I showed up at a
Roth for Congress volunteer rally several months ago because (like most Kossacks) I
physically need to support the best Democrat running against my GOP incumbent this year. David Roth is a terrific Democrat running against Mary Bono, typical Rubberstamp Republican and overall failure to this district. Our own fabulous
Barbara Boxer endorsed Roth early (Roth's already received all that's allowed from her PAC for Change).
21st Century Democrats choose him to be one of the progessive new Democrats they push for this year. That alone would be enough for me, but there's more.
Make the jump.
The California Democratic Party gave him our unanimous
endorsement, topping off an impressive list of
endorsements, both local, state and national. Roth wants honest, accountable government that works for the citizens.
Roth's bio, positions, and character quickly made me a big Roth fan. I was at my first staff meeting yesterday, and my guy looks better and better the closer you get. He's not just a good Democrat, he's a good man. The staffers have won my heart as well.
And it's not just his overtly progessive stands on labor, human rights, education, his comprehensive grasp of the issues, but his inherently decent and respectful conduct with staffers, volunteers, dubious Republicans, fervent Democrats... He even charmed the local rightwing radio guys last week, actually had them engaged in a public policy discussion (imagine!), and they asked him to come back.
He even made a fan of the GOP volunteer running their booth at the Palm Springs weekly street fair. Roth recently strolled up and introduced himself, and in no time said GOP volunteer was introducing David to her husband, and she told him she'd look forward to working with him if he won! This is how I know we'll win in the 45th. But we'll have to deal with GOP shenanigans aplenty before it's over. (More on that below.)
A quintessential difference in candidates and parties: Bono co-sponsored HR 4437, Roth marched with the local high school students in opposition to it. He doesn't believe in guest worker status, he sees it as endorsing a permanent underclass. Roth doesn't believe in "moderate" support for social justice - he's a progressive. Roth respects his entire constituency, and around here, that's quite refreshing. He listens - I told him about Yearly Kos yesterday, and he immediately looked for ways to attend (it conflicts with some major commitments, but he's working on it.)
Here's what 21st Century Democrats think:
David is a tireless education leader in California and is probably one of the most exuberant you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. His ability to motivate a group of people to action is second to none. He has an extremely challenging race for the 45th Congressional District of California which stretches from the Cal-Arizona border west to Palm Springs.
What makes David an extraordinary, visionary leader?
David is renowned for his expertise in education policy. Through his work with numerous education groups, he has organized coalitions and lead groups that have worked toward the bold vision of making sure that equal education is available to every person who seeks it.
As an appointed member and former chair of the California Student Aid Commission, Roth has seen first-hand what kind of commitment students currently make to get the education that, he believes, should be rightfully theirs. The mounting student debt in this country is only exacerbated by the lagging job market. As students leave school with many thousands of dollars in loans, they are immediately faced with the burden of finding a job quickly to start paying them back.
You should see his father, Richard Roth (retired guidance counselor and truly lovely man), as he stands up to introduce his son, the candidate. The Democrats of the Desert are overjoyed with Roth. And don't get me started on his adorable baby and terrific wife. David Roth galvanizes Democrats here. We know he can win, even though Riverside County hasn't elected a Democrat to Congress since 1967. We are fired up.
Roth is so compelling a Democrat, so appealing across the board in this historically red district, that the Republicans are already pushing the panic button. Somebody (we won't know who until the filing date, days before CA's June 6th primary) just bankrolled a challenger in the Democratic primary, a mysterious "Democrat" with no grassroots support, no ties to any Democratic clubs, a Republican campaign manager, and enough ready cash to buy huge glossy ads blanketing the district. The Democrats I know believe he was dropped into the race at the last minute to force the Roth campaign to spend big money early.
Well, Mary Bono should be scared. Roth is a serious contender, and she has precious little to show for her incumbency than the gratitude of Tom DeLay and a corrupt GOP, and a nifty scrapbook featuring swell functions she's attended. Congress.org rates Bono: 1 out of 25 for influence, and 2 out of 25 for legislation. Ouch.
So that's why I'm spending every spare minute working to get David Roth elected. I'm new to the 45th, but here's what Art Copleston, longtime local Democratic activist and head of Desert Foundation for Democracy, had to say about this race just yesterday:
Attached is an important piece from Art Copleston about the attempt
by Marty Schwimmer to steal the Democratic nomination from David
Roth. I urge you to read it and to forward it to your friends.
-Elle K.
President
Democrats of the Desert
______
To all Democrats and Decline-to-States who are alarmed by
the terrible, possibly irreparable damage that has already been done to our
country by this Administration.
This may very well be the most critically important email
that I will send out to Democrats this year. Please: read it, consider
what I have to say, and then share it with as many friends as you possibly
can.
David Roth, our Democratic candidate for the 45th
Congressional District, Mary Bono's seat, has been campaigning, day and
night, seven days a week, from one end of this district to the other for a
year now, meeting countless citizens, answering their questions, proposing
solutions for the terrible problems our country is facing, and asking for
your support and your votes. I have been privileged to work as part of
David's campaign group, and I have marveled at his incredible stamina, his
constant, up-beat, forward-looking cheerfulness, his sheer will to get his
message out to the voters, and his unflagging determination to return this
district to Democratic leadership.
And then, not many weeks ago, a totally unknown name
suddenly appeared out of obscurity; one Marty Schwimmer. Mr. Schwimmer
registered as a Democrat and pulled papers to challenge David in the
Democratic primary. To my knowledge, since announcing his candidacy, Mr.
Schwimmer has not contacted a single Democratic organization in the Valley.
He has not campaigned, and as of the most recent reporting date he has not
reported raising a single dime in campaign contributions. On the other
hand, David Roth, as of the most recent reporting date, had raised approximately $250,000 through sheer hard work and through the support of many of his campaign volunteers. Mr. Schwimmer did not even bother to
attend the California State Democratic Convention in Sacramento two weeks
ago, and he received not a single vote of endorsement from the California
Democratic Party. David Roth received a well-deserved unanimous
endorsement from his Party for his race against Bono.
And yet, suddenly, Mr. Schwimmer has paid for a political
ad, a FOUR-PAGE, FULL-PAGE special pull-out section in the Press Enterprise,
extolling his qualifications, and laying out his positions on a number of
issues, positions that appear to be almost identical to David Roth's
positions on David's website; positions that David has carefully laid out
over many months of studying the issues and talking with his constituents.
It has been estimated by many that this huge ad, taken out and paid for by "The Marty Schwimmer Congressional Committee" could have cost as much as $25,000. WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM? And now, today, May 17, a massive four-color mailing has gone out to Democratic voters across the District, exhorting everyone to vote for Marty Schwimmer. We don't know the exact target population Mr. Schwimmer is reaching (we have received many reports from Democrats all over the District that they have received this piece), but if he is sending his mailer to registered Democrats and Decline-To-States, the cost of this mailing could well exceed $100,000!
Again, I ask: WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM? It has been reported that Mr. Schwimmer did have a single fundraiser in Cathedral City one weekend earlier this month. Contributions received at that event will not have to be reported by Mr. Schwimmer until May 25th. Does anyone think Mr. Schwimmer raised over $100,000 at that one fundraising event in Cathedral City? To my knowledge, stemming from considerable experience in working on political fundraisers, the only folks seemingly able to raise money like that are Republicans ..... Hmmmmm!
So: WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM? Is it possible that someone, maybe from outside the Democratic Party, maybe even from some other state, is "arranging" for Mr. Schwimmer to have all the money necessary to mount a major challenge to David Roth? The source of the money for these huge ads must be reported by Mr. Schwimmer in public documents at the end of May; however, at that point, the Democratic Primary will be just days away. Is all of this designed to force David to spend large sums to defend himself in the Primary, thereby reducing his ability to mount the most effective campaign against Mary Bono in the general election? This might then hand the seat to Ms. Bono for another two years. Is this typical Republican "dirty tricks?" I don't know the answers to these questions, and I hasten to add that I am making no accusations here; I am simply asking the question:
WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM?
We may never know the true answer to that question.
However, if these massive advertising efforts by Mr. Schwimmer are effective
in swaying some Democrats, then, folks, we may have two more long years of
Bush/Bono to look forward to. David Roth must win the June 6th Democratic
Primary against Marty Schwimmer by an overwhelming margin. If he succeeds, the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will step up with their significant support and David will move forward to a convincing victory over Ms. Bono.
So, it is entirely up to us, folks. All of us. Every single one of us must recognize the stakes in this race. Mr. Schwimmer cannot win against Mary Bono, but Mr. Schwimmer CAN cripple David Roth's chances to unseat Bono. Think about that. So, what is the REAL reason Mr. Schwimmer is running?
It is up to each one of us to reach as many Democratic
voters as possible and make sure they know about David Roth and this
critical campaign. Spread the word wherever you go: your hairdressers,
gardeners, etc. vote, too! Volunteer for phonebanking and other campaign
activities. Send emails to your friends. Put notices up in your home
windows and your car windows. Remember, we are all in this together. Let's
work together!
Again, I ask: WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM?
-Art Copleston
I never expected such active grassroots Democrats when I moved to the desert from reliably liberal LA. God, I love these Democrats.
Spread the word. Donate to Roth if you can. Mary Bono has the rich friends, including Team Abramoff (whom naturally, she no longer remembers), but David Roth has the mojo.
Yes, I agree, he should post here himself. I got my chance to suggest it yesterday, and he's all for it. Stay tuned.