Carona fundraiser marred by protesters
Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona raised over $700,000 last night at the St. Regis Hotel in Dana Point, as he was joined by embattled Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, outside the event about 40 protesters waved their signs, and used a bullhorn to get their message out. Even better, the media showed up. The protest was given a lot of air time on the Channel 9 and Channel 2 newcasts that evening. Protest organizer Tim Whitacre and local blogger Allan Bartlett received plenty of attention as both were extensively interviewed. They were flanked numerous women who were protesting Carona for his mistreatment of women.
In related news, today’s Times continued their series of articles ripping Carona for fundraising problems stemming from his expenses, which run in the thousands and are not itemized. Here’s a quote from the article: “In 2004 and 2005, the sheriff did not disclose how he spent more than $20,000 of his roughly $36,000 in claimed “officeholder costs.”
The expense problems don’t look good at all for Carona, but his unpaid advisor, Mike Schroeder, continues to praise him. The Register reported that Schroeder had this to say about yesterday’s fundraiser: “I am really grateful Arnold Schwarzenegger would come out to support the greatest sheriff in America,” Schroeder said. Mike, how exactly is Carona great? He is an absolute embarrassment to the O.C. GOP machine! I guess they have to stand by the Frankenstein’s monster they created.
You can read the Times article at http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-carona3feb03,0,4277093.story?coll=la-headlines-california, and the Register article at http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_981578.php.
Art:
Carona spin team “claims” the event raised $700K.
1) I seriously doubt it, judging by the size of the crowd. At an estimated 460 people in attendance (I’m sure no head count was taken to subtract security detail and volunteers that were encouraged to attend in order to be filler for the tables), everyone there would have had to write a check for $1500 in order to make $690K at the event itself.
Maybe the Carona spin team had some pledges. You know, “Sure, I’ll support him, the checks in the mail…” However, you and I both know the majority of those never arrive.
2) IF THEY REALLY DID RAISE that much, then they should have no problem allowing someone from the press to verify the receipts of the actual dollar amount, right?
Otherwise, It’s simply smoke and mirrors and suspect news reporting, until the next financial reporting period, which I believe is the end of April.
3)For Carona’s spin team sake, they better hope that $700K was really raised, because Carona’s ONLY chance at getting reelected
is by a propaganda mail campaign that is going to make his consultants a lot of money.
Shame on the Governor for supporting the scandalous Carona.
There’s another Republican I won’t be voting for.
http://www.caronachronicles.com
http://www.billhuntforsheriff.com
I also was in attendance. The protest was well attended, shame on the Register for downplaying the number of people there. I would put the number at 40 people, 40 people angry at the corruption in Carona’s office. 40 people angry that the Governor has failed in his job to “reform California” instead chooing to demonize working Americans. I held a Westly for Governor sign to show people there is a better way, and Steve Westly is it.