"When they came for the (smokers), I didn't protest, because I wasn't a (smoker)..."
Meathead "They-Don't-Call-Me-'ROB'-for-Nothing" Reiner
Posted on 03/29/2006 3:58:58 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Complaining of "personal political attacks," Hollywood director Rob Reiner resigned Wednesday as chairman of a statewide preschool commission he helped create that's under scrutiny for $23 million in advertising spending.
Just two weeks ago, Reiner dismissed suggestions that he should step down from the California First 5 Commission, which has collected nearly $4 billion in tobacco taxes to fund early childhood programs. "Everything I've done is completely legal," he said at the time.
But Reiner called Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over the weekend and resigned, said Margita Thompson, a Schwarzenegger spokeswoman. In a letter to the governor Wednesday, Reiner said, "We agreed that we cannot let personal political attacks get in the way of doing the very best we can for California's children."
Critics accused the commission of a conflict of interest after its spent $23 million in state money on an ad campaign that coincided with Reiner's promotion of an expanded preschool initiative that's on the ballot this year, known as Proposition 82. The Legislature has asked the state auditor to investigate the commission, and Attorney General Bill Lockyer referred the matter to the Sacramento County district attorney for possible investigation.
Reiner was out of town and unavailable for comment, spokesman Mark Fabiani said.
Fabiani added that Reiner was concerned that criticism of him could detract from the statewide program and Proposition 82, which would create free universal preschool by raising taxes on the wealthy.
"The opposition has not focused on the merits of the initiative," Fabiani said. "They've decided to focus on Rob."
In a statement, the Republican governor said Reiner would be replaced by Hector Ramirez, 38, an executive at a nonprofit group for needy children, Para Los Ninos.
"Rob Reiner has always put California's kids first and I thank him for the great work he has done over the last seven years," Schwarzenegger said. "Because of Rob's efforts, California has become a national leader in providing early childhood health and education services for our youngest children and their families."
Reiner's exit has the potential to relieve the election-bound Schwarzenegger of a distracting political problem at a time when the governor has been trying to improve his diminished public standing and get his re-election campaign under way. Last week Schwarzenegger, who calls Reiner a friend, said he had no plans to replace the director as the commission chairman.
Fabiani said Reiner will have no further involvement with the commission.
Ramirez is not unknown to Reiner. Ramirez was consulted when Reiner's staff put together Proposition 82. Reiner and Ramirez have met, but "I feel very safe that they don't have a relationship," said Elena Stern, a spokeswoman for Para Los Ninos, which receives some funding from the commission.
Asked about the ad campaign, Ramirez said in a conference call with reporters that the he would make sure the commission "upholds the highest level of integrity."
Reiner will continue to be involved with the Proposition 82 campaign, aides said. He has donated $657,000 in cash and other services to the campaign.
Embattled Reiner Steps Down as 'First 5' Chairman [meat-head]
His replacement, Hector Ramirez, a VP and CEO of Para Los Ninos and an advocate of the Preschool for All Act.
A FRiend of Hector and his mission, NCLR , the National Coalition of La Raza, is actively involved in supporting the Preschool for All Act as well.
Game, set, match.
Grab your wallets and flee as fast as you can. The Austrian is coming. He's coming with Prop 49 and Prop 82. He's coming to take your children into the bosom of mother government.
ALL YOUR CHILDREN ARE MINE!
Para Los Ninos gets about half their funding from First 5 (i.e. taxpayers).
They also are involved in After-School-Programs.
I think you've captured the essence. I'm literally sick.
And this is the "best" we can get for 4 more years?
Thanks, Dufus!
http://www.newwestnotes.com/flash-rob-reiner-out-as-chairman-of-first-5/
Schwarzenegger may have created another controversy for himself with the appointment of Hector Ramirez as First 5 Chairman. Ramirez is a political associate of Reiner's. The Proposition 82 campaign was launched at an event outside Para Los Ninos.
Ramirez served on the executive committee of the First 5 LA's Preschool For All Initiative, which was, as I reported earlier, Reiner and First 5's initial attempt to institute a publicly-funded universal preschool program and served as a model for Prop 82. After it was discovered that the Prop 10 tobacco tax money was inadequate for the task, Reiner's thoughts turned to a new statewide initiative to fund Preschool For All at the state level. That initiative is now Prop 82.
Ramirez is also a leading member of the National Council of La Raza ("The Race"), an advocacy organization on a variety of issues, including immigration reform, in which it is frequently opposed to Schwarzenegger's policy. In the context of Latino politics, "La Raza" can also mean "The People." In some circles, it has a rather poetic and mystical connotation as "La Raza Cosmica," in which, to quote Wikipedia, "traditional concepts of race and nationality can be transcended in the name of humanity's common destiny."
Ramirez, according to his bio, serves as co-chair of the California Region Education Committee for the National Council of La Raza. The Packard Foundation (based on the Hewlett-Packard Co. fortune), which has worked closely with Rob Reiner on the First 5 program in general and Preschool For All in particular, is a major funder of the National Council of La Raza.
Reiner was concerned that criticism of him might lead to an indictment for fraud.""
Just ahead of the Grand Jury????
Looks like Meathead is doing his own little "cut and run." Lardass coward. You can always count on Brokeback Mountain DemocRATS to refuse to stick around and fight once the going gets tough and the bloody noses start.
PROSECUTE HIM!!!!!!!!!
TWO WORDS...CITIZEN'S ARREST.
Once a meathead, always a meathead.
A crook if ever there was one. Arnold jumped the shark a long time ago.
Glad to see you're using better sources.
LOL ;-)
"They-Don't-Call-Me-'ROB'-for-Nothing" Reiner
LOL
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