Democrats Discriminate Against Democrat Lieu

LA Times reporter Jean Merl reported on the rescinded endorsements of six state senators following State Senator Ted Lieu's move to shelve efforts to reintroduce state-sponsored discrimination into

Democrats Are Discriminating Against Lieu
Because He Won't Support Discrimination

post-secondary education.

California voters in 1996 supported the end of state-sponsored discrimination in the public workforce, not just in higher education, but in all public agencies regarding employment, access, and acceptance.

One state senator wanted to amend the constitutional amendment with SCA5, which would have removed the restrictions.

Because Lieu responded to pressures from other immigrant groups, including Asian-Americans, plus demands from gubernatorial candidate Tim Donnelly, six state legislators have rescinded their support for Ted Lieu's bid to replace Congressman Henry Waxman.

The six legislators (senators Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens, Norma Torres of Pomona and Holly Mitchell of Los Angeles;  Assembly members Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego, Anthony Rendon of Lakewood and Jose Medina of Riverside) expressed the following:

"As lifelong Democrats, we support the core democratic values of inclusion and diversity and we expect the candidates we support will share these values. Our constituents depend on us to take even the most divisive issues and use our leadership to help bring people together and guide the path toward progress.

"At this point, we cannot in good conscience endorse a candidate who does not share that perspective."

Merl points out that this letter does not indict Lieu directly for blocking Sacramento's efforts to reintroduce discrimination, but the fact that six lawmakers would pull their support for Lieu so soon after the end of SCA5 should raise more than eyebrows.

Conservatives should take heart. The division among different ethnic groups on "affirmative action"  may draw groups like Asian-Americans away from the Democratic Party to the GOP, the party which supports family values, business sense, a work ethic, and a need to strengthen communal ties -- but not on through the government.

The Democratic Party supports tolerance and diversity in skin color, maybe, but not diversity of thought or ability, or freedom to succeed and fail, for which the Republican Party will well-known (perhaps too well-known through the divisive "mainstream media").

Inclusion should not exclude talent or academic excellence. Inclusion does not preclude the power of culture, bearing, and upbringing in the lives of youth. Chinese-Americans in particular, such as senator Lieu, and Asian-Americans in general have a stronger attachment to values such as family and education, and the children who excel in these cultures should not be punished for their excellence with fewer opportunities to enroll in post-secondary education.

Lieu did the right thing blocking the reintroduction of state-sponsored discrimination, and it is a disappointing shame that his fellow Democrats are hypocritically criticizing him for not supporting discrimination.

Ted Lieu Voted Against Discrimination

In 1996, with the help of Ward Connerly, the state of California voters approved proposition 209, which ended "affirmative action", which in reality was negative discrimination, or state-sponsored racism.

This past year, Fast-forward. State Senator Edward Hernandez introduced SCA-5, an amendment which would have removed the language in the initiative relating to post-secondary education . Senator Hernandez and the senate Democrats endorsed state-sponsored discrimination by passing the bill in January.

State Senator Ted Lieu was one of the state senators, however, who helped shelve the legislation.

The Democratic Party is splitting apart on state-sponsored discrimination, even though the majority of voters approved legislation which would prevent California's public institution from taking into account race, ethnicity, and gender when awarding acceptance to universities or public sector jobs.

Senator Ted Lieu responded to public pressure, including vocal opposition from the Asian-American community as well as gubernatorial candidate Tim Donnelly and other immigrant groups in the state of California.

We need state senators to reject all forms of government sponsored discrimination, especially in connection with education and employment in the state of California.

Let us hope that Senator Lieu will move for ending other types of discrimination, like the favoritism which permits two indicted and one convicted state senators to retain their salaries even though the state senate has suspended them.

Lieu Votes
Against SCA5 Discrimination

Sumers Report on Lieu's Dem Endorsements -- So What?

Political reporter Brian Sumers reported on 33rd Congressional District Democratic Party officials' decision to endorse State Senator Ted Lieu instead of former City Comptroller and Mayoral
candidate Wendy Greuel.                                       

State Sen. Ted Lieu of Torrance has won the Democratic Party endorsement in his race for Congress, a seal-of-approval that could give him a boost in June’s primary election.

Or will it? Or will Democrats find themselves divided along a number of issues, which the mainstream media insists on ignoring, while playing up the divisions now actually fading away among the Republican Party?

Lieu received Democratic Party endorsement
So what?

In the quest to succeed Democratic veteran Henry Waxman in Congress, Lieu earned the nod over former Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel and former Bill Clinton administration official and radio host Matt Miller. Lieu was the choice of Democratic activists within the district who met during the weekend at the California Democrats State Convention.

Lieu currently represented state senate district 26, which includes 80%  of the 33rd Congressional district. He is a nice fit, to the extent that he has vetted voters and worked with city leaders up and down the district. But with all the other Democrats running for a seat, plus the division between South Bay Democrats and West Los Angeles liberals, the vote could be split inconveniently, and in favor of a conservative.

“This is a huge deal,” Lieu said. “It shows that I have the backing of the Democratic Party and this is in a congressional district that is heavily Democratic. It also shows that I have the support of the grass-roots Democrats.”

No it does not. No matter what a politician says about his support, there is no certainty that grassroots voters will get behind a state senator who has passed laws regulating all kinds of issues, while trying to triple our car tax.

How much the endorsement affects the race remains to be seen. Lieu immediately will be able to start advertising that he has the party endorsement. The party could also spend money on his behalf, but that is a decision that will be made later, a Democratic Party spokesman said.

Sumers' statement is accurate. Plus the fact the Wendy Greuel's campaign can argue that the Democratic reps voting for Lieu are focused primarily on their own interests, while ignoring the outreach from the former mayoral candidate.

“Campaigns and candidates have fought fiercely for the party’s endorsement,” party spokesman Tenoch Flores said. “The party’s endorsement is something that matters to rank-and-file Democrats throughout California.”

Sean Clegg, a Greuel strategist, said the campaign fought for the endorsement but will be fine without it. He said that Greuel already has strong name identification among Democrats because of her 2013 run for Los Angeles mayor. Clegg said an internal campaign poll conducted in February among likely voters put Greuel up by 13 points with Democrats against Lieu. Clegg also noted that Greuel has been endorsed by two prominent Democrats holding statewide offices — Attorney General Kamala Harris and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The division between local Democratic leaders vs. statewide Democratic representatives is interesting. Are local leaders, no matter what their party affiliation, starting to recognize that Sacramento simply does not understand the needs and views of individual districts? Local control is making a comeback in the Democratic Party?

“The process is what it is,” Clegg said. “It is a really Sacramento-centric caucus process. We’re going to focus on where we have a big advantage, which is with Democrats living in the district.”
A spokesman for Miller, probably the least known among the three Democrats, declined to comment.
A fourth candidate, Marianne Williamson, is an independent and was not eligible for the endorsement. In interviews, however, Williamson has called herself a progressive and said she shares many positions with the Democratic candidates.

Marianne Williamson may pose more of a threat than Democrats realize. She announced her interest in the seat long before Congressman Henry Waxman decided to retire (er, retreat) from office. Will she be able to leave enough of a mark to press into the general election? She may peel away enough Democratic votes to force a greater split for a Republican (a conservative?) to get into the top-two general election.

The only Republican mounting a serious campaign is Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Elan Carr.

The top two candidates, regardless of party, in the June 3 primary will move on to the general election on Nov. 4.

In the general election, the Democratic Party endorsement might be less helpful to Lieu, said Jack Pitney, professor of American Politics at Claremont McKenna College. That’s because while a Democrat is favored to win the 33rd Congressional District race, only about 44 percent of the district’s voters are registered Democrats, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. About 28 percent of voters are Republicans, while about 22 percent decline to state a party.

Thank you, Mr Pitney. Let us not forget, either, that a Republican is back in the mayor's seat in San Diego, even though the city has been trending Democratic over the past few elections. Then there's the Vidak race in 2013, where the Republican cherry farmer from Hanford won by nine points in a two-to-one Democratic district in the Central Valley.

Registration, strictly speaking, means nothing. Democrats are tearing each other up over union power, school choice, "affirmative action" (really stat-sponsored discrimination), and even gun rights may become a focal issue.

The Republican and independent votes will be important in November, Pitney said. And those voters probably won’t be swayed by the Democratic Party endorsement.

Duh!

“The 33rd District is not as heavily Democratic as many others in the Los Angeles area,” Pitney said in an email. “Greuel could build a coalition of Republicans, independents and moderate Democrats.”

The same lady who lambasted Kevin James as some kind of right-wing extremist. Really? Sadly, though, former Republican LA Mayor Richard Riordan has endorsed Ted Lieu. What a shame.

 

Wright and Calderon on Paid Leave

State Senator Lieu:

Yes, you voted against a referral of a resolution to expel Wright.

But Wright is still in office.

And as for Ron Calderon, he has gone on paid administrative leave.

He  wants to challenge the charges and see the evidence against him first.

Sen, Ron Calderon:
Indicted on paid leave.

The President of the State Senate, Darrell Steinberg, has pressured Calderon to resign.

He was only indicted for corruption.

Yet Wright was already convicted of eight counts.

Eight!

Sen. Roderick Wright:
Convicted, on paid leave.

Senator Lieu, I am well-aware that you voted against the referral of the resolution to expel.

But the work is not done yet.

And will not be done until both Wright and Calderon no longer "serve" in the state senate.

I will continue to ask you and your colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to move to remove these two state senators. They should not be drawing a salary, and if Calderon is convicted as well, then neither of them should be receiving a pension, either!

One good vote, so far. . .
But they remain on paid leave. . .

Lieu Votes with GOP -- Steinberg Says Nothing

State Senate President Darrell Steinberg has pressured the indicted Ron Calderon (D-Bell) to resign, yet says nothing to convicted felon Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood). This double-standard is disgraceful. Because of Calderon and Wright’s tarnished records, they should both be expelled.

State Senator Lieu
Voted with GOP
To Move to Expel Wright

Three Republican state senators, Joel Anderson (Alpine), Stephen Knight (Palmdale) and recently elected Andy Vidak (Hanford), submitted a resolution to expel Wright. Only one Democrat joined them: State Senator Ted Lieu (Torrance).

Thank you, Senator Lieu. Shame on every other senator who voted otherwise.

Daily Breeze reporters have documented rising allegations of corruption in a local school district (Centinela Valley). Analysts reported on growing financial liabilities (or lack thereof) in key cities (Torrance), and editorials have condemned the unwholesome shenanigans of city managers in the South Bay (Manhattan Beach).

Now The Daily Breeze, and every voter, should pressure the California state senate, including Senate President Steinberg, to hold every senator accountable.

State Senate President Darrell Steinberg:
Still Says Nothing About Wright

Lieu Votes With GOP on Wright Expulsion

I have to write this.

This is good news for everyone who lives in State Senate district 26 - so far.

State Senator Ted Lieu voted with the state senate Republican minority to move for Roderick Wright's expulsion.

Lieu Voted to Expel Wright

Finally, the legislators are listening.

The story came out today in the LA Times.

Here's one quote:

A resolution by three Republican Senators to expel Wright was referred by Democrats to committee, where it is expected to languish until a trial judge acts May 16 on a request by Wright to overturn the jury verdict.

Then:

The Senate voted 21 to 13 largely along party lines to shelve the resolution. Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) voted against the referral.

Finally, political pressures on our representatives is paying off.

Milton Friedman always shared: "It's nice to get the right people in office. It's best to get the wrong people to do the right things."

With Lieu's decision to vote to expel convicted felon Roderick Wright, one has to wonder if his chances of making the Top Two after the June 3 primary for the 33rd Congressional District will improve or fail.

At least we can rest in the knowledge that as more people hold their legislators accountable, there will be more pressure on the state senate to expel members whose records are tarnished, who have been indicted or convicted of serious crimes.

Ted Lieu Comes to Redondo Beach Pharmacy

Everyone!

State Senator Ted Lieu will be at:

Odette Leonelli, Pharmacist - Kovacs-Frey Pharmacy, 310 371-7541

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2860 Artesia Blvd
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

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He will be there today -- 2-28 - at 5pm

 Voters need to confront him and demand to know:

1. Why he says nothing about convicted felon state senator Roderick Wright
2. Why Lieu tried to triple our car tax.

3. Why he cares about tanning salons and pets instead of human taxpayers.
Please read and share the following:

http://www.lagopclubs.com/4/post/2014/02/democrats-support-south-bay-convicted-felon-state-senator-taxpayers-deserve-better.html

http://tedlieuwatch.blogspot.com/2014/02/lieu-stil-silent-on-roderick-wright.html

Thank you for your time!