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.
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...
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.
The religious right is at it again, with another ballot measure intended to divide Californians and prevent women from making their own choices about their own bodies and lives. This time it is Proposition 4 -- "Sarah's Law" -- the old "parental notification" initiative that bans the termination of a pregnancy in a minor unless their parents are notified 48 hours ahead of time.
The same initiative has been rejected by California voters twice for good reason. Yes, this is the third time in three years. So the state -- We, the People, the taxpayers -- runs the expense of another ballot initiative.
This was a significant week in Bill Richardson's campaign for President, with a major address on climate change and how to end the bloodshed in Iraq.
It was also a significant week for peace and stability in Korea and Asia - which highlights Richardson's expertise in foreign affairs and his diplomatic skills. With Richardson as President we get two for the price of one - a can-do leader on domestic issues and an experienced diplomat that knows how to bring people and nations together.
However, our local friends at Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties are NOT taking this lying down. They're planning their next actions... AND THEY NEED OUR HELP! If you're a progressive activist in Southern California, and if you care about women's reproductive rights, then you need to follow me after the flip to find out how you can take action.
Please help our friends at Orange County/San Bernardino Planned Parenthood! I spoke with an OC Planned Parenthood staffer earlier this afternoon, and she let me know that local anti-choice wingnuts are busing in MORE WINGNUTS from Riverside County, just to try to intimidate and silence us. Now can we just allow this to happen? Sorry, but I don't think so: We can't let them silence us!
If you can come to Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach next Thursday, please do. We need to support our progressive allies at Planned Parenthood, and I think it would be nice to show the wingnuts that they can't scare us... NOT EVEN BEHIND THE ORANGE CURTAIN!
If you can make it next Thursday, then follow me after the flip for more info...
