iraq.
Once again, Calvert's ethically-challenged behavior landed him on the non-partisan Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington most corrupt list:
Last night, President Obama addressed the nation on an issue we all know is critically important: making sure every American receives quality, affordable health care. Obama echoed the words of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy who wrote that accomplishing this goal will truly show the "character of our country."
Ken Calvert's response? Falsehoods, fabrication and fear mongering. Just read what he had to say:
"It's the pathway to nationalized health care." - Press-Enterprise
"The public option is an absolute deal killer." - Orange County Register
Last week there was an impressive showing for the Riverside area as 150+ people showed up for a health care candlelight vigil in front of Congressman Ken Calvert's office.
The peaceful vigil was interrupted by a small contingent of teabagging nutjobs. As one of the volunteers was reading health care horror stories submitted online by public option supporters and people in the crowd, the young guy in the video (Ryan or Bryan or whoever) was forcing an "Obama Hitler" poster into her face, waving it aggressively, loudly saying rude, offensive things, and nearly knocking one of the elderly vigil goers off his walker seat (classy, real classy). Then, continuing the show of recklessness, one of the crazies had an air horn that she blasted directly into the ears of some teenage girls who were demonstrating peacefully on the sidewalk. That's assault, and if the police would have been at the rally like they should have been, maybe they could have prevented this abuse.
Two days later some of these same reckless idiots filmed this little video in front of Congressman Ken Calvert's office - right after meeting with one of Calvert's people to espouse their lies and anti-immigrant craziness. Four of them are known members of the whack job Minuteman group in Orange County (You can see pictures of their 'rally' in front of Calvert's office here http://californiascrusader.com... ).
(This is our top Congressional challenge in 2010. If you have a few bucks to spare, consider making a donation. - promoted by David Dayen)
Last year, thanks to the grassroots, we came closer to beating Ken Calvert in California's 44th District than anyone thought possible.
With that near upset, people from across the country took note of this seat - especially the Republicans!
National Republicans have already begun raising money hand over fist from their big business, special interest contributors to keep Ken Calvert in office.
In fact, later today, Ken Calvert is set to receive $100,000 from the National Republican Congressional Committee as part of their "Patriot Program." They're doing everything they can to hold on to the seat!
According to the NRCC, these Patriots will be provided with the resources they need to build strong campaigns to help Republicans fight their way back to the Majority. We can't let this happen!
Last week, the Rothenberg Political Report http://rothenbergpoliticalrepo... came out and listed our race as having moved from last year's "Solid Republican" ranking to now "Leaning Republican".
With that new ranking, we've been told we're one of the three top races in the country to watch.
As encouraging as that is, I am also being told that I now need to immediately raise huge sums of money if I want to remain competitive.
I didn't get within 2% last cycle by raising millions of dollars and sending out flashy ads. Instead, I did it the old fashioned way. I walked the district and I actually talked to voters one-on-one. I was able to connect with thousands of families who have watched their jobs disappear and their homes lost to foreclosure - even though they always played by the rules. In 2008, I did what I do best: connect with voters one-on-one and discuss issues to explain exactly how I would be different than their current representative. At the heart of each issue (the economy, health care, the environment), we all share the same basic beliefs that we want our children to grow up in a safe, secure, thriving community and to do better than we did.
Unfortunately, I know that this race will be different and that strategy alone won't work in 2010 because the other side is so desperate to retain the seat.
The NRCC now realizes this seat is vulnerable and have made it clear they don't want to lose it. They've already set up a donation page for Calvert and Newt Gingrich is hosting a fundraiser tonight to help raise money for him.
Ok, so no one is exactly shocked to hear that today I've made it official but I wanted to come here to this blog to post it myself since the folks at Calitics have always been good to me.
I also wanted to post a little more about myself so that you understand why I'm running and why you should care about this race.
(The D-Trip is really taking an interest in CA-44. - promoted by David Dayen)
I'm excited to announce that my district is one of only six nationwide being targeted by the DCCC in a series of radio ads being rolled out next week.
The ads will target Republican members of Congress who opposed the middle class tax cut in President Obama's economic recovery act. These ads are the DCCC's way of taking the message of middle class tax cuts and economic recovery directly to the public in radio ads called "Tax Man" that will run in the lead up to April 15th (tax day).
My opponent Ken Calvert is one of the six Republicans being targeted for his vote against the middle class tax cut.
This is the DCCC's fourth phase of the "Putting Families First" campaign and we've been fortunate enough to be included in the other phases as well.
It turns out that Rep. Ken Calvert is at it again.
First, he voted against the Stimulus Bill. In his world of bizarre partisan purity, Calvert said that the Stimulus Bill spends too much. This argument would be more compelling if it were not coming from someone who voted to bailout banks and corporate CEOs to the tune of $700+ billion with no oversight just a few months ago, and who repeatedly voted to spend a budget-busting trillion dollars in Iraq.
After that last vote, he came back to the district for a series of town hall meetings where he spoke about the Stimulus Bill and the 9800 new jobs that would be created in the 44th and told the local paper, he'd do what he could to direct as much money as possible to the Inland Empire.
He followed that up by voting against the spending bill, complaining about the earmarks that had been added to it. But in today's Press Enterprise, it was reported that Mr. Calvert included 34 of his own earmarks totaling more than $42 million to it. When the Press Enterprise asked about adding those earmarks to the bill Representative Calvert said, "That doesn't obligate me to vote for the spending."
I think a more accurate statement to the press would be "In spite of all my efforts to prevent it from happening, there will be 10,000 new jobs and $42 million coming to this Congressional District."
Congressman Calvert is sending out an email in response to the President's address this past week. In his response Calvert says, "The market-based loan modifications make sense for homeowners who are on the margins, but in some cases, people simply bought homes they could not afford. While I agree that foreclosures adversely impact other homeowners, I do not believe homeowners who pay their bills on time and renters, who have saved up to buy a home, should foot the bill. The moral hazard in this case is simply too great and establishes a troubling precedent."
This argument hardly seems credible coming from a gentleman who authored a bill loosening adjustable rate regulations that encouraged folks to purchase homes they couldn't afford. Back in 2003, Calvert wrote HR 1443 (Access to Affordable Mortgages Act) which amended the National Housing Act to assure that 5/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) were offered competitively in the marketplace. At the time Calvert said, "Congress has recognized the importance of more loan options to home-buyers and banks by allowing a range of adjustable mortgage rates. This provision will increase interest rate flexibility and thereby contribute to a stable economy and a robust real estate market."
Considering that Mr. Calvert himself is a real estate professional, it's amazing he couldn't see the flaw in his own legislation and believed it would lead to a more robust real estate market and a stable economy. The largest city in his district (Riverside) now has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation and ranks as the fourth largest foreclosure market in the country. This is also the same "real estate expert" who purchased land illegally in Jarupa (another portion of his district). With real estate experts like Mr. Calvert telling us what does and doesn't work with regards to the real estate market, who needs the Obama economists, right?
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) posted a map today detailing the benefits for the Recovery Plan. The DCCC has made Congressman Calvert one of 12 GOP House members they are targeting in an e-mail, text, and telephone campaign calling these members out for voting against the stimulus package. As the DCCC states, "Congressman Ken Calvert's vote against President Obama's economic recovery package means that he tried to block a badly needed and shovel-ready project to repair streets in Riverside, California, creating 23 jobs alone."
To view the map, visit www.DCCC.org/Content/Recovery
Did Calvert and Co. get special treatment to 'further curry political favor'? With questions still swirling about Representative Ken Calvert's role in the purchase of public land, a $1.5 million lawsuit alleging the land sale may have been improper - or worse - continues to make its way through Riverside County Superior Court.
(It's good to see the DCCC investing. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), today announced the DCCC is launching a "Putting Families First" ad and grassroots campaign in 28 targeted Republican districts throughout the country. Our district (the 44th) is one of those included.
I'm here in Washington, DC, for meetings and was privileged yestreday to attend the inauguration of our 44th president, Barack Obama. As you can imagine, it's been impossible to walk the streets of the capital and not feel the overwhelming sense of anticipation and optimism radiating from the crowds. Like you, I have awaited this inauguration with tremendous anticipation because of my great hope for real change after the damaging Bush policies of the last eight years. As Americans, we suddenly are overflowing with optimism because the presidency is to be assumed by a man whose experiences bring a unique understanding of our nation's history, diversity, and challenges.
Our challenges, though serious, are by no means insurmountable. During the next four years, I believe we will see genuine progress in the fight to guarantee health care for all Americans, as well as a renewed urgency to address the degradation of our environment during the Bush presidency. President Obama has assembled an excellent team to tackle the economic quagmire left behind by the Bush Administration and we expect major investment in our
country's infrastructure. Moreover, unlike its predecessor, we fully expect an Administration that respects the rule of law.
A third of all Americans call this inauguration the nation's most historic. I join that third in their sentiment. As the Obama Administration assumes the nation's helm, I very much regret that I will not be able to fight for the residents of the 44th Congressional District from within the halls of Congress in this next session. However, we will continue our fight to bring effective representation to our district-representation that reflects the real values of our residents!
All over DC the signs say, "Yes, we did!" As we look toward 2010 in the 44th Congressional District, we say proudly, "Yes, we will!"
