Posted on 06/06/2005 6:00:04 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Democratic leaders and union officials on Monday condemned a plan by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's political team to create a "phenomenon of anger" against public employee unions leading up to an expected special election.
Some critics said the disclosure of the strategy is shocking but consistent with the increasingly bitter fight over Schwarzenegger's ballot proposals.
"The idea of creating anger is so offensive," said Barbara Kerr, president of the California Teachers Association. "It's the worst kind of politics. I believe the people of California are smarter than the governor is giving them credit for and they will see through this."
The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday that its reporters had listened to a conference call between the governor's political team and top contributors. The group discussed how to persuade voters that unions are the cause of many of California's problems.
"When you get to the point of 'These people are on your payroll and they are out to roll you every day,' that creates a kind of phenomenon of anger," Don Sipple, Schwarzenegger's media adviser, said during the call. "But it takes a long time to get there. As the campaign goes on, we have to articulate that."
Schwarzenegger is expected in the next week to call for a special fall election to pursue his agenda to impose a new state spending cap, redraw legislative and congressional districts and lengthen the time it takes school teachers to earn tenure.
Many of the governor's supporters are pressing a separate measure that would restrict the use of union dues for political purposes.
Democrats and their supporters claim those measures are aimed at them. They are promoting a platform that includes a new energy deregulation proposal and prescription drug discounts while also mounting a campaign against the governor and the business interests backing the anti-union measure.
Nurse and teachers unions have loudly protested at the governor's public appearances. On Monday, labor leaders took issue with the newly revealed campaign strategy.
"Reports about Gov. Schwarzenegger's strategy of demonizing public employees should come as no surprise," said J.J. Jelincic, president of the 140,000-member California State Employees Association. "Ever since he dropped his 'moderate' facade earlier this year, he has been blaming government employees for the inability of his administration to meet the real needs of Californians."
Lance Corcoran, executive vice president of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, said that the governor's agenda will backfire because it goes beyond unions and targets all working people.
Treasurer Phil Angelides, who declared he will run against Schwarzenegger next year, delivered 50,000 petition signatures to the governor's office Monday calling for Schwarzenegger to drop his plans for the election expected to cost $80 million.
He said if the governor needs to manufacture animosity to achieve his goals then there's no need for an election because voters aren't truly discontent about the things he wants changed.
"The governor's so-called reforms will take California in the wrong direction while doing nothing to address the real issues facing our state," he said.
Schwarzenegger, appearing on a Sacramento radio talk show Monday, said the biggest reason for the election is to pass his spending cap. He said he expects the unions to continue fighting his agenda, pointing out that he believes that labor groups are happy with the status quo.
"They like it the way things are, but I believe very strongly that the way things are will bankrupt the state," Schwarzenegger told an afternoon audience of KFBK-AM.
The governor was not asked about the comments of his political adviser. His spokeswoman referred calls to Marty Wilson, a senior campaign consultant, who didn't immediately return phone calls from The Associated Press.
I wonder whether she'll throw herself on the floor and pitch a tantrum over it?
>>"The idea of creating anger is so offensive," said Barbara
>>Kerr, president of the California Teachers Association.
>>"It's the worst kind of politics. I believe the people of
>>California are smarter than the governor is giving them
>>credit for and they will see through this."
>She's a Democrat. What a hypocrit! For heaven's sake, get
>angry for the sake of the chidren!
Awww. You beat me to it. Let me try anyway ...
What!!?? The Unions get a pass to bankrupt California in the name of "the children" and we are supposed to be *HAPPY*??
Unless you are McCain, et. al.
The word apparently hasn't gotten around to Howie Dean, Hillary or Harry Reid...
Arnold should mention that illegal immigration is also a HUGE factor in California's probable bankruptcy. He hasn't even mentioned it.
Oh my goodness! This is funny! The CA Libs use "ANGER" and "fear" in every election, every issue. He beat them to it, and their great and usual strategy is in tears. Now for them to manufacture faux "outrage". lol. lol.
I get angry every tme I hear Barbara Kerr lying on the radio.
Yep you'll never see a union in a free market area of the economy... Unless the political rules are designed to force unions on companies.
Everywhere we see unions thriving today is either directly in the government or in regulated monopolies. The unions dying are in things like the grocery and retail stores, car manufacturing and things open to competition.
Deservedly so!
I fear many states are going to go down the path Detroit and Michigan has. If you look at the rusted out frames of buildings, and unmaintained streets in Detroit, the city looks like all of the old Warsaw pact used to look like. And for exactly the same reasons.
Now a bunch of blue states are heading down the same path, like California. The really amazing thing is that they are heading down that path AFTER the Soviet Union fell apart.
"YEAAAAAAARGH!!!"
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