Posted on 09/28/2006 7:45:37 AM PDT by SmithL
SACRAMENTO - Oakland Democrat Jerry Brown, who cemented his reputation as California's most enduring political enigma by running for attorney general, and Republican foe Chuck Poochigian of Fresno, are each bashing the other as extreme.
In moderate, Democrat-leaning California, both are correct, political experts say.
In TV ads, Poochigian criticizes Brown as too soft on crime to be the state's top cop, while Brown calls Poochigian too harsh.
Analysts say the crossfire is generating some of the best political theater in the run-up to the Nov. 7 general election.
"After the governor's race, it's the most interesting and entertaining," said Tim Hodson, executive director of the Center for California Studies. "The candidates are about as far apart (ideologically) as you can get."
Although Brown, now the mayor of Oakland, is nationally known, has more money and enjoys a comfortable, double-digit lead in the polls, both candidates are waging an early, costly, possibly risky bid to convince voters the other is unfit for the job.
Brown has about $5 million in campaign funds to Poochigian's $3.5 million, with six weeks until voters face a crowded ballot. In ads, low-profile appearances and media releases, Poochigian has argued that Brown is too much of a "flaky liberal" for the job of attorney general.
Poochigian has hit Brown for pardoning seven first-degree murderers while governor, supporting the prisoners' bill of rights and opposing the crime victims' bill of rights.
Poochigian also has criticized Brown for opposing lethal injection as California's method of execution and vetoing a bill reinstating the death penalty in the late 1970s -- only to have the Legislature override his veto.
"Jerry Brown is the last person who should have the responsibility of protecting California's families as attorney general," said Poochigian spokesman Kevin Spillane.
Brown says the pardoned murderers were elderly, long out of prison, and that GOP governors have pardoned greater numbers. Brown insists he would carry out current laws allowing executions.
In particular, Poochigian has attacked Brown for failing to control Oakland's soaring homicide rate -- though Brown responds that crime is up in many cities and that he formed a special police unit, among other policies, to tackle the problem. Brown also touts his California Police Chiefs Association endorsement.
Meanwhile, Brown has said Poochigian is too "extreme" for the state, considering his support for high-powered sniper rifles, opposition to a woman's abortion rights, stand against stem cell research and resistance to tougher environmental protections.
Brown campaign strategist Ace Smith says Poochigian is "trying to pass himself off as a moderate when he's in fact an extremist."
Poochigian responds that the accusations are twisted.
For instance, Poochigian says, at the time of the 2004 gun vote, the rifles were legal in 49 other states and that he would carry out state laws that provides for wider abortion rights. Poochigian also says he opposed a 2004 bond measure for stem cell research on fiscal grounds and that most GOP lawmakers opposed greenhouse gas emissions control legislation this year.
As part of the crossfire, Brown is portraying Poochigian as linked to President Bush, trying to use the president's lack of popularity as a weapon, mimicking Democrats' strategies in other states.
When the former governor is asked how he wound up mayor of Oakland or why he is now seeking the attorney general post, Brown responds that politics is in his blood. His father, Pat Brown, was attorney general before becoming governor.
Both candidates have visions about what they would do with the office.
DNA crime-fighting technology is near the top of Poochigian's list. He says he wants to "provide strong leadership in developing and advancing our significant new tools for solving criminal puzzles." Brown wants to take a "common sense" approach to the office, settling thousands of pending civil lawsuits, protecting the environment, thwarting corporate abuses and helping cities fight crime.
In the race to schmooze with popular GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brown is the clear winner so far. Brown recently appeared at the Capitol with Schwarzenegger's wife, Maria Shriver, and GOP administration officials to promote emergency preparedness.
Poochigian said he should have been in Oakland addressing the murder rate and labeled him "out of town Brown."
The stakes in the race are high for Californians.
The state's top cop runs the Justice Department, which conducts a wide array of investigations. The attorney general also represents Californians in civil and criminal court proceedings, while also serving as legal counsel to state agencies. The attorney general's office operates programs to protect Californians from activities that victimize consumers or threaten public safety, and enforces laws that safeguard the environment.
Attorney General Bill Lockyer, an East Bay Democrat, is termed out and is running for treasurer against Republican Board of Equalization member Claude Parrish.
The campaign has brought out more than ideological differences.
"There's also a wonderful contrast (of style) in this race, unlike all the others (for statewide office), between Poochigian, the plodding, steadfast, boring candidate, versus Jerry Brown, who is exciting and unpredictable," said Hodson, a professor at Sacramento State.
Poochigian comes across as saying, "'I'm not going to be very exciting but I'll get you where you're going,'" said Hodson. With Brown, it's, "'I'll get you where we're going, but we're going to have a hell of trip getting there.'"
Current position: Mayor of Oakland
Background: Son of former Gov. Edmond G. Brown. Graduated Yale Law School, 1964. Elected to Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees, 1969; California secretary of state, 1970; governor, 1974; re-elected governor, 1978; chairman, state Democratic Party, 1989-91; elected Oakland mayor, 1998; re-elected mayor, 2002.
Platform: Focusing on his political qualifications for state attorney general, since he is a former California governor. Also criticizing his Republican foe as holding opinions on issues such as gun control and abortion that are too conservative for the job.
Current position: State senator from Fresno
Background: Graduated Santa Clara University School of Law, 1975. Elected Assembly, 1994-98; appointed member Little Hoover Commission; elected state Senate, 1998-2002; re-elected, 2002-2006.
Platform: Focusing on criticism of Brown as too liberal for the job, citing Brown's stances on issues such as the death penalty. Also criticizing Brown, Oakland's mayor, for failing to control that city's homicide rate.
Rose Byrd.
'Nuff said.
"In moderate, Democrat-leaning California..."
No reason to read further. California's about as hopelessly radical fundamentalist liberal as it can get. Want proof? Wait for the November election results, and check the ballot propositions that will have passed.
The only good thing about it is that eventually capital flight, high taxation, run-away illegal immigration, crime, and widespread public bankruptcy will force a change in "Paradise Lost." I see it coming within the next 20 years or so. Jerry Brown and his ilk will be seen as the authors of this disaster.
BUMP for Poochigian!
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