There he goes again?
Democratic Congressman Pete Stark sent out a campaign mailer this week attacking "shady" developers who back his opponent in the 15th Congressional District, fellow Democrat and Dublin city councilman Eric Swalwell.
Sparks began to fly when Castro Valley realtor Otto Catrina found himself named in the mailer -- and called his lawyer to demand that Stark "correct the false statements" according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Catrina, a leading member of the California Board of Realtors, told the Chronicle: "I've never developed anything in my life."
Stark had to back down in the spring after Swalwell threatened legal action against some campaign attacks hurled by the incumbent.
The race has drawn national attention in part because the California primary process has been changed: in this election the two highest vote getters in the primary, Stark and Swalwell, are competing in the general election even though both identify as Democrats.
If Stark thinks ill of Catrina, the feeling is mutual.
When President Obama endorsed Stark before the June primary, Catrina left a comment on Patch: "What a joke. The President needs to do his homework ... Stark is useless and yes, 'Tired'. Swalwell has my vote!"
Have you followed the race? Which candidate has your support?
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http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/files/2012/10/Scan0004-2.gif So apparently Catrina's argument is that given that shady developers gave money to Swalwell, he's being defamed by Stark by being called a developer, when he is actually a realtor.
"He was caught on voice mail soliciting a maximum $5,000 campaign donation - from developers. In the phone call to Bob Glover, executive director of the California Building Industry Association's Bay Area chapter, Stark said, "I was in the home-building business years ago - a member of your association."' Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Stark-drops-another-election-bombshell-3962642.php#ixzz29mKwke5h Typical lying, slanderous, sexist, racist, homophobic, Fortney "Pete" Stark.
For me the question is, what do I rather have: 2 more years with Stark, who probably should have retired but will continue being one of the lone voices for human rights, or some young guy with no principles or values, who I then have to fight to get rid of in 2014? It's not a hard choice.
As Jesse Unruh said, if you can't take their money, drink their booze, eat their steaks and vote against them you shouldn't be in politics.
Seriously, where is he different? From his website: "raise taxes on the wealthy" "subsidize green energy" "abolish no child left behind" "spend more money on schools" "maintain Medicare" but "cut spending to doctors" (i.e. Obamacare) "raise social security taxes" "spend more money on mass transit" That's different from Fortney?
We need new blood in Congress and state and county offices. People stay in office for a long time and they forget why they are there. Their only real goal is to be reelected and not to represent citizens. I'll all for term limits on the national level. Representatives and Senators should not serve more than 8 to 10 years consecutively. They should be made to sit it out before running again.