So now it looks like the StopProp15 folks (hello, Richard) have bought space on one of those deceptive slate mailers that purports to tell loyal, low-info, partisan voters how their party wants them to vote.
Previously in this series we’ve called attention to a Republican mailer that suggested the GOP backed Prop 14 (NO) and a Dem mailer that suggested Lorri Galloway was the endorsed Dem candidate (NO!) and just today Tony Bushala is having a cow because Democrat Tom Daly was on a Republican mailer, which is funny because Tony’s Republican friend Shawn Nelson is on this particular “Democratic” one.
These slate mailers are just totally full of shit, and nobody should look at them EVER. Basically if you see an asterisk next to a name or measure, those people have PAID – from $500 to $1000 – to be on that mailer, and the mailer folks will take that money from anyone. And even apart from those paid items it’s filled with arbitrary stuff to make it look credible.
In this case, under the cover a dashing photo of a sailing JFK, the mailer whores would have you believe that the Democratic Party is against Proposition 15, the vital California Fair Elections Act.
NO! The California Democratic Party has endorsed Prop 15. And thereby hangs a tale. We progressive reformers really didn’t expect the Democratic Party to endorse Prop 15, as they’ve rejected similar reforms in the past. Anyone who wields power under the current system – as the two party hierarchies do – is leery of any kind of change to that system. The only reason the Party did endorse it was the hard work of us progressive activists who are trying to take the Party over (DFA, PDA.) So it rankles to see this lying mailer. [Update – see comment #1 below for a more accurate and thorough account of the tale. And props to the “California Progressive Caucus.”]
Don’t get the wrong idea though. EVERYBODY should vote yes on Prop 15, not just Democrats and Greens. Please read my article “Our Sickness, Our Cure” if you haven’t already.
Another thing, speaking of these sleazy slate mailers and Prop 15: The folks who make these mailers are exactly the sort that feel threatened by reform, so – although StopProp15 did pay to be on this particular one – many slate mailers are plugging “No On 15” for free. THESE ARE THE LYING, GREEDY INTERESTS WE’RE UP AGAINST, AS WE TRY TO MAKE THIS GRASSROOTS REFORM HAPPEN.
Well done, Vern – as was your earlier “Our Sickness, Our Cure”!
Not to detract from your critical messages, but in passing, to qualify certain of your points:
1. CDP endorsement unexpected?
a) Not to slight the historical role of us Progressives, but by the time that Prop 15 came up for cdp endorsement, it was unanimously approved by the resolutions committee and approved by acclimation at the convention general session. And months before that, the same took place by the cdc, and as a result, by many county democratic clubs. Even DPOC endorsed. It is important to recognize credit where credit is due (cdp.cdc).Also, you really left out a very important group within the cdp – i.e., the Progressive Caucus. Within the STATE party, that’s where the progressive focus is. DFA and PDA are, first, organizations with a national focus.
b) More of a pleasant surprise was the Green Party. They had very publicly not endorsed earlier versions because of deeply felt bias against “third parties”.
c) Coalition building is obviously critical for grass roots movements. Yes on Prop 15 has certainly done an impressive job in growing coalition and the movement. It is important to recognize this, rather than to attribute the success to DFA and PDA (coming, as you know, from an ardent activist within both organizations.)
2. I understand that it was author’s license to declare that people should not “…look at them (slate mailers) EVER…”. That “should” is just not going to happen, and you know it. Look at how we all, including yourself, have been sucked into looking at this one. What obviously must be done is to have enforceable rules in place that provide transparency and accountability. (How many times, and on how many critical issues, have we come to this same core problem!)
3. There were several other mishaps in this particular mailer, even and especially among contested candidate races, that do not reflect either local or state Democratic party endorsements.
WE all must focus our energies on passing Prop 15, but thanks for reporting your own slate picks, with witty quips, like, e.g., “Yes We Ken”. I personally did not agree with all your candidate picks, but that by no means disqualifies either of us from continuing to push the progressive (people’s) agenda.
Thanks, Dave S
Thanks for the correction on the CDP story Dave! I guess I’m still smarting over 2006’s Prop 89, and expected things to be the same for this year’s 15. I admit I haven’t had the patience to go to a Dem convention in a couple years. Maybe I should start again.