After the preparations had been made, the tally sheets from our phone calls completed, the carpools worked out, and the volunteers scheduled, I headed to Los Angeles with the hope that after the weekend was complete, there would be no question in the minds of the CDP delegates that Gavin Newsom has the grassroots support necessary to win the Lt. Governor's race against whatever the GOP throws at us in November.
In the weeks prior to the convention, our team of students from all across the state had been talking to delegates, volunteers, and fellow young voters about Mayor Newsom's candidacy and about his bold, new ideas that will be required to dig California out of our seemingly never ending state of economic misery.
The pitch was not hard to make. Young people are drawn to Newsom's campaign. We see public higher education becoming unaffordable to more and more Californians. We fear that in five or ten years our state won't be able to compete in an evolving global economy, and we worry that the living wage jobs that we will need in order to support our families will be harder and harder to find. While we are confident that our state will come to its senses when it comes to Gay Marriage and LGBT rights, we are concerned that the relentless beat of the status quo won't provide the framework necessary to drastically change the way we look at issues like immigration, the environment, and budget & tax reform. We have watched the forces of regressiveness drag our state (and our futures) under the surface, and we are ready and eager to support Gavin Newsom, who has proven time and time again in San Francisco that tangible change is not only possible, but it is also necessary.
While you weren't paying attention, the LA Times got word of the Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. No, they don't actually have any word from the court, but "some people are saying":
The California Supreme Court is expected to uphold Proposition 8, November's ballot measure banning same-sex marriage, with a decision coming in the next few weeks.(LAT 5/7/09)
Oh, well, if some people are saying, then it must be true.
The article goes on to talk about the broad-based, grassroots movement for repeal of Prop 8. Throughout the state, you have what we never had in the run-up to Prop 8, a true neighbor to neighbor outreach program. We have more field efforts now, before there is even a measure filed with the AG's office, than we ever did during the "campaign." From established Progressive and LGBT organizations to brand new grassroots teams, this thing is bubbling up. Just like Jaws: The Revenge, this time it's personal, because also like Jaws: The Revenge, Prop 8 was a horrible movie.
But, this is still the first time that progressives have ever worked to put an affirmative measure before the people. The Right's GOTV "marriage protection" measure Prop 22 got well over 60% of the vote, yet Prop 8 just barely squeaked by. The tide is turning. But of course, the Right wants to freeze time right there:
"There's no doubt the other side is going to try to make great hay out of Iowa and Maine . . . but none of those places are California. And California voters have now twice voted on this," he said. "What part of 'No' don't they understand?"
Well, this is just rich, coming from California's Social Right. How many times has parental notification gone down now? Let's see, there was Prop 73, then Prop 85, and then Prop 4. So, that would be 3, or, to be exact, 3 more times than progressives have tried to put marriage equality on the ballot. Really, Mr. Schubert? You are going to use that line and expect to get away with brutalizing the scions of logic?
Oh, surely Socrates and Plato are spinning wildly in their graves right about now.
Robert covered the Field numbers on prop 1A, but there was a bunch of information in the poll released yesterday (PDF). As you see to the right, data was released for 4 other props yesterday. From Prop 4, numbers from September are in parentheses, July for Prop 3. Prop 3, children's hospital bonds look safe to pass. While you'll get a slightly higher no percentage than you would get in a typical year because of the budget mess, it's hard to vote no against sick kids. There are plenty of reasons to vote no, including the fact that the allocation is a little heavy to non-public hospitals. However, it's sick kids, and that will pass.
The numbers are slightly improving on Proposition 4 as people learn that this is just Prop 73 and Prop 85 redux. I imagine there will be similar dynamics on Prop 4 as Prop 8. Turnout will be key and all that. Make some phone calls against Prop 4 tomorrow, if you get a chance. It might end up being a squeaker.
Now, another one that worries me: Prop 10. It currently leads by 10 points, a greater lead than Prop 1A currently holds. Unfortunately, T. Boone Pickens' "reprehensible scam" is nothing more than an attempt by one rich dude to raid our state budget. Please, tell all of your friends, relatives, and casual acquaintances to vote No on Prop 10. Every major environmental group as well as pretty much everybody else says No on 10. If this passes it will be because progressives support it. Currently Prop 10 is leading amongst self-described liberals by a wide margin. We need to make sure that we aren't duped by an oil man and his $19 million.
Oh, and Prop 12, a small veterans bond, is passing, and will pass on Tuesday.
• John Myers recaps the latest expenditure figures in the top legislative races. Unsuprisingly, the lone Senate race was the costliest race so far. Currently over $8.5 Million has been forked over for little ol' SD-19. The split between the two parties is pretty close on that one, but the biggest spender so far, according to the FPPC, is Californians for Jobs and Education. The Chamber of Commerce provides most of that money. In the Assembly, AD-80 is the most expensive race at almost $6 million. Manuel Perez is the preferred beneficiary of a bunch of that IE money, mostly from teachers and service employees.
• A coalition led by Change To Win has sent a letter to Arnold Schwarzenegger asking that he assign nonessential public employees to help at the polls on Election Day to facilitate the expected high turnout and long lines. You can read the letter, which is quite good, at the link.
• The Governor formed a commission to study the tax structure. The idea was first put forth by Speaker Karen Bass, but this commission better do its job in, well, how's a week sound? Now, hop to it.
• Some athletes not to idolize: Jeff Kent (Dodgers) gave $15K to Yes on 8, and Philip Rivers (Chargers) gave $10 K to Yes on 4.
I mean this is really getting out of hand. And before it goes any further, we need to establish a few things that the Yes on 8 campaign seems not to understand.
The current state of marriage does not make the words "bride" and "groom" hate speech. Gays are not the same as unicorns. No matter what Tom McClintock thinks, gays are not dogs either. The notion- in this country of all places- that equality would be "armageddon" should be outrageous to anyone. And most certainly, eliminating human rights would not be the same as defeating Hitler. Just stop. But hey- Yes on 8: if you've got an actual point, let's hear it. No really. One that's true.
So far there isn't one. I'm actually a little surprised. Given the tens of millions being rushed to California by Mormons and the great monied patrons of the religious right and the lather being worked up, you'd think that somewhere there would be a reasoned argument. Even if it wasn't front and center. There's lying and there's fear mongering and there's divisiveness. I've gotten those messages. And it's all capped by the evocation of the most horrific genocide the world has ever known.
And then there's The Call. Leading untold thousands to my city on Saturday to pray for Proposition 8. You do that. I'd like to think that this will be a positive event, but nothing so far leads me to expect a break from the nonstop divisiveness and the out-and-out lying and the histrionics (not to run this into the ground, but in the world of rhetoric, a Hitler comparison is the last stop on the hyperbole express). I'm sick of it, and if that's what I can expect on Saturday, take it elsewhere. I'm sick of the lies, I'm sick of the blackmail of my local small businesses, I'm sick of this being considered a remotely appropriate level of political discourse, and most of all I'm sick of being told that people are not created equal. That's the entire point of this country existing. It's the very first self-evident truth. Don't get angry at me if you don't like it. Take it up with the Declaration of Independence.
So while Prop 8 supporters pile into Qualcomm to pray, the Courage Campaign is joining with other allies of equality and freedom calling for volunteers to stop Prop 4 and Prop 8. When Rick Jacobs emailed Courage members earlier today, he noted that "the religious right is calling Proposition 8 its 'decisive last stand,'" which tells you the stakes on this. If you doubt at all how seriously they're taking it, check out the Call video on the volunteer page. It's pretty shocking.
Look: this is how the religious right keeps winning elections. For all the (very important) stories of voter suppression and ballot box rigging and corruption, the fundamental strategy hinges on drowning everyone in so much vitriol and general negativity that they give up entirely and stay home. It can't work this time. We can't let it. There's simply too much on the line. At a time that it's almost hackneyed already to rally around hope and change, it's all the more vital that California stand up collectively and say enough is ENOUGH. Lying to us won't work. Trying to wear us down with the rhetoric of alienation will not keep us home. Trying to make us miserable will not keep us quiet.
6 days left. I'm spending my Saturday with Lou Engle and James Dobson because there's some question as to whether equality is a human right in this country. How can we allow this to be a debate any longer? Enough is enough. Do something. And if you have time, do one more thing. If we don't stop this crap now, then when?
The campaign for Prop 4 launched some new videos today. Well, kind of. You see, these are pretty much the same ads that we saw against Prop 85 in 2006. I suppose there is one side benefit when one group is repeatedly targeted for action by initiative: pre-made ads.
I thought the bubble burst ad was pretty strong during the 2006 cycle, and I'll stick to that statement today. And props out to Assemblywoman, City Councilwoman, Senator Supervisor Gloria Molina for recording the ad against No on 4. One of the reasons this is always so close, is that the traditional Democratic foundation can break apart on these issues. Having a powerful Latina stand up to Prop 4 (in English and Spanish) is more important than the traditional head shot ad may seem at first.
It's 2008, and even in California the religious right is attempting to punish young women for having sex by bringing back illegal abortion. Progressives are starting to fight back, but the bad new is Yes on Prop 4 is still leading.
The last two times they put this anti-choice crap on the ballot, California voters wisely rejected it. This time, people aren't paying enough attention with so many other races and issues grabbing the headlines.
Note: I will be on KRXA 540 AM this morning at 8 to discuss this and other topics in California politics
The dominant theme of the 2008 campaign - from the presidential race on down - has been lies. Republicans and conservatives have resorted to an unprecedented amount of outright lies to try and defeat progressive campaigns and policies. There has been a marked uptick lately in the amount of false advertising especially on the propositions, so I thought I'd collect some of them here.
Prop 4: Planned Parenthood is facing a malicious attack from Prop 4 proponents. From an email sent out to the No on 4 list yesterday:
A new ad from the proponents of Proposition 4 twists a tragic case of a teen trapped in an incestuous situation, and falsely claims that Prop 4 would have helped. What is most outrageous is that Prop 4 would have put that teen in an even worse and more desperate situation. It would not have helped this teen in any way yet the anti-choice extremists behind Prop 4 continue to use tragic events to lie to California voters.
Visit No on Prop 4 to donate and find volunteer opportunities to help defeat this attack on teen safety and abortion rights.
Why all the lies? Partly because if we had a discussion on the actual merits of the issues, Prop 1A would pass and Props 4 and 8 would fail by large margins. The media plays a role here as well, letting groups like the Reason Foundation or the Mormon Church spread false claims without pushing back for the truth. Stenography has replaced journalism, as media outlets just report what "both sides" have to say regardless of whether or not there's any truth to the claims. And the op-ed pages and TV ads exist in a zone of truthiness, where nobody holds the liars accountable.
Except us. California progressives, the blogs, the grassroots. All the more reason for us to Stay For Change and save California from the liars on the right who wish to set this state back decades instead of help us embrace a better future.
A couple of days ago I wrote a diary entitled Stay for Change. I am encouraging Californians to stay in the state. Walk precincts and make calls here in California. And despite all the text messages and emails you get, please we need you here!
We need you here to defeat Prop 8, so that we retain marriage equality and we aren't stuck with a second class citizenship. We need you here at home, so that we can defeat Proposition 4 to preserve the safety of our teens and choice in California. We need you here to help kick start the greatest public works project in a generation with California's High Speed Rail project (Prop 1A).
And we need you here to elect More And Better Democrats. Across California we are fighting for a reasonable budget. A budget that doesn't get defined by the race to the bottom Republicans. To do that, we need 2/3 majorities in both the Senate and the Assembly. Admittedly that will be tough, perhaps even impossible in the Senate. But the closer we get to 2/3, the easier it is to pass a reasonable budget. In the Senate, Hannah-Beth Jackson (19th) is our best shot to pick up a seat. In the Assembly we have some great candidates. You'll find two, Alyson Huber (AD-10) and Manuel Perez (AD-80) on The Calitics ActBlue Page.
But while the need for money is omnipresent, we need boots on the ground. So, Stay for Change so that California can be the first state to stand up for equality. Stay for Change. Let's tell the Republicans that they can't just cut and cut and cut into the heart of our budget, and expect to find a solution.
This is California. We have the people right here in this state to defeat these terrible props, and accomplish our goals. But we need some progressives to stay here in California.
So, if you would like to travel, I have provided a list of exotic locales where you can help some great candidates right here in California. And if you would like to help right at home, well there are offices for No on Prop 8 across the state. You can find events to protect teen safety by defeating Prop 4 right here.
Proposition 4 is another bad anti-choice proposal: parental notification, an automatic child abuse investigation if the young woman doesn't want to notify her parents and can't find a judge to approve. And if she is able to find a judge, the judge then has to declare her mature enough, and the judges have to make annual reports, county-by-county, on how many abortions are approved for young women each year.
I have nothing but respect for the Obama campaign, its staffers, and the many, many volunteers that have given their blood, sweat, and tears to this campaign. It is because of their hard work that we are in a position to win the White House. We should never let off the gas pedal in following through on this election. While the nominee must attend to his personal affairs, we must pick up the slack.
That all being said, I can't say that I agree with this email that I just got (and video):
With only 15 days left and early voting already beginning, you can make a big difference by Driving for Change. Watch this video and sign up now to let us know you're coming to Colorado:
I understand this perspective from the Obama campaign. After all, their job isn't to fight for Democratic principles or anything high-minded like that. It's to win the presidential election for their guy, Barack Obama. And that's great. But this election is more than just one race. It's about more than just Barack Obama. A couple of weeks ago, Robert said something similar over at Big Orange. He spoke of an election that's slipping away from us, right here at home. A historic chance that we are squandering.
So these next two weeks, why don't you consider just Staying for Change. Now that doesn't mean staying for change and spending two hours into a phone bank and that's it.
Really stay for change. Stay for change by traveling to a new county for Change. You're in LA? WHy don't you help Debbie Cook, who is running in a district that starts in Southern LA County and extends into coastal Orange County. She's got a debate, well, very soon. It's her only shot at Dana in person, because he's been skittish to be seen in person with her. Or if you'd like to go further, how about helping Marty Block in AD-78 or Manuel Perez in AD-80.
Want to really Stay for Change in the Bay Area? Why don't you head up to the Sacramento area. They have several races that you can spend your weekend working on. You can walk and doors for Alyson Huber (AD-10) and Bill Durston (CA-03) and help out two great candidates at the same time. You can drive a few miles east and help out Charlie Brown (CA-04) as he seeks to defeat the carpet-bagging Tom McClintock. Or if you want to stay closer to home, Joan Buchanan (AD-15could use some help in the Contra Costa County area.
And then there are our propositions. We are in very tight races on some of the most important issues of our day: Propositions 4 & 8. Both are slightly ahead in the polls. While turnout is likely to be high this year, we need to ensure that people follow the ballot down the many, many pages and make those important votes against Prop 4 & 8. And on the Yes side? Well, in Prop 1A, we have a tremendous opportunity to steer development in our strength in the right direction.
So, while I don't frequently suggest ignoring emails from Barack Obama, I'm going to do it this time. Don't leave the state, but dedicate your time to ensuring that California makes the right decisions this November. And if you want to help Barack Obama, you can make calls right here from the Golden State without pumping all those carbon emissions into the atmosphere. It's easy and simple to start, just click here and you'll be making calls for Obama in no time. Your local county committee can also help you get set up to both make phone calls for Obama as well as Staying for Change.
While Prop 8 is getting all the headlines, another initiative, Prop 4, is threatening even greater harm. One reason the threat is so great is that it is getting too little attention.
Prop 4 is another clone of the anti-abortion initiative California rejected in 2005 and again in 2006. The religious right keeps rolling the dice on this because they have nothing to lose and they only need to win one time to start chipping away at Roe v. Wade. For them to win in this huge, pro-choice state would empower the religious right like never before and build momentum to dismantle abortion rights from coast to coast.
2008 may be their year. Polls currently show Yes on 4 leading -- but it's close enough that progressives can defeat it again if we are willing to work.
Prop 4 proposes an abortion restriction most voters find appealing until they think about it. In the past, we've been able to get voters to look close and see the dangers. This year, with Prop 8 grabbing the headlines and a Presidential race eclipsing all else, it is harder to get voters' attention, and it is harder to get campaign volunteers and donations to help us win.
Here we go again, another round of endorsements. The bulk of these will be fairly uncontroversial here. On Prop 7, Brian Leubitz did not vote due to the fact that he works for the campaign. See the flip for more information on our positions.
Sarah Palin, fresh off the Vice-Presidential debate that Joe Biden handily won, is coming to California this weekend, including a rally at the Home Depot Center in Carson. California progressives are ready for her and are going to roll out our own welcome mat, letting Palin and the public know that California does not support her or the far-right beliefs she espouses.
The Courage Campaign is going to greet her with an airplane banner over the Home Depot Center tomorrow that will read "Sarah Palin, Thanks But No Thanks: No on Prop 4!" Proposition 4 is the return of parental notification, and Californians deserve to know what Palin's stance is on Prop 4 and parental notification. In her interview with Katie Couric:
Katie Couric, CBS News: "If a 15-year-old is raped by her father, you believe it should be illegal for her to get an abortion. Why?"
Governor Sarah Palin: "I am pro-life. And I'm unapologetic about my position..."
In 2007 the Alaska Supreme Court declared a parental consent law as unconstitutional, a decision Palin called "outrageous." Her response was to appoint another conservative to the court, giving it a conservative majority.
Californians need to know that Prop 4 is an attempt by social conservatives like Sarah Palin to write their extremist beliefs into our state's laws. Especially as Prop 4 holds a narrow lead in the polls, it is important that Californians are educated about Prop 4's Palin-esque goals.
Courage Campaign members are helping to fund the banner - it's a people-powered action, as are all these protest actions. Donate $33 to help get the banner in the air tomorrow!
The California Democratic Party will be there as well. They'll be bringing a projection screen to a rally outside the Home Depot Center that will display questions for Palin - tough questions that the McCain-Palin campaign doesn't want asked - that Californians have sent via text message. For more info and to sign up go to www.cadem.org/palin.
California progressives are also organizing protests for tomorrow's Palin events. Community organizers are helping put together a protest at Home Depot Center, appropriately enough. Click here for more information. LA Indymedia has information on how to get tickets for the event. Orange County activists will be holding a rally at the OC Performing Arts Center near South Coast Plaza from 3:30 to 6 tomorrow afternoon.
With a kind hat tip to Shane at CapitolAlert, we have some new data from SurveyUSA on a few of the propositions. Keep in mind that I'm not in love with the data from SurveyUSA, and proposition numbers can be particularly volitile. So, here they are.
For the good news, we see Prop 8 trailing, and Prop 2 leading. That 62 point lead for Prop 2 is actually quite staggering. It's rare to see such agreement on any issue, let alone one that has been blocked by big farming interests for so long. Other polls have showed 8 trailing more substantially, but this again confirms what we've been seeing.
On the not so good side, we have Prop 4. While we've beaten this twice before, it's been close both times. And there's nothing in this version that is any better than Props 73 or 85. One hope is that the turnout model that S-USA used for this poll has under counted youth voters. And that may be true for many of these polla, but a lot of work will (and $) will need to go to Prop 4 if we are to beat this once again.
Finally, Prop 11. Oh Prop 11, does anybody have a clue what you are? Not so much, as almost 50% of voters are undecided. I'd expect there to be a bunch of voting-day decisions on this one as many voters just don't have the time to analyze these things.
By the way, NO ON 11! It's fake reform opposed by minority organizations and labor that simply gives too much to Republicans that haven't earned it at the ballot box. Just in case you haven't heard that enough around here...
All of the Republicans running in the Coachella Valley bill themselves as moderates, Gary Jeandron and Mary Mack are two prime examples. Yet here's Jeandron's latest literature being dropped at the Catholic churches in Brawley. Note the absence of any mention of jobs, affordable healthcare, schools, or water:
Reaching back into the culture warrior bag of tricks. Such a moderate! 30 years in Palm Springs, and this is how Jeandron treats the gay community. And hey, way to protect our kids - denying the most vulnerable young women any chance at professional healthcare in a crisis. Compassionate conservatism, again.
For Perez, the problems in our state are jobs, schools, healthcare, and sustainability. That's what our families need, not a California version of the Ministry of Virtue and Vice. Please help Perez teach Jeandron what values we share here in the 21st century: Manuel Perez' Act Blue page.
The editorials are starting to trickle out of the newspapers. Let's start out with a big one from the San-Diego Union-Tribune going no on Prop 8:
As gay couples have gone to the courthouse and entered into matrimony, usually surrounded by champagne, family and friends, the worst fears of gay marriage opponents suddenly seem greatly inflated. For instance, Christian conservatives have asserted for years that allowing gays to marry would undermine heterosexual unions - hence, such laws as the Defense of Marriage Act. In truth, however, there has been no discernible impact on traditional marriage between a man and a woman now that gay couples in California have the same right.
* * *
In the past, this page has advocated civil unions for gay couples rather than marriage. But our thinking has changed, along with that of many other Californians. Gay and lesbian couples deserve the same dignity and respect in marriage that heterosexual couples have long enjoyed. We urge a No vote on Proposition 8.
This echoes a similar shift from San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. I would expect most of the big city papers to go No on 8 with a few holdouts here and there.
Prop 4, or the Vote No, No, and No again to parental notification measure, is also getting some bad reviews. Like this one from the Bakersfield Californian: (yeah, really)
This is the third time in four years California voters have been asked to place a "notification hurdle" in the way of minor women obtaining an abortion. Twice California voters have said NO. They should do so again.
* * *
If the woman fears having her parents or guardians notified, she can ask a judge to waive the notification requirement or ask that an alternate adult be notified instead.
But for an alternate adult to be notified, the minor must claim she is being abused - sexually, physically or emotionally. Her report is sent to law enforcement and child protective services. Likely a young woman who fears retaliation would reject the notion of provoking a criminal investigation of her family to obtain an abortion.
* * *
Again, this year's attempt falls short and should be rejected.
Follow me over the flip for a few more endorsements...
State law mandates that every initiative that is going to appear on the ballot must have a legislative hearing sometime before Election Day. On Tuesday in Sacramento, Proposition 4 - "Sarah's Law" - or Parental Notification for the third time - was heard by a joint Assembly-Senate health committee.
In a packed hearing room, opponents, including Planned Parenthood, the California Medical Association, the California Teachers Association, and other organizations representing nearly one million Californians watched as Assemblymember Dave Jones pinned the initiative's author Katy Short to the wall, asking her question after question about the deceptive nature of Prop. 4. "Isn't it true there is no Sarah? Isn't it true she was a married woman? Isn't it true nothing in Prop 4 would have applied to Sarah?" Katy Short could do nothing but resort to slamming the California Legislature.
When the opponents of Prop. 4 took the field, a doctor who treats teenagers, a representative from the ACLU, and Planned Parenthood President Kathy Kneer, turned the discussion to the dangerous effect of Prop. 4 on California's teens and why voters should reject it for the third time. Following the scheduled testimony, when chair Assemblymember Mervyn Dymally asked for public comment, only a handful of supporters went to the microphone, whereas opponents lined up around the room, representing hundreds of coalition groups opposed to Prop. 4. It was no contest.
The good guys won, hands down. But one side note - an anti-choice fixture in the capitol, Albin Rhomberg, began to take individual pictures of opponents as they lined up at the microphone. This is something he has done for years to scare Pro-Choice activists. Chairman Dymally told him to sit down and stop taking photos.... But this is the kind of campaign from the proponent that we are all up against. For more info about how you can help defeat prop 4 and how to help, visit http://www.noonprop4.org.
