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Posted on 07/03/2002 12:55:32 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan
Is This Another Issue Davis Will Ignore?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOS ANGELES - Gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon today officially called on Governor Gray Davis to participate in a series of debates in order to better inform voters "of the records and ideas of the candidates for governor."
In a letter to Chief Davis Strategist Garry South, Chief Simon Strategist Sal Russo said that with just over 120 days until the election, and Davis' no-doubt heavy fundraising schedule, the two campaigns should begin negotiations on dates and formats for debates as soon as possible.
"We certainly hope Governor Davis actually will have the courage to stand on a stage, look straight at a camera and explain why on earth anyone living in California would want to endure one more day under his complete absence of anything approaching 'leadership'," Russo wrote.
Russo proposed five debates in the state's largest media markets, and an addition debate on Spanish language television. Russo also proposed several debate topics including "How did California go from having an $8 billion budget surplus to a $24 billion budget deficit on Gray Davis' watch?" and "Why do California schools rank at or near the bottom of all schools nationally, four years after Governor Davis promised to make education his first, second and third priority?"
Russo also added that he was encouraged by a Davis' spokesman's statement that the governor was ready to debate. On June 21 Davis campaign spokesman, Roger Salazar, said "we'll debate Bill Simon any time, anywhere."
"Despite the fact the governor broke his word on a hiring freeze, no raids of local government financing, no cuts to public education, no cuts to public safety, no blackouts, no utility bankruptcies, no utility rate hikes, and of course, no tax increases, the Bill Simon for Governor campaign remains optimistic that Gray Davis will keep his word this time and actually debate," Russo said.
Russo also wrote that there should be no question that the debate should include Mr. Peter Camejo, the Green Party's nominee, who has proven his candidacy by registering over 5 percent in the polls to date. Russo further suggested that any candidate who crosses the 5 percent number should also be included.
A copy of the letter is below.
Mr. Garry South
P. O. Box 67190
Los Angeles, CA 92267
Dear Garry:
Bill Simon believes the best way to inform voters of the record and ideas of the candidates for Governor is through debates sponsored by many of the fine organizations that have stepped forward as part of their role in trying to meet their civic responsibility. I hope the Governor is prepared to be as serious as Bill Simon is about participating in meaningful debates.
In just over 120 days voters in California will go to the polls and resolve an important question that will impact our state's future in immeasurable ways:
Should we endure another four years of failed leadership and mismanagement under a Gray Davis administration?
Certainly, debates will be more informative and better than the kind of false and misleading advertising that Gray Davis has become famous for. Your current deceitful ads against Bill Simon are only the tip of the iceberg for a rather poor record for honesty and integrity in advertising.
Gray's track record isn't very good. Most revealing has been the characterizations by philosophical liberals and Democrats. First recall the California Journal article in March 1992 when Democratic strategist Kam Kuwata referred to Davis as the "minister of disinformation." During the 1992 campaign, Ellen Malcolm, President of EMILY's List, referred to Gray Davis' commercials as "a desperate ploy by someone way down in the polls."
The Sacramento Bee on May 29, 1992, had a fitting quote from Democratic legislator Jackie Speier, who called Davis "a desperate and despicable man" because of his false advertising. Even the respected spokesman for the late Mayor of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley, got into the act in the May 21, 1992, Los Angeles Times by saying "his desperate campaign will try anything to get attention."
It sounds as if the same thing is happening now, and hence our strong desire for true debates on the issues! As Investors Business Daily on July 1, 2002, pointed out regarding the reprehensible television commercials directed against Bill Simon, "The spots are false on every key point." The record is pretty clear, Garry, that Gray Davis' advertising is neither remotely honest nor informative.
On June 21 the Governor's campaign spokesman, Roger Salazar, said "we'll debate Bill Simon any time, anywhere." Despite the fact the Governor broke his word on a hiring freeze, no raids of local government financing, no cuts to public education, no cuts to public safety, no blackouts, no utility bankruptcies, no utility rate hikes, and of course, no tax increases, the Bill Simon for Governor campaign remains optimistic that the Governor will keep his word this time and actually debate.
We certainly hope Governor Davis actually will have the courage to stand on a stage, look straight at a camera and explain why on earth anyone living in California would want to endure one more day under his complete absence of anything approaching "leadership."
Given the Governor's no doubt heavy fundraising schedule coming up, we thought we should begin negotiations on dates and formats for debates as soon as possible. We wouldn't want the Governor to have to cancel too many fundraising events - we know how angry that makes him.
We have received some wonderful debate opportunities, and we have consistently expressed our strong support for debates. There should be no question that the debates should include Mr. Peter Camejo, who has many ideas on how to improve California and who has proven his candidacy by registering over 5% in the polls already. Being fair to other serious candidates is something that should be required in at least some of the debates. Should any other candidates register at 5% or higher in the polls, then we would support their inclusion as well.
The California Broadcasters Association, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Telemundo and Univision are only some of the many fine debate proposals that we believe would be excellent forums for debates. We certainly hope you agree.
Please call me at (916) 441-3734 at your very earliest convenience so we can begin scheduling the first of these many debates.
Sincerely,
SAL RUSSO
Chief Strategist,
Bill Simon for Governor
----------------------
Bill Simon v. Gray Davis Debate Proposal
There is no doubt the damage done to California during Governor Gray Davis's administration will weigh heavily on the voters' minds during the election. To help them decide how best to move California forward again, voters deserve to understand the candidates' vision and qualifications for cleaning up the mess that California finds itself in now.
Should our state's leadership remain set on the failed path of a career politician who has allowed California to lurch from crisis to crisis while he spent most of his time fundraising? Or should they get California back on the right track with a new leader who has a proven record of success in charity leadership, public service and business?
We believe a series of debates focusing on specific topic areas could be the best approach to ensure the voters get the information they really want and need to help them decide. We would propose five debates in the largest media markets of the state and one additional debate on Spanish language television. Here are a couple of suggestions for debate topics:
A) How did California go from having an $8 billion budget surplus to a $24 billion budget deficit on Gray Davis' watch? Or, why was there so much ongoing government spending when there were inadequate funds to pay for it?
B) Why do California schools continue to rank at or near the bottom of all schools nationally, fours years after Governor Davis promised to make education his first, second and third priorities? Or, why does California have over 1,000 failing schools according to new national standards, schools that are overwhelmingly populated by minority children?
C) Why did Governor Davis fail to act at the first warning of an energy problem and then panic after the problem had blossomed into a crisis, causing Californians tens of billions of dollars in higher energy prices? Or, why does there seem to be a relationship between the Governor's fund raising from energy companies and their realizing excessive profits at California's expense?
D) Why does Governor Davis spend up to twelve hours per day fundraising, often "at the expenses of his job as an officeholder" as the California Journal characterized it, while California faces all these crises? Or, why does everybody think the Governor has created a pay-for-play environment in the State Capitol?
E) Why does the Governor still have no plan for dealing with California's $175 billion infrastructure crisis, except perhaps to give projects as favors to his campaign contributors? Or, now that we are behind in building roads, power plants, schools, recreation facilities, water storage and local jails, what is probably next?
We could focus on how we got into these problems and how Bill Simon would have avoided them in the first place. Or, we can focus on how to get out of the messes that Davis created. Or, maybe we can do a little of both. As you can see, we are pretty open on format ideas. Given the numerous areas in which California faces serious challenges, this would likely require several debates to cover the numerous issues involved. That will also give an opportunity to include some of the other major candidates into the debate.
People who are ahead are afraid they will lose support if they don't do very very well in a debate. People who are behind figure they are losing now, so how could debates hurt. They might do well and the other guy might screw up. Teams that are behind never run a prevent defense. No debates .... is a prevent defense. Teams that are well ahead never try to throw a Hail Mary. Demanding debates when you are behind is a Hail Mary.
Politicians have big egos. When an election is very close, they will often both want to debate. Both candidates always think they are better than the other candidate.
People keep saying how good Simon is doing and how poorly Davis is doing. But who wants to debate and who doesn't. That question always reveals who is in trouble. It is always the guy behind and falling fast who demands debates.
The debates, will be held the way Davis wants them held. Since Simon is asking he will have to do them the way Davis wants them done. Either that or their will be no debates. Likely the debates will feature pro Davis journalists throwing softballs at Davis and hard balls at Simon.
Debate Question for Simon: Would you comment on the fact that even though you inherited a great fortune you have still managed to destroy ordinary peoples money in gross mismagagement of savings an loans. Some say you are a dishonest crook. Others say you are just inept. Which one is right?
Debate question for Davis: Many right wing bigots have unjustly accused you of terrible things. How do you manage to hold up so well under unjust attacks that have broken many other strong men?
And you want debates... Uh Huh!!!!
Democrats' poll results grim for Davis
By Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross
The San Francisco Chronicle (July 1, 2002)
SLIP SLIDE: Demos up in the Legislature just commissioned a statewide poll on the state of the state -- and it doesn't look pretty.
Results had 57 percent of the voters saying they felt California was on the wrong track.
And they weren't too happy about the state's chief engineer, either -- with 58 percent giving Gov. Gray Davis a thumbs-down for his job performance.
Even worse: When respondents were asked who they would vote for if the election were held today, Davis lagged nine points behind Republican challenger Bill Simon.
The biggest spread we've seen so far.
Sorry professor that lecture is from your old copy of the poli-sci text book.
Typically it's the underdog or trailer that issues the challenge, never the leader.
Davis will probably duck the debate, knowing that ducking is less damaging than debating.
I hope Simon can continue exploiting his own strengths.
I certainly assume that the questions will be harder for Simon but I think it is better to debate than to rely on stump speeches, commercials and editorials. As slick as Davis can be, I think people need to see Simon in that type of forum.
calgov2002:
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Simon shouldn't give him a chance. Take Davis at his word- Any time, any place. He should line up a time with a local TV station, convene a press conference and say there will be a debate on such and such a time at such and such place.
When Davis tries to weasel out of it, he can say apparently any time, any place doesn't mean such and such time at such and such place.
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