Posted on 10/16/2004 11:01:25 AM PDT by LeoTanner2
Zellhoefer is a moderate Republican, and Simitian is a radical Democrat
Jon Zellhoefer, the candidate for the 11th State Senate District, is a moderate Republican because he adopts part of the Democratic Party's philosophy. Joe Simitian is a radical Democrat because he supports most of the beliefs of the Democratic Party.
Over all, Jon Zellhoefer is a moderate republican because he would create a friendlier business environment and require people to be self reliant; however to accomplish that, he would support some government programs. Also, to improve education and get away from big government, he would promote government funding going to private schools.
Simitian has one of the most liberal records in Sacramento. What is shocking about his record is that it is extremely lopsided toward liberal issues. He almost always supports the AFL-CIO's, NOW's, the environmental advocacy group the California League of Conservation's, and the homosexual advocacy group Equality California's preferred positions. He almost never (if ever) supports the California National Federation of Independent Business, Gun Owners of California, and the anti-abortion group Life Priority Network. He voted for the illegals' drivers license bill that Governor Schwarzenegger just vetoed, and Simitian voted against the final state budget. Additionally, he almost always votes against business's interests. It is clear that he is one of the anti-business obstructionist legislators that have caused not much job growth, despite a growing economy (see the article "Unions and tax cuts have creating a growing economy without much job growth"). His political philosophy is clearly that big government can solve all problems and that business is the cause of all problems (especially small business). He supports higher taxes and more government spending, anti-business legislation and business regulation, unlimited illegal immigration, gun control, organized labor, radical feminism, and animal rights. He also supports marijuana use, state control of the family, socialist housing, environmental laws, homosexual rights, and expanding state run social programs.
Like in the case of Zollhoefer and Simitian, if you look at the records and philosophies of Republicans or Democrats, you will find that they have a philosophy that is rooted deeply into the United States’ past. The modern United States' state and federal governments operate by implementing some of the philosophies of the Democratic and Republican Parties. Since they rarely agree on any issue, the laws that the legislatures pass are a compromise between the Democratic and Republican Parties' philosophies.
The Republican core beliefs are that government should be limited, that private enterprise should accomplish most tasks, and the power of government should come from the individual. They also believe that religion should take an important part in American's lives and that Americans should have the freedom to worship as they please. However, this is contingent on them not violating the core principles of Christianity. This core philosophy comes from the original founders of the Unites States. However, the Republican Party was established much later.
The Republican Party came out of the anti-slavery movement, which resulted in moderate abolitionist Republican Abraham Lincoln's election and the end of slavery. This early beginning has created a party that historically has championed equality: the first woman state governor and first woman United States Supreme Court Justice were Republicans. So, extreme Republicans want no taxes, only limited government programs, equality, a Christian based society, and almost all local government. The modern Democratic Party's beliefs are very different.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Franklin Roosevelt won the presidency by adopting most of the Communist and Socialist Parties' platforms, which says that government should hold the power and distribute it to the individuals. The state owns all the property and is the solution to all social problems. In the Communist model, the workers take over the government in a violent revolution and establish themselves as the ruling class. There are no elections, and their Communist Party chooses all the leaders.
Besides the core Democratic beliefs, there are other wedge issues that have been historically part of the Communist and Democratic Parties' core beliefs: abortion, atheism, sexual promiscuity, women's and minority equality, and homosexuality. The Democrats adopted the platform of affirmative action after the Democratic Johnson and Kennedy Administrations outlawed southern Jim Crow laws. Besides Communism, the Democrats have a strong Mafia influence.
The close relationship between the Mafia and unions has created a close Mafia relationship with the Democratic Party because of the unions' close relationship with Democrats. Also, the Mafia's early bootlegging and their support of the repeal of Prohibition has created a heavily Mafia influenced Democratic Party. This close relationship with the Mafia means that Democratic run government programs are plagued by the Mafia's traditional activities: illegal drugs, prostitution, theft, extortion, fraud, etc. From the crack and heroin addicts that hung out on University Avenue when Joe Simitian was mayor to fraudulent union practices on US submarine construction to drugs in public schools, the Mafia is always a corrupting influence. So, the modern Republicans want equality. The extreme Democrats are going for supremacy of women and minorities: especially white women. At the core of their belief system, Democrats want big corrupt government run social programs, unions, and big corrupt heavily regulated businesses.
Jon Zellhoefer's positions on issues The following analysis of Jon Zellhoefer is based on a questionnaire he filled out for Project Vote Smart. An analysis of his opponent Joe Simitian is also included.
State Budget Over all, Zellhoefer has moderate Republican fiscal beliefs. He would slightly increase transportation and highway infrastructure spending, maintain funding for education, and slightly decrease health care and law enforcement funding. He would decrease spending for environment, welfare, and other categories. He did not indicate what he would do with prisons.
Taxes Over all, Zellhoefer has moderate Republican tax beliefs. He would maintain the same level of income, property, capital gains, inheritance, and alcohol taxes. He would slightly decrease vehicle, corporate, gasoline, sales, and cigarette taxes. He does not think that Internet sales should be taxed. He would support laws that keep jobs in California: including workers compensation reform and legal gambling. Employment
Over all, Zellhoefer has moderate Republican employment beliefs. He supports increased funding for state funded displaced workers' retraining and essential job market skills training programs and reduced state regulation on private business to encourage investment and economic expansion. He would provide low-interest loans and tax credits to start, expand, and relocate businesses.
He does not support establishing a living wage standard for state employees and state contractors, establishing sexual orientation discrimination law suits, providing tax credits to businesses that provide child care, or increasing state funded child care for low-income working families.
Environmental and Energy Issues Over all, Zellhoefer has moderate Republican environmental views. He supports promoting increased use of alternative fuel technology and traditional domestic energy resources: coal, natural gas, and oil. He supports a bond that would finance construction of a high-speed train between LA and the Bay Area. He does not support using state funds to clean-up contaminated sites, reducing in greenhouse gas emissions, or banning drilling for oil and gas in California Coastal waters. He also would not increase funding for open space preservation, or enact environmental regulations---even if they are stricter that federal laws.
Education Over all, Zellhoefer has moderate Republican views on education. He supports national standards and testing for public schools, vouchers to send children to public or private schools (including religious), teacher testing and merit pay, public schools administered high school exit examinations, and funding for multilingual education. He does not support increased state funding for improving buildings and infrastructure, increasing teachers' salaries, Head Start, and hiring additional teachers. Also, he does not support providing state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable. Also, he does not support endorsing voluntary prayer in public schools and sex education programs that teach: abstinence, contraception, and HIV/SD protection. Finally, he does not support abstinence only sex education.
Affirmative Action Over all, Zellhoefer has radical Republican affirmative action. He does not support state agencies taking into consideration race, ethnicity or gender when considering government functions: college and university admissions, public employment, and state contracting.
Welfare and Poverty Over all, Zellhoefer has moderate Republican views on welfare. For able-bodied welfare recipients, Zellhoefer supports increasing work requirements and funding for employment and job training programs. He supports access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work. He would also redirect welfare funding to faith and community based private organizations, and he would limit benefits given to welfare recipients who have additional children while on welfare.
He would not eliminate government funded welfare programs. However, he would cut current spending levels for affordable housing. He also does not support Federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families' funds being spent to extend health and child care subsidies to the working poor. Finally, he does not support marriage promotion programs for welfare recipients.
Health Issues Over all, Zellhoefer has moderate Republican health issues views. He supports citizens' access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms or state funded care when necessary. He supports limiting punitive damages awards in medical malpractice lawsuits. He also supports patients' rights to appeal to an administrative board when denied health care by their HMO. He supports stem cell research on existing lines and allowing laboratories to create new lines.
Government Reform Over all, Zellhoefer has moderate Republican to radical views on government reform views. Zellhoefer supports providing human services to legal immigrants and their children. He does not support gay marriage.
Abortion Over all, Zellhoefer has moderate Republican abortion views. He supports eliminating public funding for abortions and organizations that advocate or perform abortions. He supports stem cell research on existing lines and allowing laboratories to create new lines.
Crime Over all, Zellhoefer has moderate Republican crime issues views. He supports job training for inmates, implementing punishment other than incarceration for non-violent offenders, decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and increasing funding for community centers and social agencies in areas with at-risk youth. Also, he supports prosecuting minors as adults for violent crimes, ending parole for repeat violent offenders, and the death penalty. He does not support increased funding for prison construction and hiring additional prison staff, strengthening penalties for drug related crimes, or amending the three-strike law.
Guns Over all, Zellhoefer has moderate Republican gun views. He would ease state restrictions on gun purchases and possession. He would allow Citizens to carry concealed guns. He would require manufactures to provide child-safety gun locks and background checks on gun sales between Citizens. He would establish a ballistics finger prints database to trace guns used in criminal activity. He does not support maintaining and strengthening the enforcement of existing state restrictions on purchase and possession of guns. He would not repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns or require a license to possess a gun.
Assemblyman Joe Simitian's positions on issues Despite requests from several prominent politicians, Assemblyman Joe Simitian refused to fill out the Project Vote Smart NPAT questionnaire; however, he has a voting record and special interest groups' ratings.
Assemblymen Simitian is extremely liberal.
In 2003 and 2001, he voted for the California Republican Assembly's preferred position only 5% and 3% of the time. On the other hand in 2002, he voted for the liberal California Pubic Interest Research Group's position 100% of the time.
Simitian supports higher taxes and more government spending. Despite Governor Schwarzenegger's massive budget compromises into the liberal Democratic position, Simitian still voted against this year's final state budget bill SB 1113. Also, he rarely supports the California Taxpayers Association. In 2003 and 2002, he supported their preferred position only 10% of the time.
Simitian supported anti-business legislation and business regulation. In 2003, 2002, and 2001; he voted for the California Chamber of Commerce's preferred position only 11%, 7%, 33% respectively. In 2001 and 2002, he always voted against the California National Federation of Independent Business's preferred position. On the Southern California based BIOCOM, he supported their preferred position only 43% of the time. BIOCOM represents 450 companies in developing the life sciences industry. Its pro-business and jobs record is reflected in Burton's 13% support record and McClintock 100% support record. However in 2002, Simitian did show stronger support for Silicon Valley business. He voted 71% for the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group.
Simitian is for business regulation. On business regulation, he voted for the Alliance of Better Business's preferred position 88% of the time in 2002 and 92% in 2001. In 2002, he voted for the Consumer Federation of California's preferred position 93% of the time. In 2002 through 2003, he voted for Jericho's preferred position 92% of the time. In 2002, he voted a 95% voting record. Jerico is a liberal Catholic based organization that advocates for low income Catholic immigrants and illegal immigration. Some of this advocacy includes forcing business to pay for social programs. As an indication of their political philosophy, Liberal Democrat John Burton voted for their position 100% of the time in 2003-2002. Conservative Republican Tom McClintock voted 15%.
Simitian is for unlimited illegal immigration. In the last days of this legislative cycle, he and other liberals approved assembly bill AB 2895, which could have granted driver's licenses to illegal immigrants; however, Governor Schwarzenegger has just vetoed it. As stated above, Simitian strongly supported Jerico.
Simitian is for gun control. In 2003, he never supported the Gun Owners of California's preferred position. In 2002, they gave him an F- rating. In 2002, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund gave him a C+ rating. Also in that year, the California Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence endorsed him.
Simitian is for organized labor. In 2003 and 2002, he voted 100% for the California Labor Federation: AFL-CIO's preferred position. In 2001, he voted 97%. In 2002, the California State University teachers' union ---The California Faculty Association--- endorsed him. They are extremely left leaning and endorsed only one Republican California state legislator: Assemblyman Tom Harman.
Simitian supports radical feminism and abortion. In 2003, he voted for the California National Organization for Women's preferred position 100% of the time. In 2002, they endorsed him. In 2001, they gave him a score of 103 out of 100, which included 5 extra points for sponsoring pro-Now bills. In 2002 and 2001, Simitian supported the American Association of University Women of California's preferred position 100% and 97% of the time. They support abortion and female supremacy and are against school vouchers and funding the United States Military. Simitian is for abortion because he rarely supports the Life Priority Network, and he has a 100% support record for Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. In 2003, 2002, and 2001; he supported the Life Priority Network's preferred position only 3%, 0%, and 5% respectively. They advocate for the elimination of abortion.
Simitian is for the state's control of the family. In 2003, he voted 96% of the time for the Children's Advocacy Institute. In 2001 and 2002, he supported it 100% of the time. As an indicator of their politics in 2003, Tom McClintock voted for their preferred position 30% of the time. John Burton voted 100%.
Simitian supports almost all environmental issues. In 2003 and 2002, he supported the California League of Conservation Voters' position 100% of the time. In 2001, he supported their preferred position 93% of the time. In 2001 to 2002, he supported the California Park and Recreation Society's preferred position 94% of the time.
Simitian is for animal rights. In 2003 and 2001, the PAW PAC gave him an A- and an A+ respectively. In 2002, Simitian voted for their preferred position 100% of the time.
Simitian is for radical socialism because he is for public housing and expending the Social Security system to include everyone. In 2002 through 2003, he voted for the homeless and low income advocacy group Housing California's preferred position 93% of the time. As an indication of their politics in 2003-2002, Burton voted 100% for their preferred position. McClintock voted 8% for their preferred position. As stated above, Jerico is also a strong Simitian supporter. Simitian is for expanding the present Social Security system. In 2002 and 2001, he voted for the Congress of California Seniors' preferred position 88% and 100% of the time. They are a liberal leaning organization as indicated by Burton's and McClintock's voting records. Burton voted their preferred positron 100% of the time. McClintock voted 18%. Besides advocating for expanding the Social Security system, they support a universal single payer health care system for everyone, SSI benefits for non-citizen seniors that do not qualify for Social Security, and business regulation.
Simitian is for legalization of marijuana. In 2002, the Drug Policy Forum of California (DPFCA) gave him a B grade. They are a group that wants to reform marijuana laws.
Simitian supports expanding gay and lesbian rights and giving them extra social programs. He voted for AB 205: the domestic partners law that Gray Davis signed before the voters recalled him. In 2003 and 2002, Simitian supported the lesbian and gay advices Lambda Letters Project's preferred position 99% and 98% of the time. In 2003, 2002, and 2001; he supported the gay and lesbian advocacy group Equality California's preferred position 89%, 100%, and 100% of the time. In 2002, Simitian voted for the liberal San Francisco AIDS Foundation's preferred position 100% of the time. As an indication of their politics, Conservative Republican Tom McClintock supported their preferred position 25% of the time, and Liberal Democrat John Burton supported their preferred position 100% of the time.
Why not just wait for a real Republican to run for office instead?
It's very difficult to replace an unsatisfactory Republican, because you'd need to find a better Democrat. Not a good trade off in my book.
That's a step in the right direction.
I left CA in '90 because of its strong anti-gun climate.
Try voting conservative just once. You'll enjoy it and the rest of us will thank you.
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