Posted on 10/14/2005 9:32:13 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO -- "Great Hair!"
That's the headline on a political Web page over a photo of Bakersfield Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy's distinctive coiffure.
But McCarthy would just as soon do without the compliment on the Web site of the ultra-conservative Young Americans for Freedom.
"Sadly," the YAF message continues, "that's about the only nice thing Republicans are saying about Kevin McCarthy these days."
With the YAF's typically humorous touch, it's the latest example of grumbling about McCarthy's leadership of the Assembly Republican Caucus.
Fairly or not, McCarthy is being held largely responsible by some Republicans for the overwhelming defeat of the GOP candidate in a Sept. 7 special election for an Assembly seat in the Torrance area of Los Angeles County. And Democrats are only too happy to pile on.
In the election, the Republican, Mary Jo Ford, was swamped by Democrat Ted Lieu in what many considered a "swing" district where the GOP should have stood a decent chance.
Ford turned out to be damaged goods when it was revealed that she had previously registered as a Democrat and an American Independent Party member after claiming she was a lifelong Republican.
This came after it appeared that McCarthy and other Sacramento leaders had forced another Republican with better credentials, Greg Hill, out of the race in favor of Ford. She is a wealthy physician who didn't need McCarthy to raise money for her. McCarthy and Hill denied that, but it's conventional wisdom by now.
Critics of the GOP strategy in the race immediately drew parallels with the 2004 race in Kern County's 30th Assembly District where McCarthy backed Dean Gardner, whose questionable business background was blamed for his loss to Democrat Nicole Parra. She was considered the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in the state.
McCarthy and his defenders say the criticism is unwarranted.
They point out that he inherited Gardner as the candidate in the same race from the previous election in 2002, and apparently couldn't find anyone to replace him.
McCarthy said he should not be blamed for the special-election loss last month because it was a losing cause from the start. Many observers said the plunging poll numbers of both GOP President Bush and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger depressed Republican voter turnout.
"I never expected to win that race," McCarthy said.
The hair reference?
It apparently came from a Sacramento radio station talk show host. Reviewing the recent annual softball game between legislative Democrats and Republicans, he said McCarthy won for "best hair."
You can find the Web page by starting here: www.calyaf.org
***
Speaking of the softball game, Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, complained good-naturedly that during her turn at bat, McCarthy hit her with a pitch.
"I charged the mound and he ran," she said proudly.
Who won the game?
That's hard to determine reliably if you weren't there keeping score. Depends on who you talk to.
One GOP blogger claimed the Republicans won by something like 123 to 6.
I can't believe he won the primany over Mike Magget when it was a open seat. His camp in the campign that donations to the NRA Magget gave in the 1980's was the reason the NRA endorse Magget.
It was obvious from the headline that the story was not going to be about Joe McCarthy.
"YOU'RE NEXT! YOU'RE NEXT!"
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