FW: Report from Camejo Campaign in California
Jose G. Perez
jg_perez at bellsouth.net
Sat Jul 12 13:34:44 MDT 2003
This email from the Camejo campaign was originally forwarded to a
Solidarity list serv, and I thought it would be of interest here.
On our debate, with Adam's latest point, I think we have pretty
thoroughly clarified our different takes on this, and yet one more
response on my part would simply be repetitive. Something similar could
be said about my parallel discussion with Eli and others.
I suggest we try to follow this Camejo/Green campaign in California
closely. The facts on the ground will help further clarify things.
José
* * *
UPDATE 7/10/03
Camejo Campaigns in the Latino Community
An AP story went out prior to our June 30th press conference announcing
that Peter would run again if the recall gets on the ballot. Papers
throughout California picked up the AP story.
Peter was immediately invited on a one hour talk show in the largest
Spanish language program in Los Angeles. The program host, Alicia
Alarcon, started the program by saying, "With us tonight is the man I am
going to vote for for Governor". In a shorter radio program in Spanish
in San Francisco, it became clear that the new support from the Latino
Community for the Green
Party is still there.
On June 19th this became even more clear as several hundred Mexican
American workers marched in San Jose including a large VOTE GREEN sign.
Monitors on the march went up and down the line shouting, "We must vote
for Camejo, Vote Green, the Party that defends us". At the march was
Senator Gilbert Cedillo, a hero to the activists in the battle for the
driver's license.
Cedillo, in front of radio, TV and newspapers said, "I have known Peter
for years and I respect and admire his efforts for our people." At the
end of the demonstration a large cheer went up from the demonstrators
when they were asked to support the recall and throw Davis out of
office.
On July 3 Peter visited with Lieutenant Governor Cruz M. Bustamante.
Attending the meeting were two members of Centro Azteca and Tyler
Snortum Phelps of the Green Campaign. Bustamante made it clear he
supports the driver's license and is also working to raise the minimum
wage. Peter invited Bustamante to join with him at the upcoming march in
Fresno for the driver's license. He thanked Bustamante for his efforts
behind those points that Greens and Bustamante agree on such as the
minimum wage issue and the driver's license. The meeting was amiable and
hopefully will lead to further discussions, especially should Bustamante
become governor. This could happen if Davis resigns under pressure of
low poll numbers.
CAMEJO MEETS WITH GREENLINING INTERNS
The Greenlining Institute, a non-partisan coalition of community groups
supporting people of color, engages in research around issues related to
specific communities. Peter, accompanied by Daniel Cabrera and Greg Jan,
met with about 20 of the Greenlining staff and interns. The interns
critiqued some of the figures and points Peter would be making in the
campaign and provided invaluable information on issues such as housing
and the impact of Proposition 13. The Greenlining Institute offers its
information and resources to help educate political figures from all
points of view.
PRESS CONFERENCE SHOWS WIDE SUPPORT GROWING FOR GREENS
Joining Peter at the June 30th press conference to formally announce the
Camejo for Governor campaign was a group of prestigious labor and
community leaders. One of the most exciting was a report from Caroline
Lund, a worker at the NUMMI Plant (General Motors and Toyota) in Fremont
California. Caroline explained how on March 13 Governor Davis gave NUMMI
a 6.4 million dollar gift of state funds, at the same time that he is
proposing cutbacks in education funding. After a press conference Davis
wanted to walk through the plant, but the workers booed his advance
people out of the plant as they shouted "You cut from education to make
gifts to corporations!"
The gift is supposedly for worker training. The management at NUMMI
actually makes workers sign a statement that they have received
training, when in fact there is no training. Caroline refused to lie and
sign the statement. Caroline is a Trustee of the UAW and in the most
recent union election got the second highest vote in the over
5,000-worker plant. The management
threatened to make her work Saturdays if she didn't sign. She refused.
At the press conference she explained how some union leaders try to make
it appear that all workers are Democrats, but that is not true. She
pointed out that many workers like her have started voting Green.
Also at the press conference was African American union leader Ron Dicks
from IFPTE Local 21. Ron spoke in support of comments by Donna Warren on
the issue of three strikes and the explosive growth of prisons. (Prisons
have gone from 3% of the budget to 12%).
Ed Rosenthal, probably the most famous fighter for medical marijuana,
was present to endorse Peter for his positions in the fight for a
rational policy towards drug addiction and to decriminalize marijuana.
Dr. Agha Saeed, President of the American Muslim Alliance, declared his
support for
Peter and the commitment to defend civil liberties for all. Chris
Kavanagh, an elected official from Berkeley, came to declare his support
for Peter, joining Matt Gonzalez the President of the San Francisco
Board of Supervisors who introduced Peter.
Peter presented two charts to show how the poor are taxed at a higher
rate than the rich and how the present deficit need not have happened at
all given the enormous surplus of income the State has received over the
last five years. KPFA did a great job in summarizing the press
conference and their report was played both the evening of June 30th and
the morning of July 1. Reports appeared in many major newspapers
including the San Jose Mercury News which repeated Peter's phrase
"political suicide pact", referring to the Democrats who have pledged
not to run, leaving only Camejo to stop the Republicans.
LOS ANGELES TIMES POLL
A detailed LA Times poll of July 2nd showed some rather interesting
figures for the Greens. If no Democrat runs, among independents and
those calling themselves "liberal", Peter at present is neck and neck
with Richard Riordon. Peter is at 18 and 19 percent of the vote in those
two categories, beating Schwarzenegger, Simon, McClintock and Issa and
just 1% and 3% behind
the front-runner Riordan. Among Democrats, Peter is only at 8%.
Democrats prefer Riordan, and Schwarzenegger over Peter but he is still
ahead of Simon, McClintock and Issa.
Among Republican voters Peter falls to the bottom of the list at 2%.
This poll shows the strength Greens have among liberal and independent
Californians. Peter's name recognition is higher than treasurer Phil
Angelides and is closing in on the level of Garamendi and Bustamante as
well as Republicans like Issa and McClintock.
If all the candidates being considered run, including many Democrats and
Republicans, Diane Feinstein walks away with the governorship at 25%,
double the support of Riordan and Schwarznegger who come in at 11%. All
other candidates including Camejo fall sharply to levels at 1% to 6%,
except for Simon who comes in fourth at 9%. Lockyer and Angelides, the
supposed
frontrunners of the Democrats for the nomination in 2006, average the
same support as Peter.
CAMEJO DEBATES REPUBLICAN
For almost an hour Peter debated Bill Simon on a major conservative talk
show out of Sacramento, the Eric Hogue show on KTKZ. Peter called for a
fair tax in which the poor do not pay more than the rich. He pointed out
that corporations today pay 7% of the tax revenues when 20 years ago
they paid 14%. Bill Simon said that was due to corporations leaving the
State of
California.
CAMEJO MEETS WITH DENNIS KUCINICH
Peter and congressman Dennis Kucinich, the progressive Democratic Party
presidential candidate, both spoke at the Sonoma County Health and
Harmony Festival. Afterwards Dennis and Peter had a chance to get to
know each other on the drive down to Marin where Dennis addressed a
couple hundred supporters of his campaign. Peter was welcomed for his
attendance at the rally. Peter explained that as a Green Party candidate
he will not endorse a candidate in another party's primary, but he
recognizes that Dennis has been a consistent supporter of our
Constitution and Bill of Rights, opposing the USA PATRIOT Act and has
supported many other issues crucial to the Green Party.
The host of the Kucinich rally reminded everyone that Peter will soon be
running for Governor again and that he deserves support. Kucinich
thanked Peter in his comments for his efforts in California.
FURTHER ACTIVITY
We will try to bring you updates by email on the developments of the
campaign. A mailing to over 2,000 campaign supporters just went out
asking for some initial funds to get the campaign going.
Please send donations to Camejo for Governor at PO Box 32102, Oakland CA
94605.
Thursday the 10th Peter will be in Fresno at a 5:00 p.m. march with the
Latino community. The march starts at Fulton & Tulare.
Our Southern California campaign will be co-chaired by Donna Warren, our
outstanding candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2002. Donna continues
to take the lead in the struggle to amend the cruel and unconstitutional
Three Strikes law. For further SoCal information email Donna Warren at
cottry at w... If you want to form a campaign committee in your area call
Tyler at 925-521-1330.
On July 13th Peter will speak at a gathering of Green Party activists in
Santa Rosa sponsored by the Green Party of California's Campaigns &
Candidates Working Group.
We are eagerly seeking a web-savvy volunteer to help us develop our
website and we are also looking for all kinds of volunteers for other
essential projects. Email tyler at v... if you are prepared to donate time,
especially during the day. Thank you.
Peter Camejo
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