As you all know, some here at Kos are supportive of Proposition 77. Though imperfect, I see the initiative as a step in the right direction and something that would be politically beneficial to Democrats in California and even more beneficial to the party nationally.
There are some establishment Democrats in the state, however, that would lose their stranglehold on power if redistricting reform passes. They will do anything to stop Proposition 77--even if it means stooping to supporting Arnold's attacks on California unions.
That's right. In a disgusting, underhanded move the No on 77 Committee, which is largely funded by big Democratic donors, including Nancy Pelosi, has funded a mailer directed to Republican voters that urges yes votes on anti-union propositions 74 & 75, while calling for a no vote on the pro-reform proposition 77!
With the special election less than a week away, campaigns are using every
available tactic to lure potential voters to the polls. For the No on 77
campaign, that includes bankrolling a direct mail piece sent to Republicans
urging a "yes" vote on three-quarters of Gov. Schwarzenegger's special
election initiatives.
The mail piece, which was enclosed in an official-looking envelope with the
words "JURY DUTY IS GOOD CITIZENSHIP" printed on the outside, urges
Republicans to "Support Arnold's Reform Agenda, but Vote No on 77," which is
the governor's redistricting initiative.
(Via the loathesome Jubal at OCBlog)
A slate-mailer group called the Citizens for Good Government, which has
received $610,000 from the No on 77 committee and only $50,000 other groups,
according to the latest filings with the secretary of state, produced the
piece.
Tom Kaptain, whose group created the mailer, claims that every initiative
campaign contributed to the mailer, though current state records only
identify two committees contributing.
"We are a committee for No on 77 and our main concern is defeating
Proposition 77," said Stephanie Williamson, a spokeswoman for the No on 77
campaign. "We are trying to exercise the most effective means to doing
that."
Does that mean a Democrat-funded committee is willing to subsidize a mailer
urging Republicans to vote yes on Propositions 74, 75 and 76?
"I wouldn't say we paid for it. I would say we bought on to that slate,"
said Williamson.
The lion's share of the No on 77 committee's money came from Hollywood
producers and Democratic mega-donors Stephen Bing ($4.25 million) and Haim
Saban ($100,000). House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, has
herself donated $25,000 the committee, and helped corral donations from many
of her congressional Democratic colleagues.
But nowhere on the mailer does Bing's name, or any of the Democratic donors
funding the piece, appear because the mailer was sent through an independent
slate mailer committee.
"Congressional Democrats are using clever techniques like going through
slate houses to obscure who sent the mail," says Poizner. "There is no way
they would send mail to Republicans if they had to disclose who paid for
it."
The focus of the mailer is clearly advocating a "no" vote on Proposition 77.
"Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Reform Agenda will bring a breath of fresh
air to Sacramento," says the mailer. "Arnold deserves our thanks and
gratitude. But Republicans should fear 3 randomly selected volunteer retired
judges (with political prejudices) having all the power. No on Proposition
77!!"
The more than $600,000 the No on 77 committee spent on the Citizens for Good
Government mailers is the organization's second largest expenditure, after a
$2.25 million television ad buy. That ad features Judge Wapner, a former Los
Angeles Superior Court judge better known as the man with the gavel in
television show "The People's Court," urging voters to oppose Proposition
77.
As for the controversial jury duty summons theme on the mailer's envelope,
Kaptain says, "That's been done for years, going back to the 1940s as a way
to get people to take a look inside the envelope. There is nothing immoral
or illegal about doing that."
Kaptain says his direct mail organization, still has three more slate
mailers to mail out.
"Shouldn't people who got that mailer understand who is paying for that
piece?" asked Steve Poizner, who is heading up the governor's effort to pass
Proposition 77. "Voters have a right to know who is paying for propaganda
like that."
This is absolutely disgusting. Democratic politicians who claim to be supportive of unions are willing to stab them in the back in order to save their little necks.
With polls indicating that Propositions 74 and 75 are more likely to pass than proposition 77, this is unconscionable.
If Californians out there weren't already inclined to support Proposition 77, this is the type of dirty-handed politics, that should make them willing to do so. After all, the 2001 redistricting scheme involved exactly the same tactic--selling out the Democratic party in order to protect a few powerful incumbants.