I watched the debate between Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and his three opponents the other day. I had heard about his Democratic opponent, Debbie Cook. But I was not familiar with the other candidates, Libertarian Ernst Gasteiger and Green Party nominee Thomas Lash.
If anything, Gasteiger and Lash were far more impressive than Cook, who appeared to be reading from notes. Gasteigher and Lash knew what they wanted to say and they tore into Rohrabacher like a pair of well-spoken pit bulls. It was awesome to watch.
So who are these guys?
Lash is a teacher with a Masters in Education. He knows his stuff. HIs big issues are stopping our current wars; halting off-shore oil drilling and healthcare. You may read more about his issues at this link.
Gasteiger works as a Production Manager at a manufacturing company. He is a past business owner. His big issues are balancing our federal budget, reducing government and restoring privacy. You may read more about his positions at this link.
Not to detract from either Tom or Ernst’s accomplishments in the debate (or elsewhere), but I do know from personal experience that it’s much easier to “let loose,” when I know there’s nothing to lose. Debbie’s got a lot at stake; how long has it been since anyone’s gotten this close to Dana?
Gosh this is the first I have heard of these candidates. Mayor Cook has been working hard for the past 8 years serving her community. I suggest they learn from her and get their names out there if they are serious.
CJ
My wayward Green friend Tom Lash certainly did “tear into Dana like a well-spoken pit bull.” And the whole time Dana smiled and referred to “my good friend Tom.” It took me a couple of days to realize that from Dana’s point of view, the more aggressively Tom would attack Dana, the more votes Tom would hopefully take from the more measured and substantive Debbie, who is Dana’s real (and only) worry. This brought up uncomfortable memories of all the reports I’d heard (and not blogged about) that Tom’s money to get on the ballot came not from the Green Party (many of whom are backing Debbie) but from Republicans.
Ernst, on the other hand… a pit-bull? Well, we all have a little Libertarian coursing through our veins, but… Ernst’s answer to every single question was exactly the same: Less Federal Government. Get the Federal Government out of the way. Sometimes the answer made sense. Sometimes it really didn’t.
I totally support you guys backing third parties in the Presidential race in California this year, since there’s no way that will help McCain. But the 46th Congressional race, as close as it is, and as drastic the difference is between Dana and Debbie… we don’t have that luxury!
Vern: I am not endorsing Lash or any candidate, but I’m very disappointed in your smear of Lash. You should either back it up or just apologize. Why should you care anyway when the Democratic Party, not the Green Party which refuses all corporate money, is controlled by the same right-wing interests as the Republican Party as whole? This silly little smear is just the Democratic Party’s way of saying that nobody has the right to run in elections except Democrats and Republicans. What Republican conspiracy could be more effective than yours, which is to eliminate the opposition party and democracy itself? Instead, try advocating for instant run off voting. That’s what you and other Democrats and Republicans would do if you REALLY wanted to save this country.
From the Orange Coast Voice blog.
If you didn’t see it, are you wondering if press and web accounts were accurate representations of the debate between 46th Congressional candidates that occurred on Oct. 21? Click the following link to the Orange Coast Voice blog to hear for yourself.
http://Www.ocvoice.wordpress.com/2008/10/27/listen-to-the-46th-congressional-district-debate/
The four candidates in the 46th Congressional District race debated each other on Oct. 21 at Orange Coast College to an audience of several hundred people. The candidates are Debbie Cook (Democrat), Ernst Gasteiger (Libertarian), Tom Lash (Green Party) and the incumbent, Dana Rohrabacher (Republican). You can hear the candidates’ opening statements and answers to 7 of the 8 questions asked.
Debbie looked like a deer in the headlights. Sorry, but Dana looked much more composed and confident despite Debbie’s proximity in the polls (Steve Greenhut says Dana is ‘running scared’) and even if I don’t always agree with his policies, I have to admit that he did well, and so should you all. Congratulate the man for a job well done and take aim at his record. That’s how you’re going to beat him, not by wasting time spinning a truly lackluster performance by Debbie here.
SMS
SMS. Debbie did seem a little uncomfortable that day, but where do you get that Dana “did well?” Just because he was aggressive and smirked a lot? Most of the audience (except for his little group of followers up front with their tiny flags) didn’t seem to think he did well. He twisted almost everything around to be about the “illegals” (like he always does.) His arguments in favor of Prop. 8 and eliminating same-sex marriage made no sense at all and didn’t really seem heartfelt, but like he was reluctantly toeing the Cal GOP line. And he harped on and on about Debbie not answering the bailout question, when it was clear that she was a reluctant supporter of it – like most of Congress on both sides who had taken time to study the issue. If anyone did well it was Tom – probably because he had the freedom of nothing to lose.
OK, John, I will back up those reports that I passed along; though not with much enthusiasm. I was just trying to put into context Tom’s spirited attacks on Dana, and Dana’s evident enjoyment of them. I’ll find the exact names and figures of the Republicans who helped Tom get on the ballot (or else apologize.) But you can’t be saying that there’s not a long history of this sort of thing across the country, can you? Republicans helped Nader in many states in 2000 for example.
Then here’s a REAL strawman:
This silly little smear is just the Democratic Party’s way of saying that nobody has the right to run in elections except Democrats and Republicans. What Republican conspiracy could be more effective than yours, which is to eliminate the opposition party and democracy itself?
That sure isn’t anything I ever did or said! I’ve been a Green and may very well be one again, once we’re done driving a wooden stake into these Bushies’ hearts.
Vern:
Ok, I can’t wait for the evidence. Until you had it, you shouldn’t have said it. That’s way below the standards you had as an OC Voice columnist, I would like to point out. If your claims are true, they should be substantiated by records of campaign contributions which Lash would have to keep in accordance to the law. A rumor is not a “report.” Documentation is a report. Do you have it? We shall see.
No, there’s not a “long history” of “that sort of thing” happening around the country, but I really don’t care if a few Republican contributors gave to Nader’s campaign and he accepted those contributions in 2004 because 1) Republicans have a right to make campaign contributions (which were a small portion of the overall contributions anyway); 2) it was NOTHING percentage wise or in total dollars compared to the right-wing fascist contributions regularly sought and accepted by the Democratic Party as a whole; 3) Nader has far more credibility fighting against Republican causes than ANY elected Democrat ANYWHERE in the USA–including Kucinich; 4) in 2004 the Democratic Party launched one of the biggest attacks ever against the right of people to run for office and vote in this country for the candidate of their choice by trying to keep Nader off the ballot by bankrupting him with absolutely frivolous challenges and lawsuits, using TOTAL fraud and dirty, illegal tricks in doing so; and, 5) any party that does that (and then also allows Republicans to rob whole elections from from it) sounds crazy claiming a Republican conspiracy with the Greens or Nader. The real conspiracy is between the Democratic Party and Republican Party.
Well, it looks like my friends – two mutual friends of mine and Tom – told me wrong or exaggerated. Most of the money that helped Tom get on the ballot was loans from two gentlemen who don’t want to be known but are not Republicans. So I take it back, about Tom.
But it’s not an uncommon phenomenon, Republicans welcoming and helping a Green as a “spoiler” candidate, and I can see rationalizing any contribution that helps the Green “get out their message.” AND it’s still true that if we don’t all unite behind Debbie we’ll end up with two more years of one of the worst incumbents in DC representing us.
http://www.democracynow.org/2006/10/25/green_politics_pennsylvania_greens_take_gop
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E3DB133AF93AA25754C0A9629C8B63
(granted, when Nader was no longer running as a Green)
This is a little different but interesting:
http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/10/are-republicans-infiltrating-arizonas-green-party/
and here’s a case of Greens rejecting GOP money; maybe it is an ongoing source of controversy in the GP:
http://www.gp.org/press/pr_08_10_01.html
I agree about the need for Instant Runoff Voting, we should start pushing for that after this election.
Vern: You shouldn’t just “take it back,” you should apologize. You accused somebody without evidence, now be a “man” and just apologize. What you did was flat out wrong, not just an error. You got carried away in your zeal (“crush”) to elect Debbie Cook and made an accusation that was untrue, unfair and shouldn’t have been made–just like the smears that Rohrabacher has made about Debbie.
John Earl
I apologize then. Damn pajaritos, as Art would call them…
That’s better! Also, good that you finally voice a peep about the need for real democracy (instant run off voting). Now, if you can just get over your (very strongly implied) belief that it’s okay for Democrats to use every dirty trick in the book to keep Greens off the ballot (you NEVER criticize that, do you?) and focus on the REAL intra-party conspiracy, which is between the Democrats and the Republicans, then we would be getting somewhere.
John Earl
FYI,
To my knowledge I have not received one dollar from any republican. I would have taken though it to be honest. As a Green I will take money from any interested individual but not from any PAC, Union, Corporation or business….only human beings. Many of my most ardent supporters are ex-republicans. The two gentlemen that “saved” the Lash campaign were both Greens and both are active in local Green organizing. They stepped up to the plate when we needed to cover the registration fees when our signature gathering campaign ran short. We needed $1000. I asked them and they happily supplied it. I am grateful. We ran an impressive campaign and if applause were any indication of the interest of the audience, we came out on top of the OCC debate. The Libertarian candidate and myself were the only congressional candidates at the Garden Grove Candidate forum put together by the Korean community. Both Dana and Debbie were absent. We need a congressional representative that will fight for us. We need someone that will end the war in Iraq and Afganistan and return our troops home so we can get on with the business of rebuilding our own country. Debbie has not shown that she will fight for this issue. She has been absent in the City Council meetings on this issue and she has been absent in the streets where real change happens. I am the only veteran running in this campaign and I feel we need someone with military experience in this time of endless war. Please, vote your hopes and not your fears.