McClintock Ping List.
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Posted on 10/29/2006 1:49:26 PM PST by calcowgirl
SACRAMENTO - Californians could be on the cusp of electing the state's most conservative lieutenant governor in nearly 30 years -- a candidate who is firmly to the right of most of the state on issues such as abortion, the environment and government spending.
State Sen. Tom McClintock, arguably the most popular conservative in the state, is running neck and neck in his race with Democrat John Garamendi, the term-limited state insurance commissioner.
Although considered by many to be a powerless post, the lieutenant governor does become the state's chief executive in the event of the governor's death.
Opponents insist the Thousand Oaks Republican's views are unknown by the vast majority of voters, even though he has run in three statewide campaigns -- for governor in the 2003 recall, for state controller in 1994 and again in 2002, when he lost to Steve Westly in a razor-thin race.
"McClintock can be a sleeper," said Darry Sragow, a former adviser to Westly, who defeated McClintock by just 22,730 votes despite a 5-to-1 spending advantage. "Democrats dismiss him as a kooky right-wing guy, but there's clear evidence that he's better known than a lot of Democratic insiders like to think and that people like him."
Voters may overlook McClintock's views on issues such as gun rights and abortion because they connect with him on a gut level, said Assemblyman Ray Haynes, a Riverside County Republican and one of the more conservative members of the Legislature.
"The guns and babies stuff -- they won't forgive that without trust," Haynes said. "On those issues, Tom is not in sync with the majority of Californians, but neither were Ronald Reagan or George Deukmejian. The issue is will they forgive you on three or four issues because they like you on one or two issues. The reason he's close in this race is because they're willing to forgive him on some stuff."
McClintock insists that his views on social issues are well known but irrelevant.
"The attempt to paint these issues as the center of my 20 years in the Legislature is utterly, completely false," McClintock said. "Yes, I'm pro-life and I support the Second Amendment, and people who are single-issue voters will cast their votes accordingly. But most people put far more emphasis on government efficiency and waste. My views were clearly stated in the most highly watched debate in the history of California (during the recall election)."
The most significant political act a lieutenant governor can take is to cast a deciding vote in a deadlocked state Senate -- which hasn't been done since 1976 -- so voters may not view the office as worthy enough to draw worries. And the previous time a lieutenant governor replaced a governor was in 1953, when Earl Warren was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court and was replaced by the forgettable Goodwin Knight.
But the most recent conservative to hold the office, Mike Curb, elected in 1978, made full use of his power. During the lengthy periods then-Gov. Jerry Brown was spending out of state running for president, Curb made hundreds of appointments and signed into law more than 30 bills. The state Supreme Court ruled a lieutenant governor had the power to make law with a governor absent -- though a governor can override the actions, and Brown often did.
Under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a fellow Republican, the likelihood for such undermining is limited. Still, McClintock could affect the tone and direction of the various boards on which a lieutenant governor sits.
McClintock downplays his social stances, emphasizing tax cuts and regulations as central campaign themes, often saying "everything else is commentary."
But "everything else" is the key to knowing who the real McClintock is, Democrats say.
McClintock has been able to slide under the radar, Democrats say, because he has never been taken seriously. In the 2002 state controller's race, Westly outspent McClintock $5 million to $800,000, but put the money into increasing his own profile rather than attacking McClintock for his views, Sragow said.
"McClintock has incredible vulnerabilities, but they've never been communicated to statewide voters," Sragow said. "He's never been hit. Voters only know that his disarming intelligence and candor are appealing."
In surveys of fellow legislators, McClintock routinely is ranked among the smartest.
Garamendi's campaign concedes that McClintock has appeal, but staff members say they think they can sway voters with ads that showcase what they consider his fringe views.
"He has a virulent anti-tax, anti-government politics-of-fear message that has an appeal," said Jason Kinney, an adviser to Garamendi. "What voters don't know, and it's our job to highlight, is just how radical his voting record has been on almost every issue."
McClintock's reputation as a cantankerous conservative dates to his early days in the Legislature -- he was first voted into the Assembly in 1982 -- and solidified in 1991 when former Gov. Pete Wilson called McClintock an "ideologue" and "obstructionist" for opposing his budget.
The Garamendi campaign has begun to broadcast ads highlighting some of McClintock's more controversial comments and positions:
• Providing women with publicly paid abortions is like "providing scotch to a wino in a gutter."
McClintock says that the quote is taken out of context and that his main point was that "you don't help people by helping them hurt themselves."
• Global warming has "been going on since the last ice age and it will continue until the next ice age."
He voted this year against AB32, which would curb carbon dioxide emissions and which is a signature issue for Schwarzenegger's re-election campaign.
"I don't believe the science is settled that global warming is significantly affected by human activity," he said. "And there's no question that AB32 is not going to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. It will move it across state lines and have a devastating impact on our economy."
• Minimum wage "is a destructive government policy" and Social Security is "morally bankrupt."
The Garamendi campaign accuses him in an ad of voting against health care for the elderly, stem cell research, minimum wage increases, lowering prescription drug costs and death benefits for widows of fallen police officers and firefighters.
Garamendi has gone as far as to suggest he and Schwarzenegger are more compatible than the two Republicans at the top of the ticket, listing a dozen issues on which McClintock and the governor disagree. But McClintock points out that he is the one with Schwarzenegger's endorsement.
"The governor," he said, "is the one who called me his running mate."
McClintock Ping List.
Please freepmail me if you want on or off this list
Just ask yourself how much he could do, if Angelides were elected governor?
Vote for Arnold, Tom, and ALL Republicans!
Wrong thread--this one is about McClintock.
For Schwarzenegger, go here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=schwarzenegger
"The governor," he said, "is the one who called me his running mate."
Clearly Tom is benefiting from that. Conservatives should help by getting out and voting FOR Arnold, Tom and all Republican candidates. This is our best chance to capture several state wide offices. Arnold's star power is rubbing off on Tom and other Republican candidates.Absolutely! Vote conservative--FOR Conservatives and AGAINST Taxes and Bonds!
Someone let me know when a newspaper notes that a liberal Democrat is "a candidate who is firmly to the LEFT of most of the state on issues"
I work with them all day long and with one or two exceptions the 73 legislative Democrats in Sacramento are "firmly to the LEFT of the average Californian."
I'm afraid "Star Power" ain't what's been rubbing offa him and on to the other Repubs in the Crapitol!!! (holding my nose to even talk about it!)
But McClintock points out that he is the one with Schwarzenegger's endorsement.
"The governor," he said, "is the one who called me his running mate."
Thank you for highlighting Tom's quote.
I also appreciate this post from dpwiener, earlier this month:
"Schwarzenegger and McClintock have struck a pragmatic deal as they run as a team for Governor and Lt. Governor.
McClintock provides a reason for conservative Republicans to come to the polls and vote. Schwarzenegger forces the unions to throw their money away on Angelides while at the same time depressing the Democratic voter turnout.
The result is that Angelides is going down in flames, and McClintock has an excellent chance of defeating Garamendi. And if Tom is elected Lt. Governor, he'll become the odds-on favorite to be the Republican candidate for Governor in 2010 when Arnold is termed-out.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1712765/posts?page=8#8
ROFL! Ya just can't make some people happy. ;-)
I would consider McClintock for President. Interesting that the media calls him a "hardliner."
In other words, Arnold needed McClintock's coattails.
Now, back to the subject of the thread....
In surveys of fellow legislators, McClintock routinely is ranked among the smartest.GO TOM!
BTTT
If the race is "neck and neck" as the article claims, and Conan is considered safe in terms of re-election (and he is considered safe, even by the MSM), then Tom could benefit more from Conan redirecting some cash towards Tom's campaign, yes? R means stick together and fight together (yes?). Looking forward to Conan campaigning vigorously with Tom (yes?). They are after all in the same party (yes?).
(smile)
Arnold's spending most of the excess campaign funds to push the bonds, and to fund GOTV efforts.
I read this in bed with my wife and I turned to her and said can you believe this xxxx. It was framed on page 1 as a hit piece. They wanted to be sure everybody knew he was a right wing fanatic. This is California after all and that's their tried and true strategy. While we might think it's a compliment it will undoubtedly have an impact.
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