March 2010 Archives

In an act of total defiance against health care reform, an opponent filled a toilet in Rep. Adam Schiff's Pasadena office with tea bags, causing it to overflow.

While some Democrats who voted in favor of health care reform have faced serious threats and vandalism from opponents of the legislation, Schiff called the act of opposition in his office "downright silly."

"There have been exceptions, some have been downright vile, racist, others have been vaguely threatening - you are going to pay in more ways the one kind of language, but nothing I consider a security issue... and those are the aberrations."

Still, Schiff said he is concerned about the nationwide tone that has "gone from bad to worse" since the vote.

"It's been a gradual degradation of the civil dialogue of the last several years, where people feel like it's okay to say anything when they are in opposition to a point of view. You see it on the House floor - people calling the president 'liar' and yelling 'baby killer' and outside, with people spitting on members of Congress, and yelling racial epithets," Schiff said.

"Everyone needs to take a deep breath and remember what this country was founded on: an ideal of competition in the marketplace of ideas," he continued.

http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_14736848?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com&nclick_check=1

Gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner continues to frame himself as the anti-undocumented immigrant candidate.

Tomorrow he'll start running a 30-second ad blasting the estimated 2.6 million undocumented immigrants living in California for the toll they take on the state's budget and economy.

Poizner's immigration platform includes:

• Cutting taxpayer-funded benefits to undocuments mmigrants, including ending in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants at state colleges and universities

• Holding employers responsible for following the law, including revoking business licenses from businesses that knowingly hire undocumented immigrants

• Ending sanctuary city practices, including reporting all undocumented immigrants arrested for criminal activity to federal immigration authorities.

• Securing borders, including creating a multi-state national guard partnership

Immigrant rights advocates are none too pleased with the new ad. Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) executive director Angelica Salas released this statement: 

"Newsflash to California gubernatorial candidate Stephen Poizner: more than forty-five percent of the residents in the Golden State are immigrant and they live in virtually all 58 counties. More than sixty percent of students in the Los Angeles Unified School District are sons and daughters of immigrants and U.S. citizens. Immigrants comprise one-third of the labor force and through their entrepreneurial spirit have created 72,839 jobs and generated more than $19.5 billion in sales in California.

The next leader in California must be willing and able to unite Californians during tough times not divide them by pitting one population against another. The next leader in California must know that under federal and state mandate all children have the right to receive an education for the benefit and well being of our society. The next leader in California must care about the state's history of immigration and must be aware that undocumented immigrants do not qualify for many social and medical services they are accused of overwhelming.

Candidates like Stephen Poizner must lead forward not take us back to a time we fought long and hard to leave behind. Poizner must fully understand and learn about the state he is interested in governing before he decides to take one more step towards his own defeat."

Meg Whitman's year of campaigning for governor seems to be doing the trick.

According to the latest Field Poll results released today, the former eBay CEO holds a huge 49-point lead over her GOP rival Steve Poizner in the Republican primary and a three-point lead over Democrat Attorney General Jerry Brown in a general election matchup.

The poll results:

Last January The Field Poll found Whitman leading Poizner by twenty-eight points - 45% to 17%, with 38% of likely voters undecided.

Now, in a survey completed this week, Whitman's lead has grown to forty-nine points - 63% to 14%. Those who are undecided or favor other candidates amounts to 23%.

Last October Whitman trailed Brown by twenty-one points. In January she had cut Brown's lead in half to ten points. Whitman's upward trend in support has continued to where she now holds a three-point lead over Brown - 46% to 43% - among likely voters in this November's general election.

Brown continues to hold a large preference lead over Poizner in a general election match-up. In this setting Brown is preferred by 49% while 32% choose Poizner, similar to what was found last January.

Check out the full results at

http://field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/Rls2330.pdf

"I intend to vote for Steve Poizner for Governor in this important election.  As the Author of Prop 187, I am outraged that Meg Whitman has said on record numerous times that she opposes Prop 187.  It is unacceptable for a candidate of our party," said Mountjoy.  "Steve Poizner has been a steadfast leader in our party and is the only candidate who will fight to end public funding of abortion.  Steve Poizner has proven he can slay the beast of government spending.  He cut spending at the Department of Insurance by 15%, and he will bring that same determination to the Governor's office."

The vast majority of conservative leaders in California have rallied behind Steve Poizner, including Governor George Deukmejian, CA Americans for Prosperity Chairman Peter Foy, former CRA President Mike Spence, Ward Connerly, Orange County GOP Chairman Emeritus Tom Fuentes, Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates, President of the National Tax Limitation Committee Lew Uhler, and eight former Chairs of the California Republican Party.

Forty-four percent of voters would vote for their congressional district's Republican candidate while only 36 percent would vote for their district's Democratic candidate, according to the latest Generic Congressional Ballot poll by Rasmussen Reports.

The 8-point Republican lead is a stark reversal for Democrats compared to last year, who led Republicans 41 percent to 39 percent a year ago.

For more on the poll, check out:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/generic_congressional_ballot