Don't be Afraid!

Obama Picks up Another Delegate here in San Diego County

As of Friday there was 42,000 Absentee / Provisional ballots still to be counted by the County Registrar of Voters. There are still two weeks to finish the final counting and to certify the February 5th primary results. Since election night, however, some of the delegate totals statewide have shifted in the favor of Barack Obama.

According to the most recent results posted on the Secretary of State website, Senator Obama has now taken the lead in the 53rd CD by 443 votes over Senator Clinton. If his lead holds until final certification, the allocation of the districts 5 delegates will be 3 for Obama and 2 for Clinton. One more CD to keep an eye on is the 50th, where Clinton's lead has been narrowed to 556 votes over Obama. This is another 5 delegate district that would see a change in the delegate allocation in favor of Obama if there is a change in the final results.

California SEIU State Council Changes in Mid-Stream

California SEIU State Council, which represents over 650,000 members in California has changed their endorsement from former U.S. Senator John Edwards to U.S. Senator Barak Obama.

• What does this mean for Senator Edwards to have sway over the two remaining main Democratic candidates?
• Will a change of endorsement 4 days before the election make a difference, remember the absentee voters?
• Will there be mailers from the union, phone calls, precinct walks, or some thing else?
• What does U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, who will be in San Diego today, think about this endorsement?

Top Three Dem Pres Candidates Looking at TV Buys in California

Via the California Majority Report:

The three top contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination are making inquiries of television stations to purchase commercial time -- yet another indication that the decision to move up the California Presidential Primary was a smart one for California voters.

Media buyers have confirmed to the California Majority Report that the Clinton and Obama camps have contacted cable networks throughout the state for rates and specs for television advertising. The Edwards campaign is looking at the bay area and sac media markets only, according to the buyers.[Link]

I'm actually suprised that they have waited this long to go on the air here in California. I know the state is very expensive, but the first absentee ballots go out in the mail two weeks from Monday.

Dolores Huerta in San Diego this Sunday Morning to Support Hillary Clinton

Holidays with Hillary

Featuring Special Guests: Dolores Huerta & Assemblymember Mary Salas

Join friends, family, and local community leaders to make phone calls on behalf of Hillary Clinton and enjoy food, drinks and the company of friends during the holidays.

Sunday, December 23, 2007
10:00am – 12:30pm
Home of Bea Fernandez
261 Twin Oaks Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910[Map]

Please consider bringing clothing, a book, or a gift card to be donated to a local charity.
RSVP to SanDiegoHRC@HillaryClinton.com or call 213-908-0190

Union Busters Fabiani and Lehane Don't Come Cheap

According to San Francisco Chronicle, Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane are making $100,000 per month for their union busting activities on behalf of the studios. The both of them have ties to the Clintons, and Hillary Clinton has supported the writers during the strike. I'm still waiting for someone to find out where she stands regarding the work both Fabiani and Lehane are doing. Or is she looking the other way, much like she has done with her chief strategist Mark Penn, who has his own history of anti-union work.

There is also a blog to keep track all of Chris Lehane's union busting activities.[Link]

Kehoe, Atkins Among Members of Hillary Clinton's California LGBT Steering Committee

Earlier this week, Hillary Clinton announced the formation of her California LGBT Steering Committee. It's Chaired by Senator Sheila Kuehl and includes among its 100+ members San Diego Senator Christine Kehoe and Councilwoman Toni Atkins. The press release touts:

Hillary has been a longtime ally of the LGBT community. She fought against the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) both times and has worked on legislation that would promote equality for LGBT Americans.

It also goes on to note that she has publicly stated she would repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell and other positions. But as Paul Hogarth found out at YearlyKos, Clinton remains a fan of the Defense Of Marriage Act:

Defense of Marriage: DOMA, passed in 1996 when Bill Clinton wanted to deprive Bob Dole of a campaign issue, allows states not to recognize an out-of-state gay marriage. "DOMA served a very important purpose," she said. "I was one of the architects in the strategy of fighting the 2004 Marriage Amendment, and DOMA gave us a bright line to be able to pull back the votes."

So color me still perplexed by the LGBT support for Clinton, which certainly appears to be widespread. I can appreciate that Bill Clinton was the closest thing to an ally that the community has had in the White House in more than 25 years, so there's some (admirable) loyalty involved. And she is (thankfully) in favor of changing DOMA to allow federal recognition of state unions. But when she spoke to the Human Rights Campaign earlier this year, she wanted as little publicity as possible, and she still isn't budging on DOMA. So what makes her a better potential champion for LGBT issues as compared to other candidates?

Barack Obama caused a major kerfluffle a month ago by inviting popular homophobe and gospel singer Donnie McClurkin to perform at a campaign event. Big flag there. But he then turned around and condemned Rev. McLurkin's beliefs on homosexuality in no uncertain terms and spoke strongly about supporting the same LGBT issues that Hillary Clinton's press release mentions while also calling for the full repeal of DOMA. That part, at least, seems better.

John Edwards, like Clinton, supports repealing the part of DOMA "that prevents the federal government from recognizing same-sex relationships." He voices strong opposition to any discrimination based on sexual orientation and while he's still not sure about marriage, is all for civil unions just like Clinton and Obama.

So I guess that I don't see all that much daylight between the three leading contenders. Or at least, not enough that would spark a stampede towards Hillary Clinton's corner. I'm more than willing to have this explained to me and would actually appreciate some sort of explanation now that two of San Diego's leading LGBT political figures have joined up with team Hillary. It just seems like an oddly un-progressive choice for a generally very progressive community with generally very progressive issue priorities.

Like Lane Hudson said at HuffPo a few months ago, if the value of DOMA was as a tool to defeat the Federal Marraige Amendment, and the FMA is now dead, then hasn't DOMA run its course? Why would anyone- within the LGBT community or not- even accept this as something for debate? And why would they so overwhelmingly and enthusiastically line up for someone who isn't even on the correct side of that debate?

Democratic Consultants Fabiani and Lehane to work against Writers Union

This afternoon the LA Times reported that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have brought in three political consultants to assist them in the public relations battle with the striking Writers Guild of America.[Link] Democratic consultants Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane, together with Republican consultant Steve Schmidt were retained by the Alliance to shore up its public image.

The advisors will take over the role of Barbara Brogliatti, who has been guiding the group's public relations strategy for much of the last 25 years. The former Warner Bros. executive recently stepped down from her day-to-day role, though she will remain as senior advisor to the group, which has been locked in contentious contract negotiations with writers over pay for new media.

The move reflects a concerted push by the alliance to take a more aggressive approach in its public relations after polls conducted by Pepperdine University, Fox News and SurveyUSA showed widespread public support for the writers, now in their fifth week of a strike.[Link]

Republican Steve Schmidt, prior to working for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as his 2006 campaign manager, held a high position in the Bush White House, "including serving as the lead strategist on the confirmations of John G. Roberts Jr. and Samuel A. Alito Jr. to the Supreme Court."[Link]

Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane have a long history working for Democrats. They served as senior aides and advisors to both President Clinton and Vice President Gore. In 2004 they were both strategist to General Wesley Clark during his presidential campaign.

For the last several years Fabiani has been working for the San Diego Chargers in their attempt to convince taxpayers to pay for a new stadium for the team.[Link] Lehane on the other hand has played the role of "freelance political pundit" quoted occasionally in print and appearing on television. He has also played the unofficial attack dog role for Clinton campaign.[Link]

That two very prominent Democratic consultants are working against a labor union in a high profile strike is extremely troubling. The fact that both have close ties to the Clinton political machine, someone should ask the Clinton campaign if they support Fabiani and Lehane in their present efforts?