John Garamendi: Grow Where You're Planted
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There’s an old saying… “Grow where you’re planted.” Perhaps nowhere is that adage more apt than in the current John Garamendi CA-10 vs. CA-03 controversy.
When John Garamendi kicked off his campaign for the special election in CA-10, he unveiled an introductory video laying out his reasons for running. Unfortunately for Garamendi, who actually lives in CA-03, the video served to demonstrate just exactly how out of touch he is with CA-10. Watch the video for yourself and pay special attention to how Garamendi claims to have helped the residents of CA-10, first through passing legislation 30 years ago to pave the way for windmills on the Altamont Pass (sorry, that’s actually in CA-11, Jerry McNerney’s district) and then through his actions as Insurance Commissioner after the Oakland Hills fire (sorry, that’s actually in CA-09, Barbara Lee’s district).
Then, more recently, while speaking from the podium at the CDP convention, Garamendi referred to the special event where he formally announced his candidacy, talking about his visit to the unemployment office in Fremont (sorry, that’s in CA-13, Pete Stark’s district).
What’s become clear through all this is a) John Garamendi doesn’t seem to know where CA-10, the district he wants to represent in Congress, actually is; and b) he doesn’t seem very attuned to the problems and concerns of the people who live in the district.
But there’s a solution. Garamendi could, and should, try running in the district where he’s spent most of his life, the district where he lives, CA-03. Now, CA-03 has an honest-to-goodness bad guy Republican that needs to be sent packing, in the form of Dan Lungren. And John Garamendi seems like just the guy to do it. Indeed, there’s a Draft Garamendi movement that has sprung up in the last few weeks, and the message is being pushed out via an online petition, a facebook group, and twitter. And far from being a fly-by-night idea, this movement has been gaining a lot of traction, even in far-away Washington, DC. A recent article in the National Journal featured the notion that maybe John Garamendi is running in the wrong district, and an earlier article in Roll Call (subscription), made it clear that the Draft Garamendi movement is on the DCCC’s screen:
Andrew Stone, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said D.C. Democrats are aware of the movement to draft Garamendi into the 3rd district race, but would not comment further, except to say, “That district is one that we’re really paying close attention to.”
Now there’s a new YouTube video out with none other than John Garamendi himself speaking out on the need for a strong challenger to take on Dan Lungren.
X-posted from The Progressive Connection
14 comments:
5/02/2009 07:45:00 PM
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By Anonymous
5/02/2009 08:22:00 PM
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By babaloo
5/02/2009 09:21:00 PM
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By Anonymous
5/02/2009 11:21:00 PM
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By babaloo
5/03/2009 11:10:00 AM
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By Anonymous
5/03/2009 12:13:00 PM
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By EastBayDem
5/03/2009 12:46:00 PM
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By babaloo
5/03/2009 02:39:00 PM
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By Anonymous
5/03/2009 02:49:00 PM
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By Anonymous
5/03/2009 03:02:00 PM
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By babaloo
5/03/2009 04:19:00 PM
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By sean mykael
5/04/2009 02:45:00 PM
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By Anonymous
5/04/2009 08:47:00 PM
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By babaloo
5/13/2009 09:10:00 PM
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By JLWolff
Interesting point, however, the voters of CD10 are probably considering who can be an effective representative of their needs and concerns. If one of their concerns is health care access and affordability, then John's work as Insurance Commissioner will probably make him their pick. If one of their concerns is the environment, then John's work in DC as Deputy Secretary of Interior, the department responsible for federal lands, will probably make him their pick. If one of their concerns is jobs, then John's work on clean energy and as Chair of Commission of Economic Development will probably make him their pick. This election is about issues, pocket book matters. Can John deliver for the people of the 10th District? Better odds than most that he can.
You ask rhetorically, I assume, whether John can deliver for the people of the 10th District. Well, he'd have to be able to find them first.
Seriously, though, all of the points that you make about Garamendi and his prior work deal with generic issues that are equally as applicable to CA-03 as they are to CA-10 -- or CA-50, for that matter. There are specific local issues that concern many of the residents of CA-10; those are the ones that Garamendi and his supporters from outside the district aren't addressing. Likewise, I'm sure there are issues facing residents of CA-03 upon which an outsider would be hard-pressed to offer expertise but about which Garamendi is deeply knowledgeable. So why doesn't Garamendi put his experience to work in the district he understands, the one that actually needs him?
Listening to the video, John says "Altamont Hills" not "Altamont Pass." There is a difference between a highway and range of hills.
The people of the 10th are going to decide who they want to represent them. I believe people are going to look at their pocket book, look at the costs of the health care, the state of the environment and economy and ask which candidate can help for the better.
Looking at the choices, I think John is the only one with DC experience and the public policy prowess to help advance the issues of the people of the 10th District.
Um, are you a Garamendi staffer? Because only someone who knows nothing about the area would try to draw some sort of distinction between the "Altamont Pass" and the "Altamont Hills." But call it what you will, the windmills are still in CA-11.
Why don't you try addressing the questions that have been raised vis-a-vis CA-03 instead of regurgitating campaign talking points?
No, not a staffer. I know John and appreciate his work for students to fight fees and such. If you want to know who I am, I'm a student. So now I ask you, are you a staffer?
Only someone who actually listened to the video and didn't incorrectly post otherwise would know that. John said "Hills" not "Pass." You should fix your first post so it is accurate.
"Why don't you try addressing the questions that have been raised vis-a-vis CA-03 instead of regurgitating campaign talking points?"
Let's see, you only asked one.
Your one and only question: "So why doesn't Garamendi put his experience to work in the district he understands, the one that actually needs him?" Because that means you are asking him to wait until January 2011 to get to public policy work.
I don't live in CD 3 or CD 10; I live in the Central Valley.
However, Congress writes laws that are going to affect me and people I know. I support John because I know he'll have the peoples' interest in mind. Besides, and legally, someone doesn't need to live in the district they seek to represent.
Trying to inspire CD 10 controversy with the hope that people reject John and support the favorite son Mark is interesting. Keep it up.
This will be a pocketbook issues campaign. You and others may want to raise the "he doesn't live in the District" argument but connecting it to "don't vote for John" is going to be more difficult.
Again, this election is about issues, pocket book matters. Can John deliver for the people of the 10th District? Again, I would say better odds than most that he can.
Besides, if you care so much about getting a democrat in CD 3 why don't you run?
"Pocket book issues" sounds like a Garamendi talking point meant to distract from the fact there is already a candidate in this race who will address those core issues AND understands that unique needs of District-10. When Mark DeSaulnier works on global warming and climate change, he brings to the discussion an understanding of how transit works in Contra Costa and the housing challenges of the area. When he tackles health care, he brings the perspective of a County Supervisor who helped deliver care to thousands of constituents in need. John Garamendi has a great policy resume. But why not elect the person who gets policy and knows who he seeks to represent?
Anon:
Wow. That's just awesome. You live in the Central Valley, and you want John Garamendi elected to Congress in CA-10 so he can write laws that affect YOU and your friends. So you somehow think that you're entitled to TWO Congressional representatives?
Rather than telling your neighbors what you think they should do, perhaps your time would be better spent lobbying YOUR member of Congress on these issues which affect you and the people you know, and about which you so desperately care. Or better yet, maybe you could start a draft movement to get Garamendi to run in YOUR district.
Wow, is right. You ignored my question so I assume you are a staffer.
If I could have John be my representative. I would. He's gets the Valley, he gets California, he's gets national issues. Congress is the body that makes laws for all of us, me and my friends and your friends as well.
I feel entitled to sharing my opinion to everyone just like you do. Cross posting to LA Progressive serves what local purpose, right?
This whole subject of where one thinks John Garamendi should run is tiresome. He should run where he wants to run.
CD-10 will be available this year. CD-03 won't be available until 2010. Garamendi is doing the smart thing, and the same thing anyone of us would likely do in the same situation. If he runs and wins he's in Congress. Lose and he is still Lt. Gov. and can decide what he wants to do in 2010 - run for CD-03, run for Lt. Gov. again, get back in the Gov's race.
My take is that people are upset with him running in CD-10, not because they think he should run in CD-03, but because he is taking on someone they feel is threatened by a Garamendi candidacy, whether it be freshman Senator Mark DeSaulnier, or freshman Assemblymember Joan Buchanan, or the two lesser known candidates.
One argument I've heard is that Garamendi's base is in CD-03. That's simply not true. He has a lot of friends and support here, but he is Lt. Gov. of the state of California and former Insurance Commissioner. Last time I checked those were both statewide offices. I submit his base is the entire state.
For the record, I live in CD-03 where there are two declared candidates, Amerish Bera and Gary Davis and there is also the possibility of a third high profile candidate. I would love it if Garamendi decided to run here, but I respect the man enough to let him make his own decision.
Anon 1:
I am not a staffer for any candidate, and I did not cross-post to LA Progressive. I cross-posted here from my own blog, The Progressive Connection at Sean Mykael's request.
Anon 2:
I know, I know. The concept of having a Congress member actually live in their district is SO last year. Politicians should be able to do whatever they want to do to advance their career, without having to listen to those tiresome citizens they wish to "represent."
“the voters of CD10 are probably considering who can be an effective representative of their needs and concerns”
We keep hearing from Garamendi that the voters in the 10th have been asking him to run here. The problem is that I live in the 10th, I’m involved in with the clubs and engaged in the community, I also spent pretty much the entirety of last weekend’s convention asking activists in the 10th how they felt about Garamendi running in our district. Pretty much everybody I’ve spoken with agrees…Garamendi should be running in the 3rd…we’ve got the 10th covered by a number of great candidates.
“Can John deliver for the people of the 10th District?”
I’m sure he could. So could any of our other fine candidates. Garamendi could just as easily deliver in the 3rd, which would get rid of the Dan Lungren and give us two good Dems in congress
“John says "Altamont Hills" not "Altamont Pass." There is a difference between a highway and range of hills.”
I’m not sure what the hell this has to do with anything, but I live in Livermore and have for many, many years. Most people refer to that region with all of the windmills as the Altamont Pass…more commonly the area is referred to simply as “the Altamont.” The point remains…most of those Windmills are in McNerney’s turf in the 11th.
“If you want to know who I am, I'm a student. So now I ask you, are you a staffer?”
I think we’ve established that nobody here is a staffer. I can only speak for myself, but when it comes down to it, I haven’t even fully decided who I’ll be backing in the 10th. At the moment, I’m torn between a couple of the candidates. I’d like to hear more before I make that kind of decision. I was inspired by Howard Dean to get more involved in politics and am a huge proponent of his 50 State Strategy, which inspired many of us here in California to get going on our own 58 county strategy. John’s selfish run in the 10th goes against everything I stand for in that regard. This isn’t about one person… It’s about a movement. It’s the principle of the thing.
“that means you are asking him to wait until January 2011”
Oh No!? All the way until 2011?! That’s less than a 2 year wait for a job he’ll likely hold for the rest of his life if elected. Are we worried all the work on Health Care and Energy might be done by then? If it was, wouldn’t that be a good thing? I think the candidates we currently have running in the 10th could be just as effective on a number of local & federal issues. If we Garamendi were to run in the 3rd, we’d have even more firepower behind these issues…and no Dan Lungren doing everything in his power to prevent progress. Sorry, but his getting to work a year earlier than he could in the 3rd just isn’t a compelling enough argument for me. I think it’s kind of silly actually. Especially considering the fact that by running in the 10th, he is essentially going against his party’s wishes. I’m sure they’ll all be thrilled to work with him when he gets there…or not.
“ legally, someone doesn't need to live in the district they seek to represent.”
Obviously. Yet , the fact that John Garamendi is making up stories about his bedroom being in the 3rd while his porch is in the 10th, lead me to believe that he knows what he’s doing is wrong. Sure it’s legal, but why then in his first interviews and commercial does he feel the need to explain his housing situation? To lie about it on top of it just makes things all the worse. He makes it sound as if by soe fluke the boundry cuts through his property. That’s just not the case. Look for yourself. http://twitpic.com/4i1hv
“Congress is the body that makes laws for all of us, me and my friends and your friends as well.”
Correct…but there is a reason that the official name is “The House of Representatives” They are elected to represent their own districts and the specific needs & concerns of their constituents. I’ve seen Mark & Joan around the area for years and know they are accessible if I need to address my concerns about the district with them. Until, Garamendi decided he was running for Congress here, I’d never seen him around. Never ran into him at any local political event or seen him show up to a meeting of a Dem club. I hear him talking about windmills, and rising ocean levels and all he did for the Oakland Hills. Great. What about the transportation issues we face in the 10th? Foreclosures? The Education crisis? Jobs?
“Cross posting to LA Progressive serves what local purpose, right?”
Don’t be an idiot. Read the damn sentence if you’re going to make a snide remark…or I know…click on the link first and maybe you’d have some idea what you were talking about. The post was originally written for “Progressive Connection” which is an East Bay blog. I asked babaloo to post it here.
“My take is that people are upset with him running in CD-10, not because they think he should run in CD-03, but because he is taking on someone they feel is threatened by a Garamendi candidacy, whether it be freshman Senator Mark DeSaulnier, or freshman Assemblymember Joan Buchanan, or the two lesser known candidates.”
All I can tell you is that as far as I’m concerned, this is entirely not the case. As I explained before this is about what is better for the progressive movement as opposed to what is better for Garamendi. As a progressive activist I feel its my duty to stand up for Howard Dean’s 50 state strat by standing up for a 58 county strategy here in California. For me this isn’t about any one candidate. It’s about a larger principle of, More Dems...Better Dems...and sticking it to the the republicans in every district in the land. With an 18-19 point dem advantage in the 10th…we’ve got it covered. As a “Public Servant,” Garamendi would be doing everybody a favor by running in his home district against Dan Lungren. He is the one person I can see with an actual shot at beating him. Amerish Bera and Gary Davis? Vs Dan Lungren? Seriously?
And I’m the naïve one.
Funny.
Funny
Nobody actually attacks Garamendi for the work he has done; it seems no good deed goes unpunished. The "good democrats" that are so eager to use Garamendi to take out Lungren, consider him nothing more than some sort of weapon. Clearly they don't care too much about what he has chosen to do. Apparently working faithfully in public service for thirty years and championing progressive causes is not enough to earn the support of the supposed "progressives movement" in his decision.
Seems to me you are more eager to "stick it" to him then Lungren. Do you really think doing nothing but attacking him helps you in your noble cause? He is supposed to drop out and then announce for the third? Get a grip.
But that's exactly the point. CA-10 has one candidate who has worked faithfully in public service for 25 years and championed progressive causes within the district and another candidate who has 20 years of faithful, if less progressive, public service in the district.
If Garamendi is unwilling to listen to the "good Democrats" in CA-10 and CA-03 and use his impressive resume to challenge Dan Lungren in a race that would accrue to the benefit of all Democrats nationwide, how well does that speak to his ability to listen to his constituents? You see, some of us think that the phrase "public servant" actually refers to a willingness to serve the best interests and wishes of one's constituents, not merely to fulfill one's personal agenda.
So babaloo, are you implying that Garamendi's actions as Insurance Commissioner, Undersecretary of Interior, and Lt. Governor didn't help people in the district? Just because Garamendi has been a state and national figure doesn't mean his actions haven't helped us at home. Garamendi has been one of the strongest advocates for single payer, universal health care, an undeniably reliable environmentalist, and, as Anonymous 1 pointed out, the strongest voice Californian students have.
I am a CA-10 resident and I've been very active in local politics. I served for 2 years as the Youth Outreach Coordinator for the Lamorinda Democratic Club, worked to create the Contra Costa County Young Democrats (unfortunately that disappeared when I went to college), and was the volunteer coordinator for the 2006 Democratic Gala in Orinda to name a few things. Garamendi has support throughout the state but he has local support as well.
It surprises and disappoints me to see people who did such amazing work in CA-11 trying to discredit the opinions of people simply because they don't live in the district. We didn't live in CA-11 but we knew whoever represented it, whether it be Pombo or McNerney or Filson or Thomas, would have an impact on how our lives are run. Anonymous 1 is speaking up about a candidate he respects and admires who is running in a district that is not his own, just as you and I did for McNerney in 2006.
Finally, I find the promotion of "Draft Garamendi for California's 3rd Congressional District" here and on Calitics to be insincere at best. If this was an issue of finding the best person to run against Lungren, why did the "draft movement" only begin once it was clear that Garamendi was moving toward running in CA-10. You need look no further than the video on the front page to see that the "movement" has been co-opted by those less interested in finding a solid candidate in CA-3 and more interested in portraying Garamendi in a negative light. The video is edited like an attack ad. What benefit to drafting Garamendi does repeating Garamendi three times have unless your goal is to hurt his CA-10 chances?
We have five great candidates in a district that has not seen a competitive congressional election in quite awhile. We deserve this opportunity to have a good debate on the issues we face. So let's deal with the issues, not sideshow politics.
And in case the question comes up, I am not and never have been a Garamendi staffer but if the opportunity presents itself I would gladly become one.
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