O.C. Register columnist Steven Greenhut ripped Democrat Tom Umberg today – and as of yet no one has defended Umberg or rebutted Greenhut on this blog.
When Lou Correa was running against Lynn Daucher my fellow bloggers were singing his praises daily. Why did Correa get so much love – while Umberg is withering on the vine? Indeed, even my friends at the Liberal OC Blog have split on Umberg. Mike Lawson chose not to endorse him – opting instead to back Mark Rosen.
I have also heard that Umberg is desperate for help on the ground. He is getting money from the unions, but he has no fan base to speak of. What is going on?
My theory is that most Democrats are supporting Umberg – but they are pinching their noses at the same time. They just don’t like the guy. Latino Democrats in particular have no reason to celebrate this guy. He has never supported Latinos – indeed he has only rarely employed or otherwise supported Latinos. Believe me – many have told me that they much rather back Benny Diaz. They stick with Umberg for fear of partisan repercussions, but just about everyone I talk to wishes that Joe Dunn was their candidate instead if Umberg.
But they are stuck with Umberg. And they don’t like it. And now that the OC GOP machinery has lined up, for the most part, behind the buffoonish Carlos Bustamante, Umberg ought to be sweating it. However, he appears to be asleep at the wheel.
If Diaz could only get some more financial support from his fellow Democrats he could singlehandedly take out Bustamante. Instead they myopically continue to shuffle behind a man they don’t like, trust, admire or respect. Why? So he can be the one “no” vote on the Board of Supervisors. Umberg might be able to ally with squishy Supe Bill Campbell, and new Supe Pat Bates, but that is not assured. Diaz at least would give his fellow Latinos hope and I know he would fight for all his constituents.
If the Democrats were smart they would write Diaz a check every time they do so for Umberg. Otherwise Bustamante might sneak up on their chosen one. And Janet Nguyen continues do to well in the polls. She remains the only viable woman in the race. Wouldn’t that be something if Umberg and Bustamante nullified each other and she slipped into first place?
The Democrats need to wake up. If Umberg is their guy they better stop wasting time and get on it – even if he is loathsome. If he is not, then now is the time to go with Diaz, or even Mark Rosen. The keystone cop Republicans are finally somewhat organized and they are getting desperate. They know that all their leaders are going to look bad if they lose to Umberg. They certainly don’t want to prove me right about Bustamante.
Ultimately I believe the Reeps will wish, retroactively, that they had lined up behind Janet Nguyen. The Democrats will likely rue the day they decided to bend knee to Umberg – knowing full well that they should have gone with Rosen or Diaz.
No telling if the Democrats will ever get excited about Umberg. The only thing we know for sure is that Kermit Marsh, Lupe Moreno, Brett Franklin, Larry Phan, and Trung Nguyen are going to lose badly. And Bustamante, if he wins, will surely be a constant source of inadvertent comic relief on the Board of Supervisors…
Scumberg has no friends because he has lied to them all, even his own wife call’s Scumberg “a habitual liar”
It’s pathetic to see everyone lining up behind him thinking he has the best chance of winning.
If the unions and the Dem party gave 1/10 as much cash and help to Benny Diaz as to Scumberg, he would get just as many votes as Scumberg would.
Me no likey the Umberg. He bad.
Art—you have no clue. There is more activity going on at Dem HQ then ever. Dem Central Committee had the choice of Tom., Benny, Mark and Pham, and Umberg won overwhelmingly without having to do a mulligan ala Schroeder-Carona.
Lou had a ton of people the last week in the 34th. Umberg will have the same this time. Its not just having a no vote–Dems know that Lincoln CLub wants CArlitos to nest in the 34th SD, 69th AD and 47th CD so he can run for one of those seats(and break his word to Dems that he wasnt interested in running for a partisan seat).
As I’ve said before, Benny is a nice guy–so is Mark. But neither of them, especially Benny, can win. That’s why the GOP is aiming their scuds only at Umberg, they know the others can’t beat Carlos. I agree that Janet could have been the strongest GOP candidate but Van Tran’s interest in Little Saigon hegemony trumps desire to have a Vietnamese on the Board.
Encouraging Dems to dump Tom and go for Benny is the best in kind contribution you could make to Carlos. Did you drink the same kool aid as Tim?
B/R,
In answer to your last question, no. It just strikes me as interesting that hardly anyone is defending Umberg on this blog, whereas Correa had a ton of support. I have spoken to quite a few Democrats and it seems there is almost universal disgust with Umberg – and yet they are laying down for partisan interests – just like the dopey Republicans who are doing the same for Carlos. Neither party’s machinery is backing the best candidate. Even you have to admit that. This is a race to see which dunce can prevail…
Plenty of people suport Umberg, they just know that blogging is not how elections are won.
Umberg is running a real race, unlike the billboard wars of Art’s chosen candidate.
One of the candidates must not believe they can beat Umberg fairly since someone is sending out false Umberg hit piece flyers from a nonexistent IE group.
There’s still just enough time for Art to flip flop again and get behind a winner in this race.
Join Republicans for Umberg today!
FYI- not sure if you heard this but Lupe Moreno won’t be “losing” this election at all. She withdrew a couple of weeks ago.
Art, the reason there was no response from me is that I had covered this issue on January 15th in response to a post from Matt/Jubal on OCBlog. Quite frankly, I have to wonder if Cunningham wrote Jabber the Greenhut
Few supporting Umberg? In your dreams, my friend. I’ve been walking precincts and making phone calls throughout the 1st SD and I can assure you there is solid support for Umberg.
The GOP mudslingers should watch out. They ran nasty campaigns against two candidates for San Juan Capistrano city council, and guess what? The two guys they campaigned against WON by comfortable margins.
Negative campaigning may work well in a general election, but in a Special — in which only the most well-informed voters cast ballots — it’s a very dicey tool.
Umberg supporters are going to have the last laugh in this race.
Art….You’re right Umberg wasn’t the best theoretical candidate but Lou Correa wasn’t available to run for the seat he vacated. Loretta is Queen of the HIll in D.C. and Joe Dunn has his eyes on Sacramento, not the 5th floor. Tom Daly will never move out of Anaheim. Those are the only Dems who would be better candidates then umberg. Toim was the best available candidate. The Rep establishment knows nothing about Carlos Santa Ana story and their strongest potential candidate, Janet, has been stabbed in the back by one of her own. E tu, Van?
I know you read OC Blog so you know that people are defending Umberg against the GOP scuds. But I know you want hits on your blog so saying no one is defending him here did get you some responses.
I, like Gila, have also taken my time at a phone bank for Umberg.
Bladerunner, et al,
And there is still no support for Umberg from our Latino bloggers and readers. What does that tell you?
Art: Perhaps some of us Dems & DTS’ are practicing “Keeping our mouths shut and being thought as fools rather than opening our mouths and removing all doubt”. The way I’m calling it is that there is a lot of silent support for Scumberg and it will be shown at election time and we are all hoping he wins. But just in case he doesn’t win, we never verbally supported him and we get to save face.
Of course Umberg won the party endorsement “overwhelmingly,” none of the other three candidates had the benefit of paid party staff calling central committee members from party phones during business hours to lobby for their vote. Completely IMPROPER!
I find it interesting that Umberg’s two Democratic defenders are both residents of South OC who, to my knowledge, have never been involved in any campaign in Central Orange County.
SCUmberg! I love it.
Was taxpayers money used to hire Tom’s sexy lady friend?
If you commit a crime, while in the miliary during a time of war, and on the job. Is that a war crime?
still no support for Umberg from our Latino bloggers and readers
So? Not every Latino reads this blog, but I’ve talked to plenty who are voting for Umberg.
I find it interesting that Umberg’s two Democratic defenders are both residents of South OC who, to my knowledge, have never been involved in any campaign in Central Orange County.
You are so smart! Obviously since two people from south OC have mentioned on this blog that they’ve been doing work for Umberg, that must mean that his only supporters are people outside the district! What a genius you are to have figured this out.
Gila and Gary,
I think you have played right into Art’s hand.
Gila lives in SJC and Gary lives in Ladera, but we still have no Hispanic support in Santa Ana for Umberg.
Why not?
You mean you have no Hispanic support for Umberg on this blog. How many of those residents do you think read this blog?
There is support for Umberg in my 4 latino voter household. In fact, some of my latino friends in Westminster are so angry at the Vietnamese they have already sent in their absentee ballots for Umberg. They don’t even know who Bustamante is and thought he was related to Cruz. Don’t even ask about Benny. They didn’t know who is either. Funny though, they recongnize Umberg’s name.
2 Hispanic supporters for Umberg
No matter who you are, if the Register’s Greenhut ever wrote anything positive about you it is time for you to reconsider your life, your values, your direction. Greenhut is paid to be a critic, negative and cynical on most any topic. He fulfulls that assignment daily. Fortunately, 98% of the voters never heard of him nor read any of his venom (my estimate based on statistics I have seen about how many people read newspapers, and of those who do what it is they read). His glass is never full, it is always half empty at best, arid frequently.
anon 13:
“Was taxpayers money used to hire Tom’s sexy lady friend?” Gimme a break, you ignoramous. Umberg made a huge, ugly sinful mistake, but why don’t you try to at least use facts instead a B.S. innuendo you make up to express your hatred for Umberg?
“If you commit a crime, while in the miliary during a time of war, and on the job. Is that a war crime?” Short answer, Not enough facts in your hypothetical, but your hypothetical is not intended as an real inquiry, but rather a sleazy insinuation. Again, why don’t you try to at least use facts instead a B.S. innuendo you make up to express your hatred for Umberg? Have the integrity you claim Umberg does not. Chickens***.