AHnold Splits Common Cause

Posted on October 19, 2005 in California Watch

Common Cause National Director Chellie Pingree didn’t do her homework when she rushed to San Jose a few days ago to shine in the bright light with AHnold and endorse Proposition 77, a stealth attempt by the Gubenator to build a Republican legislature which obeys his wishes. This is the man who, after all, told an interviewer that he liked the idea of having absolute power. Pingee wants to hand it to him, evidentally.

Pingree, after Monday’s event with the governor, said Prop. 77 is not a perfect proposal, but it provides a way to move forward on redistricting changes, a core issue for Common Cause for the past 30 years. “We can’t let the perfect become the enemy of the good,” she added.

While she conceded that the pragmatic attitude isn’t playing well in California, where Common Cause members have butted heads with Schwarzenegger on a number of issues, Pingree and the national board decided to endorse Prop. 77 regardless of complaints from California members.

Personally, I think this “a fist works almost as well as a hammer when it comes to nails” approach does not sound pragmatic to me. If Common Cause wants to promote redistricting reform, it should work with its California membership to draft an appropriate law. Other electoral reforms have proved disastrous: term limits, for example, has filled the legislature with anti-service political hacks who push their single issues knowing that they will not be accountable to any one during their second term.

This maneuver, like any other Schwartzeneggar approves, should be viewed with the utmost suspicion. When Schwartzeneggar talks about People Over Politics what he really means is his cabal of people over the politics which includes everyone. Through this clever truncation of democratic principle to a phrase that can be fitted on a banner, AHnold hopes to do an end run around the conscience of the state.

I have heard a better slogan: Nix the First Six. Hold that to your heart when you go to vote in three weeks.

As for Chellie Pingee, she needs to face up to her addiction for B-grade Hollywood movie stars and put the people of California first. If her state organization does not like this measure, she should be asking “What could we have instead?”

Thanks to Shari for the link.