Posted on 02/13/2002 9:25:32 AM PST by Impeach98
Republican Party asks GOP candidate Riordan's wife to stop supporting Democrats
Republican Party asks GOP candidate Riordan's wife to stop supporting Democrats
Wed Feb 13,11:23 AM ET
By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES - The head of the California Republican party said he made a "gentle appeal" last month to Republican gubernatorial candidate Richard Riordan's family to stop supporting Democrats, including Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.
Although she has not formally announced her candidacy for governor of Maryland, Townsend has raised more than $5 million for an expected bid.
More than $100,000 of that came last year from California donors, most of it apparently raised by Nancy Riordan, Maryland GOP Chairman Michael S. Steele said in a Jan. 2 letter to his California counterpart, Shawn Steel.
Steel said he made a "gentle appeal" to the Riordan campaign for the support to cease. He said the response he received was "affirmative."
Steele's letter was made public Tuesday by campaign aides for one of Riordan's Republican opponents, Secretary of State Bill Jones.
"Apparently the Riordans are not content to destroy the political careers of California Republicans but also seek to ruin those of Republicans in other states," said Jones strategist Sean Walsh.
Riordan press secretary Kim Serafin dismissed the release of the letter as a "desperate attempt" by Jones, who trails both front-runner Riordan and Republican businessman Bill Simon in the polls.
In the letter, Steele writes: "The fact that Mr. Riordan's wife, whose politics I do not know, is aggressively and successfully raising money for Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, at best, sends a poor message to California and Maryland Republicans.... I would appreciate any help you can give in putting a stop to the Kennedy fund-raising associated with Mr. Riordan."
The disclosure comes three weeks before the March 5 California primary, amid increasing furor among Republican loyalists over Richard Riordan's history of donating money to Democratic candidates. Riordan, the moderate former mayor of Los Angeles, was attacked repeatedly on the issue at last weekend's state GOP convention.
A rather ugly visual, but a true one nonetheless.
I saw that in the search but that was LA Times (with the limitations on posting) so I decided to post the Associated Press story in its entirety.
What loser schmucks - this all makes me SO frustrated with the GOP leadership. They're trying to sweep the dirt under the mat and hope no one sees that the party and Karl Rove are trying to force some liberal Democrat (Dick Riordan) upon the party as the GOP nominee for Governor.
Since he is more liberal than Gray Davis (death penalty, abortion, government funding of services for illegal immigration) what would be the benefit to Republican principles of limited government and freedom? NONE!
Simply a friend of Karl's in power. I don't give a RATs @ss about political power chess games.
I care about freedom, liberty and common sense governance of the country I live in. Screw Dick - I'm a Simon guy!
(My current bumpersticker)
Oooohhhh, I like!
Bedfellows make strange politics
GOP governor hopeful's Democratic wife is quick to speak her mind
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer Saturday, December 22, 2001
Richard J. Riordan tried to escape a tough question the other day. But his wife and most trusted adviser, Nancy Daly Riordan, was having none of it.
The GOP gubernatorial candidate, sitting with reporters, was asked: Does he support funding for contraceptive programs and sex education for teenagers?
"Ah, you're getting me into trouble there," Riordan demurred. ". . . I want to try to sneak out of answering. . . . I'll tell you the day after I'm elected."
But the nonanswer brought protest from his wife -- a lifelong Democrat, leading philanthropist and outspoken activist on children's issues.
"Excuse me," Nancy Riordan said firmly. "The average age . . . is 13, I'm told," for children to begin experimenting with sexual activity. "That's reality. . . ."
Riordan interrupted: "We're into dangerous terrority. . . ."
But Nancy Riordan wasn't buying and responded with passion -- the kind that could make her a lightning rod for attacks on Riordan's campaign in the months ahead. "It's correct to have things available to children," she persisted.
"Now you're getting me into trouble," Riordan said. "(Secretary of State Bill) Jones is going to say Riordan's going to let his wife decide whether 3- year-olds should be given contraceptives."
Then he shrugged, and laughed. "Well, there goes my governorship," he said.
The lively debate between Riordan and his wife -- the type of unscripted interchange rarely seen in today's controlled campaigns -- underscores a strength, and a potential pitfall, for the former Los Angeles mayor's campaign.
Nancy Riordan, attractive and politically savvy, is not only vocal on her issues, but also is aligned with a different political party from her husband's.
"Voters do like to see a public official, particularly a man, take advice and counsel from his spouse; that's a positive," said political consultant Chris Lehane, who has been a spokesman for former President Bill Clinton and Al Gore, two politicians with strong, involved political wives.
The downside "is that it raises questions: Who's whispering in his ear?" said Lehane, who has consulted for Riordan's rival, Gray Davis. "Does the candidate have his own views? And what is his core set of beliefs?"
But political commentator Arianna Huffington, a longtime friend of Nancy Riordan's, argued that she brings "tremendous pluses to her husband's campaign because of her credibility."
"She has worked passionately and relentlessly on children's issues. She has her own expertise . . . and she has been there in the trenches," said Huffington of her friend, who co-founded the Children's Action Network and United Friends for Children, and is a philanthropic force behind the family's Riordan Foundation. "Whether her husband is running for office or not, she has established her authority in this arena -- and anyone who knows (her) knows her record."
Nancy Riordan, formerly married to Warner Brothers executive Bob Daly, is excited about her husband's effort and open about her role in the months ahead.
"We always have spent time talking about issues, and how best to address solutions. I expect to be recommending to Dick, (giving) input and advice to help him as he goes forward in the campaign . . . wherever my husband feels I can be most helpful to him," she said. "I'm really here to support his effort .
. . (and) usually, when I put my mind to something, I do it."
But in his effort against the more conservative Jones and businessman Bill Simon in the March GOP gubernatorial primary, Riordan, 71, faces concerns that his wife's background of progressive Democratic politics will shape his views - - or, even more pointedly, overpower them.
"The perception is that she is running the campaign -- or at the very least, running the candidate," said political analyst Sherry Bebitch Jeffe. Although hard-core conservatives may "have some discomfort" about that, the issue probably matters little to most mainstream voters, she said.
"The irony of it is there are very few differences between Richard Riordan and Nancy Daly (Riordan)," said Bebitch Jeffe. "Except he has an 'R' by his name, and she has a 'D.' "
Nancy Riordan, impeccably dressed in a pink suit decorated with a California pin, recently spoke about her political leanings.
"I'm a Democrat, and I've always been a Democrat," she said.
LIKES SMART FEMALES
She said it doesn't bother her husband, who thrives on spirited exchanges of ideas. As she tells appreciative women's groups, he favors smart females -- and "doesn't like yes-women."That's one reason Riordan is discussing issues like abortion, health care, child care and education -- and reaching out to women voters, she said.
"My husband has valued those concerns for many many years," she said. "(He's) willing to put himself out there as a very strong, fearless leader with an amazing track record, taking on serious problems and finding solutions.
. . . Right now, in California, we need that."
But Nancy Riordan must answer questions about her past support for Davis, including $61,000 in campaign contributions to the Democratic governor.
"When someone's in a leadership role, I want them to do the very best they can do," she said, explaining her support for Davis.
Nancy Riordan said part of her concerns were on children's issues: "I worked with (Davis) and (Assembly) Speaker (Robert) Hertzberg on legislation that the governor actually signed -- creating Internet passports for education and help for foster children," she said.
But "in order to get heard, to be heard by elected officials, money doesn't hurt," she said. "I give money to leadership in Washington, D.C., -- and I've done it here in California, to people I hope will move the agenda for children. "
DISAPPOINTED IN DAVIS
She argues that Davis has since "let us down." She particularly cites the energy issue, where "he just didn't step up to the plate," she said. "I don't think he expected (the energy crisis). . . . It wasn't anticipated -- though it should have been."Still, she finds it "mind-boggling" that some Democrats are attacking her for supporting a Republican -- even if he is her husband.
"There's plenty to debate about without resorting to personal, infantile" issues, she said.
Huffington said campaigns have come a long way since 1994 when as wife of then-U.S. Senate candidate Michael Huffington she was charged with being "the power behind the throne."
Today, the political world recognizes "when your husband decides to run for office, you don't suddenly get a lobotomy," Huffington said. "Her husband is incredibly accomplished and running for statewide office, and she will want to have a voice."
Asked whether she can take the heat when she speaks up, Nancy Riordan smiled.
"I'm a grown-up," she said.
That's right - - they are both scumbag liberal DemocRats and if this clown gets the Republican nod for the governor's race, I will never again give a dollar of support to the Republican party. How could the Republican Party even allow a Democrat to abscond with a Republican nomination?
Ah well. I'll keep a happy face and pray Simon wins the primary. Otherwise, I sure hope Davis beats Riordan. A scumbag liberal Democrat can never be allowed to get away with stealing a Republican nomination and then winning.
Then he shrugged, and laughed. "Well, there goes my governorship," he said.
Please let it be so....
"I'm a grown-up," she said. "
I guess that means "Asked whether she can still boss her husband around, Nancy Riordan smiled."
He should tell Mary Matalin to her face that she's only a RINO because she's married to James Carville. I'll even nominate him for a Darwin Award. Those are always posthumous. See: http://www.darwinawards.com
Think of it as evolution in action.
How could some in the White House (Karl Rove and possibly a few others) have initially propelled Riordan into running is beyond me. So they obviously didn't do their homework, but NOW IS THE TIME - pull the plug on Riordan. Tube him. Whether it be Simon or Jones it doesn't matter. Either could be an acceptable nominee (Simon is my fave) but Riordan is a surefire disaster in the making!
But when she CAMPAIGNS for her husband and his policies - and those policies are far left policies and his contributions include a never-ending support for beyond liberal causes and candidates - it is an insult to GOPers in California to have her SIMULTANEOUSLY helping Democrats defeat Republicans.
Makes it an insult to see some GOP leaders suggest he be the Republican nominee given that set of circumstances.
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