[CounterCounterCulture]

BUMP for a later reading...

[RonDog]

Hi, CCC - We need a volunteer to dress as the "eBray Hooker" at FReeps in NORTHERN California, and YOU would be perfect...

Will you do it?

No mention of ANY protests in the Sacramento Bee:

War of Words

Simon, Camejo assail absent Davis

By Margaret Talev -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Wednesday, September 18, 2002

Republican Bill Simon and Green Party candidate Peter Camejo squared off Tuesday in the first major gubernatorial debate of the fall campaign season, opposites on many policy questions but lockstep in their criticism of one notably absent candidate: Gov. Gray Davis.

They accused the Democratic incumbent, who declined to participate in the debate sponsored by the minority and poverty groups New Media Expo and the Greenlining Institute, of running a "pay-to-play" administration and allowing corporations and other large donors to influence his policies.

They blamed him for the state's $24 billion budget deficit.

Most of all, they told the audience of 200 at the Hilton in Beverly Hills, made up largely of ethnic-media journalists, Davis' decision to skip the debate was an insult to minority voters across the state.

"Gray Davis ought to be here -- he takes all of you for granted," Simon said.

"It reflects a taking for granted of minorities," Camejo said. "I think it shows that his approach to this election is to try to win by hiding."

Davis, in Los Angeles for a bill-signing ceremony, told reporters he was "doing the job I was hired to do."

Davis aide Steve Maviglio said the governor had 706 measures to sign or veto before the bill-signing period ends Sept. 30.

Davis has consistently held the lead against Simon in polls, with recent surveys showing him 7 to 11 percentage points ahead. Polls show Camejo as the leading candidate among four minor-party choices, with about 4 percent of voters' support. Both candidates hope to draw on disenchanted Democrats and the one-fifth of voters who say they are undecided.

When the sitting governor was not the target, the candidates' message differed widely in style and substance during the course of the 90-minute debate.

Simon opposes legislation that would grant driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants and force growers into mediation or binding arbitration with farm workers who want to unionize; Camejo supports both concepts. Camejo advocated universal health care. Simon said he favored incentives encouraging employers to provide insurance for workers.

Simon supports the death penalty; Camejo opposes it. Camejo supports abortion rights; Simon opposes abortion but said he would uphold current laws.

Simon advocated lowering the capital gains rate. Camejo advocated increasing taxes on "the upper end" and decriminalizing marijuana.

Both candidates said they opposed racial profiling.

During the debate, which included questions from a four-member panel and the audience, Camejo spoke loudly and offered specifics. Simon spoke calmly and often in generalities.

Asked how they would rebuild trust in government among disenfranchised minorities, for example, Simon said he would "set the right tone" and craft policies "providing opportunities for all of our people." Camejo said he wanted an administration "that's 50 percent women, that's 50 percent people of color."

Simon at first wavered on the question of whether he would support military action in Iraq, saying he lacked the information to make the call. Pressed by panelists, he said he would support President Bush in such intervention. "We need to unite around our president," he said.

Camejo criticized decades of U.S. foreign policy, saying the federal government had a history of supporting terrorist regimes in order to accomplish economic goals. He said he distrusted the motives behind an effort to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and feared U.S. military involvement would increase terrorism.

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About the Writer
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The Bee's Margaret Talev can be reached at (916) 326-5540 or mtalev@sacbee.com.