Desperation Drives CA Gov. Gray Davis to Unprecedented Tatics

Eureka Times Standard ^ | June 9, 2003 | Tom Elias

[ewing]

Working with the public employee unions allied with CA Governor Gray Davis, the new pro-Davis group immediately hired the states leading initiative signature gathering firms to circulate a counter petition everywhere the recall petition carriers are working.

Signature sheets for the Pro Davis petition look just like a regular intitiative or recall signature sheet.

Pro-Davis workers oftern station themselves near Anti Davis carriers, who get 75 cents for every valid signature they turn in.

Most of the recall money comes from Republican Congressman Darrell Issa of Northern San Diego County, who plans to run as a potential Davis replacement if the recall qualifies as a vote.

Recall backers don't like the scene all this creates outside supermarkets and shopping centers. 'But we expected it to come down to hardball,' says Ted Costa, the intitial organzier of the recall drive. It has.'

The Davis people ask, 'Have you had a chance to sign the Davis petiton?' They leave the impression with people that they've signed the recall petition, so voters then decline to sign the real recall petition when it's offered to them because the think they have already signed,' Costa complains. 'I believe that is fraud. For sure it is gutter politics.'

[ewing]

Anyone have case law on this?

[AmericaUnited]

This is so easy to counter! Just explain to the people that that the Davis one is a fraud.

[ewing]

With shouting and bull horns if necessary..

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I am always suspicious when someone approaches asking me to sign their petition. I ask a lot of questions and frequently decline. I would hope people would be smart enough to inquire as to what they are signing before they sign.

P.S. I sent in my Recall petition weeks ago:-)

[Beck_isright]

"Anyone have case law on this?"

Yes, but it dates back to 1932 and the founding of the 3rd Reich.

[Dog Gone]

I doubt there is any case law.

If voters want to be idiots and sign something without reading it, I would be surprised if there's any legal recourse.

[ewing]

People will sign almost anything, if watching Jay Leno is any indication..

[DED]

The voters in Florida apparently VOTE without reading the ballot, so maybe that's the place to look for case law. I hear it caused a real stink a while back.... paging Al Gore!

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

You are probably right. I tend to be more cautious than most people I know.

[ewing]

But the Dims petition has no legal merit..

[breakem]

We need a petition to stop the chronic conflict of interest where unions give money to those with whom they negotiate their contract and those who vote for it.

[Dog Gone]

True, but it's not against the rules if there isn't a rule.

Is it gutter politics? Sure. Would it backfire if it were publicized? Yep.

Will the California media publicize these dirty tricks?

I doubt it.

[Pikachu_Dad]

Sure it does. The Dems petition has 2 merits.

1) If someone accidentally signs it, then they may neglect to sign the real petition.

2) If someone signs both, then they can use their petition to toss out the signature as being 'invalid'.

[StriperSniper]

Signature sheets for the Pro Davis petition look just like a regular intitiative or recall signature sheet.

Since this is a dims operation, they will probably recall PJB. ;-)

[lainie]

Red Davis: scum of the earth

[LaraCroft]

This is an outrage. Who is paying for this?

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"This is an outrage. Who is paying for this?"

Ultimately, if Davis retains his hold on office and taxes skyrocket to pay for his 36.4% three-year spending run-up and power pratfalls, you do.

[daviddennis]

I was watching the signature gatherer who was getting signatures for the real petition, and from what I could see, a lot of people would sign pretty much anything shoved in their faces, whether they understood it or not.

I read the petition, so I know I signed the genuine recall, but I can see this as a real problem.

D

[goldstategop]

It'll backfire on them. With all their dirty tricks, the Gray Davis machine can slow down a recall but they can't stop it. Its taken on a life of its own and its beyond the ability of anyone to control.

[BJungNan]

This is an outrage. Who is paying for this?

Very good question.