Over the last few years, I have had my differences with Kos on issues, candidates, and blog policies. But I agree with him on the senate race in California. Over a week ago, before Senator de Leon’s announcement, Kos encouraged him to run:
Following Feinstein’s election announcement, Markos Moulitsas, who is the founder of the liberal blog Daily Kos and based in California, tweeted at de León and asked him to consider defeating “the most pro-Trump Blue-state Dem in the country.”
Moulitsas said he hasn’t spoken to de León before, but believes de León would be “far more in tune with his state” than Feinstein.
“I just wanted to make publicly clear that if there's any doubt in his mind about running, that Daily Kos would be enthusiastically in his corner in the fight,” Moulitsas told The Hill.
The Hill
Here are a few examples of why Senator Feinstein is out of touch:
In 1999, Feinstein voted for the Gramm-Leach-Bliley bill, which tore down Glass-Steagall’s wall between depositor and investment banking. Most Democrats, to be sure, joined her, but Boxer—along with Russ Feingold, Tom Harkin, Barbara Mikulski, and Paul Wellstone, among others—voted no.
In 2000, Feinstein voted for the bill establishing “permanent normal trade relations”—free trade—with China. Almost immediately, American manufacturers began their exodus from the industrial Midwest to the low-wage, union-free Middle Kingdom.
In 2001, Feinstein was one of just 12 Democrats to vote for George W. Bush’s tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, nine of whom came from states Bush had carried the previous November. No senator from a state that had voted as heavily against Bush as California chose to join her in support of the legislation. At the time of the vote, Feinstein was (and still is) among the wealthiest members of the Senate, with an estimated net worth in the hundreds of millions, thanks to the fortune amassed by her husband, Richard Blum.
In 2002, Feinstein voted for the resolution authorizing the United States to go to war in Iraq: 23 of her Democratic Senate colleagues, including Boxer, voted against the resolution, as did 24 of the California Democrats in the House—a clear majority of the state’s Democratic delegation. Indeed, on a host of issues, not just Boxer but the state’s leading House members, beginning with Nancy Pelosi and Henry Waxman, stood well to Feinstein’s left.
American Prospect
Each decision was disastrous, and each time she voted with right-wing Republicans. Senator Feinstein made out well with the Bush tax cuts, but America did not.
So those are many reasons to vote against Feinstein, but why vote for de Leon?
Well, first, he’s an experienced legislator. He has been president pro tempore of the California senate, leading 40 Democratic state senators. But what are his accomplishments and policy positions? Experience alone is not enough. What does he believe in?
He is a strong progressive, supports Medicare for All and tried to pass it in California, is excellent on environmental issues (helped pass California’s cap and trade plan), great on working class issues (helped passed a $15 minimum wage), helped pass a $5.4 Billion infrastructure program, helped pass SB 54, the California Values Act, which prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies, including school police and security departments, from using resources to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest people for immigration enforcement purposes, and much, much more.
Senator de Leon is a strong left progressive. He fits California. And he will be the first Hispanic Senator from California.
From his campaign website:
In many ways, Senator de León embodies the promise of America. From a childhood of poverty to community activism, to the upper echelon of the California Legislature, his respect and commitment to working families and the betterment of all Californians has never diminished.
Senator de León is the son of a single immigrant mother who supported her family in the San Diego barrio of Logan Heights working as a housekeeper and other pick-up jobs. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and college.
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Before entering into politics, Kevin served the public as a community organizer, taught English as a Second Language and U.S. Citizenship, and advocated for public schools.
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With his leadership and landmark legislation, Senator de León has established California’s reputation as a recognized global leader in the battle against climate change and a pioneer in creating a clean energy economy.
He played a central role in crafting a bipartisan deal this year to extend California’s cap-and-trade program with $1 billion of the generated revenue to tackle diesel pollution and bolster electrification of our transportation and vehicles.
Continuing steady progress in energy efficiency, Kevin has put California on a path to 50 percent renewable energy by 2030 – the largest state in the nation to do so – with an eye toward becoming 100 percent renewable by 2045.
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Senator de León was a lead negotiator with Governor Jerry Brown and the state’s unions to secure a $15 minimum wage in California, and then shepherded the legislation through both houses to the Governor’s desk.
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Senator de León’s strong and unwavering advocacy for access and choice has been recognized by Planned Parenthood with a consistent 100 percent voting record and numerous awards, with special recognition in 2014 for legislative leadership.
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In 2016, he led the charge to enact the most stringent gun control policies in a generation, including his groundbreaking SB 1235 requiring background checks for anyone who buys or sells ammunition.
There is much more at the website.
And for those still fighting the 2016 primary — which is absolutely silly at this late date — Senator de Leon supported Hillary Clinton. This strong Bernie supporter has no problem with that. I fully endorse and support Kevin de Leon for the United States Senate.
Feinstein is very wealthy and has wealthy supporters. For de Leon to win, he’ll need many $27 contributions from people. Here is the link to his website for contributions if you are so inclined.
Kevin de Leon for U.S. Senate (through Act Blue)