Posted on 10/29/2002 3:02:01 AM PST by RonDog
Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Republican challenger Bill Simon Jr., left,
holds a news conference on the beach in
Malibu. Davis, right, campaigned in
Inglewood to get out the vote.(LAT)
That's it: "Davis campaigned in Inglewood to get out the vote..."
NO MENTION of BUBBA - ANYWHERE in today's L.A. Times!
(At least none that **I* could find!)
Talk about a "low profile" event!
FReepers are used to being ignored by the mainstream media, but Bubba?
You know that something is fishy when the ultra-left L.A. Times does not even MENTION that Bill Clinton was in Los Angeles last night for a political rally!We KNOW that he was there, thanks to Reuters...Even the Associated Press buried any mention of this event DEEP within the larger story:
Mon Oct 28,12:27 AM ET
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (R) greets incumbent California Governor
Gray Davis as they attend a 'get-out-the-vote' rally, October 28, 2002 at
Animo Leadership Charter High School in Inglewood, California near Los Angeles.
Davis faces Republican challenger Bill Simon in the his re-election bid November 5.
REUTERS/Fred Prouser
Davis fights back against fund-raising allegations
ALEXA H. BLUTH, Associated Press WriterTuesday, October 29, 2002
(10-29) 00:10 PST SACRAMENTO (AP) --
Gov. Gray Davis is striking back against newly revealed allegations made a decade ago by a convicted felon that he participated in a scheme to solicit campaign donations in exchange for political favors.
A federal judge ordered the release Monday of documents stemming from a 1992 racketeering case in which a convicted felon offered information about alleged improprieties by Davis in a failed attempt to win a lighter sentence. Prosecutors declined to pursue the offer at the time, dismissing the man as a liar.
Davis dismissed the claims Monday as tales concocted by an ex-con and lashed out at his GOP challenger, Bill Simon, who called the freshly released details "serious allegations."
"Mr. Simon should not be critical of anyone else," Davis said Monday evening during an interview with KCRW-FM public radio in Los Angeles.
Davis also quickly unleashed a new television ad attacking Simon for making a false accusation against him earlier this month that Simon was later forced to retract.
Monday's new revelations came eight days before voters go to the polls to choose between Davis and Simon, who has made attacks on the governor's fund-raising practices a centerpiece of his campaign.
Former Coastal Commissioner Mark Nathanson named Davis, then state controller, in two letters submitted by his attorneys to prosecutors in 1993 and 1994 as part of an unsuccessful attempt to cut a more favorable deal after pleading guilty to racketeering, tax fraud and soliciting bribes.
The charges against Nathanson stemmed from an investigation that began with an FBI undercover probe of alleged vote-buying in the Legislature and also resulted in convictions or guilty pleas from five sitting or former lawmakers.
Nathanson was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison and fined $200,000. Prosecutors said Nathanson solicited money from celebrities, developers and others in exchange for help getting projects approved by the powerful commission that regulates development along the coast.
The letters were unsealed Monday by Sacramento-based U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton.
The Sacramento Bee had sought full release of the letters for two years. Until now they've been released only in censored form. The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the release three weeks ago when the high court refused to hear an appeal.
In 2001, Karlton said there was "absolutely no reason to believe that the accusations ... are true," that they "contain no newsworthy information" and that the letters would unjustly damage the reputation of the high public official -- now revealed as Davis -- named in them.
Nathanson's lawyers wrote twice to prosecutors, offering them information about alleged meetings with Davis, in exchange for a lighter sentence. Prosecutors dismissed Nathanson as a liar, rebuffing his offers to make a deal, and federal investigators refused to further check his claims.
In the letters, Nathanson attorneys detailed a series of meetings between Nathanson and Davis at a Beverly Hills delicatessen. Nathanson said the two agreed upon a scheme in which Davis would take credit for the coastal commission's favorable treatment of their projects when asking developers and landowners for campaign contributions.
Davis spokesman Roger Salazar released a statement Monday saying, "These baseless charges were made ... by a man who is a convicted felon, an admitted perjurer -- and ultimately a parole violator -- in an attempt to get his sentence reduced."
Davis has repeatedly brushed off the Nathanson allegations and has demanded that Simon "resign in shame" over that and other accusations.
Earlier this month, Simon accused Davis of illegally taking a campaign check in the state Capitol. He was forced to retract the claim when the photo he was using as evidence turned out to have been taken at a private home in Santa Monica.
The blunder is the topic of a new Davis ad launched Monday that asks, "Can we trust anything Bill Simon says?"
Simon attacked Davis Monday over the Nathanson revelations and what he has repeatedly called a "pay-to-play" atmosphere in the Davis administration.
"These are very serious allegations and yes, of course, we need to consider the source, but one should also consider the well-documented record of Davis' pay-to-play politics," Simon told a news conference.
On the campaign trail, Davis appeared Monday evening with former President Clinton, actor Martin Sheen and a host of elected officials for a get-out-the-vote rally on an outdoor stage in Inglewood.
"If you look at the difference in what Governor Davis and the Democrats in the California Legislature have done, as compared with America, you will see the difference between our party and theirs," Clinton told the crowd of more than 1,000.
Associated Press Writer Erica Werner contributed to this report.
We were there IN FORCE!The "eGray Hooker," "Superman SIMON," the "DEBATE Chicken," and TWO "Monica in a BLUE DRESS, with berets!"
Plus, DOZENS of FReepers and FRiends, with MANY signs and banners, including:
"DUMP DAVIS"More soon from daviddennis...
"FIRE Gray Davis"
"I believe Juanita Broaddrick!The security was INTENSE, and we were kept FAR AWAY from the outdoor venue where Bubba and eGray spoke - no doubt to prevent another Davis fiasco/FReeper success like the Pasadena Firefighter BBQ - where we REALLY rattled eGray!Fortunately, the Chicken Man's instincts were once again PERFECT, and we at least got to FReep the incoming motorcade - from BOTH CORNERS - as they arrived, and eGray (at least) made eye contact with Jessamine as "Monica #1" - and perhaps others.
...including our video interview of a USC journalism student interviewing US!
FReepers:
daviddennis - with his videocameraNot-yet-FReepers:
Jessamine - as "Monica in a BLUE DRESS!" - the STAR of our FReep!
RonDog (as the "eGray Hooker")
Outraged (as "Superman SIMON")
TheSpottedOwl - with her daughter
paola
Reagan woman
Tony in Hawaii
HangFire
LadyJennand MANY MORE!
(Please help me with all of your screen names!)
Monica in a BLUE DRESS - #2
the "DEBATE Chicken"
Heather, the USC journalism studentand MANY MORE!
(I was too busy to get all the names. Sorry.)
If anybody sitting on the fence in any state needed a reason to vote Republican, X42 just gave it to you.
Yahoo! News Photo Matches 1 - 20 of 26 | Next 6 >
Former Coastal Commissioner Mark Nathanson is seen talking to reporters after his arraignment on corruption charges, outside the federal courthouse in Sacramento, Calif., in this May 27, 1992 file photo. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton, ordered the release of documents, Monday, Oct. 28, 2002, from a decade-old fraud and racketeering case in which Nathanson, a convicted felon, implicated Gov. Gray Davis (news - web sites) in a bribery scheme. Davis was California state controller at the time. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
- Oct 28 8:11 PM ET
Former President Bill Clinton (L) hugs actor Martin Sheen as they attend a 'get-out-the-vote' rally October 28, 2002 at Animo Leadership Charter High School in Inglewood, California near Los Angeles in support of incumbent California governor Gray Davis. Davis faces Republican challenger Bill Simon in the his re-election bid November 5. REUTERS/Fred Prouser
- Oct 28 12:41 AM ET
Incumbent California Governor Gray Davis wears a shirt presented to him by students at the end of a 'get-out-the-vote' rally, October 28, 2002 at Animo Leadership Charter High School in Inglewood, California near Los Angeles. Davis faces Republican challenger Bill Simon in the his re-election bid November 5. REUTERS/Fred Prouser
- Oct 28 12:45 AM ET
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (L) applauds with incumbent California Governor Gray Davis (R) as the crowd shouts 'four more years' as they attend a 'get-out-the-vote' rally, October 28, 2002 at Animo Leadership Charter High School in Inglewood, California near Los Angeles. Davis faces Republican challenger Bill Simon in the his re-election bid November 5. Inglewood mayor Roosevelt Dorn is (C.) REUTERS/Fred Prouser
- Oct 28 12:39 AM ET
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (R) greets incumbent California Governor Gray Davis as they attend a 'get-out-the-vote' rally, October 28, 2002 at Animo Leadership Charter High School in Inglewood, California near Los Angeles. Davis faces Republican challenger Bill Simon in the his re-election bid November 5. REUTERS/Fred Prouser
- Oct 28 12:27 AM ET
"If you look at the difference in what Governor Davis and the Democrats in the California Legislature have done, as compared with America, you will see the difference between our party and theirs," Clinton told the crowd of more than 1,000. - Associated PressLOL!If anybody sitting on the fence in any state needed a reason to vote Republican,
X42 just gave it to you. - ABG(anybody but Gore)
Exactly!See also:
Businesses Feel a Chill In California Climate
The Wall Street Journal ^ | Monday, October 28, 2002 | REBECCA BUCKMAN and RHONDA L. RUNDLE
Posted on 10/28/2002 9:17 AM PST by TroutStalker
REDONDO BEACH, CALIF. -- If the polls are accurate, California Gov. Gray Davis seems destined to again occupy the state house -- a prospect that is depressing the spirits of many California business executives.
Soaring electricity costs, sky-high housing prices, escalating workers-compensation costs and a host of other regulations have made doing business in California increasingly tough.
So much so that when Development Counsellors International, an economic-development marketing firm, asked executives across the nation recently to name three states with the least favorable business climate, more named California than any other state, by a wide margin...more
Posted on Tue, Oct. 29, 2002
Mercury News Sacramento Bureau
INGLEWOOD - Flanked by two of America's most popular presidents -- one real, one fictional -- Gov. Gray Davis staged the biggest rally of his re-election campaign Monday night with a pledge to build upon his first four years in office.
More than 1,500 supporters cheered Davis, who was joined at the rally by former President Clinton and Martin Sheen, the liberal actor who plays the president on television's ``The West Wing.'' Clinton praised Davis and California for being a model for the nation in setting progressive policies for America to follow.
``When you clear away all the ads and all the arguments and all the attacks, when all the dust settles, the facts remain: Since Gray Davis has been in office, education has improved, the economic policies of the state are better, you've done more for working families,'' Clinton said.
Meanwhile, a Los Angeles Times poll released today showed Davis ahead 45 percent to 36 percent -- about the same as most polls in the past several weeks.
Gray Davis staged the biggest rally of his re-election campaign Monday night...And it got SQUASHED by the Nathanson letters story!
October 29, 2002
Unsealed letters add mud to California race
By Ralph Z. Hallow
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
A federal district judge in Sacramento yesterday ordered the release of letters implicating California Gov. Gray Davis in a racketeering scandal.
The release of letters in the decade-old case could be a blow to the Democrat's re-election campaign against Republican challenger Bill Simon.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ordered the uncensored release of letters from a fraud-and-racketeering case in which former state Coastal Commissioner Mark L. Nathanson implicated Mr. Davis in a bribery scheme.
In two letters submitted to prosecutors in 1993, Mr. Nathanson named Mr. Davis, who was state controller at the time.
The release of the documents comes at the worst possible time for Mr. Davis and puts him on the defensive with less than a week before voters go to the polls.
"Any allegation that Karlton is a biased judge will never work on this one," said California Democratic strategist Joe Cerrell, who knew Mr. Karlton before he became a judge.
"He was a liberal Democrat, so nobody can say they got a Republican judge to do it," said Mr. Cerrell, who also said he hasn't "a clue" as to whether the Nathanson accusations about Mr. Davis are true.
In the documents released yesterday, attorneys for Mr. Nathanson cited instances in which Mr. Davis sought coastal-commission favors for people whom Mr. Davis would then approach for donations. Mr. Nathanson had a history of raising contributions for Mr. Davis.
In a letter that Judge Karlton unsealed yesterday, Mr. Nathanson's attorney, Stephen L. Braga, recounts "a number of instances where Gray Davis approached Mr. Nathanson, who was then a member of the California Coastal Commission, to assist various friends or supporters of Davis who had matters pending before the Commission."
The letters were part of an attempt by Mr. Nathanson to get a better deal after he was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison and fined $200,000 for soliciting money from celebrities and others in exchange for help getting projects approved by the commission.
Davis campaign spokesman Roger Salazar dismissed the Nathanson accusations. "In a last desperate attempt to salvage his campaign by making further reckless accusations against Davis, the Simon campaign has been pumping a story about ridiculous charges by a criminal seeking to reduce his prison term," Mr. Salazar said.
For two years, the Sacramento Bee had been seeking the full release of the letters, which until yesterday were available only in censored form.
From the beginning of the bitterly fought campaign, Mr. Simon has attacked Mr. Davis' fund-raising practices, which have also been the subject of stories in the California press. California voters in most polls expressed dissatisfaction with both candidates.
"This is the break that Bill Simon has been waiting for," said California Republican Party Chairman Shawn Steel. "And it couldn't have happened at a better time."
"The great majority of voters who haven't made up their mind will go against the governor as a result of this," Mr. Steel said. "Democrats who haven't been enthusiastic about Davis will be even less so."
But Democrats generally poohed-poohed the impact, maintaining it would be a one-day story that would not alter the dynamics of the campaign.
"The Justice Department and FBI concluded that Nathanson is a liar and not to be believed and put him away," said Bob Muholland, a California member of the Democratic National Committee.
Depending on the poll, up to 25 percent of the state's voters tell pollsters they are undecided in the governor's contest.
A recent published poll had Mr. Davis ahead 41 percent to 31 percent, but the Simon campaign and other Republicans say internal polling shows the race much closer, and that Mr. Simon is "within striking distance," as a national Republican campaign official put it.
"Gov. Gray Davis staged the biggest rally of his re-election campaign Monday night with a pledge to build upon his first four years in office."
This is just laughable!
"Clinton praised Davis and California for being a model for the nation in setting progressive policies for America to follow."
Where do they get their joke lines? Rob Reiner?
Leni
It's great to see how well he's doing in the legacy building department.........
Clinton stumps for Davis in south state
GOP rival Simon hails release of potentially damaging letters.
By Margaret Talev -- Bee Capitol Bureau
INGLEWOOD -- Former President Clinton traveled to Southern California on Monday night to stump for Gov. Gray Davis, telling voters in this largely African American and Latino city that, under the Democratic incumbent, California had become the most progressive state in the nation.
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Speaking to 1,000 fans at a get-out-the-vote rally outside Animo Leadership Charter High School, Clinton said California's policies toward labor, minorities and the environment under Davis serve as "Exhibit A" for why voters should elect Democrats rather than Republicans.
"Gray Davis has broken new ground every single year, and California is leading America toward an environmentally responsible future," Clinton told the enthusiastic crowd. "There's not a state in the country that has done more progressive things when it comes to education, when it comes to health care, when it comes to balancing the needs of working families, when it comes to the rights of working people and women and minorities and gays than the state of California."
Davis thanked Clinton, calling him "the best president in my lifetime." He told the crowd he has expanded insurance and college scholarships for minority groups, and he said his support for expanded gun control and abortion rights contrast with Republican Bill Simon's positions. "My opponent is out of step, out of touch and out to lunch," he said.
The governor made no mention, in his speech, of court papers released Monday in which former California Coastal Commissioner Mark Nathanson asserted that Davis as a state assemblyman and controller had sought to link commission actions with campaign contributions.
But Simon, seeking to cut into Davis' lead eight days before Election Day, seized on the release of the documents.
Calling a press conference on a public beach at Malibu, Simon said the onus was on Davis to disprove the fund-raising allegations made by Nathanson, who went to prison in a bribery scandal disclosing that he had sought payments from individuals with business before the commission.
Simon called on Davis to release his calendars and schedules dating back to the mid-1980s, detailing all telephone calls or meetings with Nathanson, developers or any Coastal Commission permit applicants. "The governor owes more to the people of California than just dismissive denials," Simon said.
"Did he solicit them for contributions? Did he in fact receive contributions and did he brag of his relationship with Mark Nathanson in any conversations?" Simon continued. "If he did not do what Nathanson alleges, he should have no fear of answering these questions."
Prosecutors discredited Nathanson's claims a decade ago and refused to cut him a deal in exchange for them. But Simon -- a former federal prosecutor -- said he would not dismiss the allegations outright. He also refused to say whether, in the final days of the gubernatorial race, he planned to run negative ads alleging impropriety.
"Mr. Davis obviously is worried, having sent letters to many television stations, that we might," Simon said, referring to letters that Davis' campaign attorneys sent to television stations last week, suggesting the campaign might sue them if they ran unsubstantiated ads related to Nathanson's claims.
The Davis campaign, meanwhile, released an ad of its own intended to inoculate the governor against any Simon attack on the issue. The ad draws on criticism Simon faced earlier this month for falsely accusing the governor of violating a law by accepting a campaign check in a government office building.
The site of Davis' rally, Animo Leadership, was established three years ago in a mostly Latino neighborhood with the mission of steering children of uneducated immigrants toward college.
But African Americans made up the majority of the crowd at Monday's rally, including students from a sister charter school in its first year, Animo Inglewood. Many in the audience said they came to see Clinton, widely regarded as the most popular president in history with African Americans.
Some said they would have voted for Davis, whether or not Clinton encouraged them to do so. But others said they were doing so with reservations, that they blamed Davis for the state's energy crisis and were supporting him largely because they preferred him to Simon.
Jeffrey Williams, 49, of Inglewood said he attended only because he admired Clinton. An MRI technician at a local hospital, he said he and his co-workers were likely to face layoffs because of budget cuts -- and he blamed Davis. A registered Democrat, Williams said he planned to vote for Simon in protest.
After the rally, the former president was scheduled to headline a $100 apiece Hollywood studio fund-raiser with Davis for about 700 supporters.
Clinton speech
Former President Clinton will give a speech at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 17 at the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at the University of California, Davis.
Clinton is the founder of the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation, co-chairman of the International AIDS Trust and co-chairman of the Families of Freedom Fund.
Tickets and information are available by calling (530) 752-1915 or at www.mondaviarts.org.
About the Writer
---------------------------
The Bee's Margaret Talev can be reached at (916) 326-5540 or mtalev@sacbee.com.
Jeffrey Williams, 49, of Inglewood said he attended only because he admired Clinton. An MRI technician at a local hospital, he said he and his co-workers were likely to face layoffs because of budget cuts -- and he blamed Davis.THAT sounds promising!A registered Democrat, Williams said he planned to vote for Simon in protest...
As does THIS inspiring post from the pre-FReep thread:To: RonDog; Z-28
That link (http://www.firedavis.com) was sent to me via email by a liberal friend in LA, who now says he's voting for Simon!
:-)It has taken years, but he has finally come around.
37 posted on 10/28/2002 8:50 PM PST by LurkerNoMore!
"FIRE Davis!" (both as a chant AND as a website!) **is** very EFFECTIVE, as you can see from the post-FReep report of our EXTARORDINARILY successful "FIRE Gray Davis!" FReep in Pasadena on Saturday:That link (http://www.firedavis.com) was sent to me via email by a liberal friend in LA, who now says he's voting for Simon!
:-)It has taken years, but he has finally come around.
FREEP REPORT: Gray Davis Pasadena Freep 10/26/2002 a ROARING success!
amazing.com (my web site) ^ | 10/27/2002 | David H Dennis
Posted on 10/27/2002 1:35 PM PST by daviddennis
-- snip --
more
THREE GENERATIONS of concerned women!
FReeper paola, her GRANDMOTHER, and her mother Reagan woman
and
A FRiend from the previous Simon event in Santa Monica, and gubamyster
with our "miniature" (10' x 3') version of...
...THIS giant billboard along the 10 freeway in downtown Los Angeles::See also:
"Dump DAVIS!"
Get the FACTS
about our "Pay for Play" governor at:
www.eGray.org
"We, the people of the State of California,
refuse to take it any longer;
we will fire Gray Davis on November 5th."
from
www.FIREdavis.com
GET OUT THE HIP BOOTS AND SHOVELS; CLINTON OPENED HIS MOUTH AGAIN!!!
"My opponent is out of step, out of touch and out to lunch," he said.
Davis sounds a little desperate. That was pretty lame, even coming from him.
One last thing; I didn't know Martin Sheen was going to show up for this. Did he chain himself to a tree?
Another great job;-)
One last thing; I didn't know Martin Sheen was going to show up for this.Better chained to a tree than partnered with "Hanoi Jane..."
Did he chain himself to a tree?
From people.aol.com:
Sarandon Leads D.C. Anti-War Protest...or sharing a tender moment with Bubba:
STEPHEN M. SILVERMAN and CARLY BASHKINSusan Sarandon, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, singer Patti Smith, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream were among an estimated 100,000 people who marched in Washington, D.C., on Saturday in a peaceful protest against military strikes in Iraq, PEOPLE reports.
-- snip --
The "Dead Man Walking" Oscar winner and her partner Tim Robbins have been vocal in their criticism of possible military action.
The couple also recently joined celebs such as as Martin Sheen and Jane Fonda in signing an anti-war statement published in the Los Angeles Times and New York Times...more
 |
| Mon Oct 28,12:42 AM ET |
|
Former President Bill Clinton (L) hugs actor Martin Sheen as they attend a 'get-out-the-vote' rally October 28, 2002 at Animo Leadership Charter High School in Inglewood, California near Los Angeles in support of incumbent California governor Gray Davis. Davis faces Republican challenger Bill Simon in the his re-election bid November 5. REUTERS/Fred Prouser |
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
