THE FIGHT FOR THE HEART OF THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
February 25, 2018. San Diego, CA The California Democratic Convention ended with a clear division between the establishment and members regarding single-payer and other populist issues.. The statewide votes provided a boost for populist statewide single-payer candidates and an official push for non-single-payer Congressional candidates.
Among the victors was Ricardo Lara, author of California Single-payer legislation SB 562. Lara is running for California's Insurance Commissioner and easily won support of delegates.
California's Senior Senator Dianne Feinstein, a strong promoter of regime change throughout the Middle East and opponent of single-payer was soundly defeated by California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon. Feinstein's dismal 37% was a sign that the delegates were tired of war and insurance care. De Leon received 54%, not enough for the 60% required for endorsement but a significant victory over Feinstein.
In the race for Governor no candidate was endorsed. The only candidate to support SB 562 was Delaine Eastin and she received 20% of the vote, more than double the count of former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Viaraigosa, who only received 9%. Viaraigosa and Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom are considered the front-runners. Newsom and State Treasurer John Chaing both did well with 39 and 30% respectively. But claim to be for single-payer but neither has supported a statewide single-payer measure so far. The other candidates have not considered Eastin much of a threat because she had been out of politics for some time delegates proved she is a force to be reckoned with.
Among the victors was Ricardo Lara, author of California Single-payer legislation SB 562. Lara is running for California's Insurance Commissioner and easily won support of delegates.
California's Senior Senator Dianne Feinstein, a strong promoter of regime change throughout the Middle East and opponent of single-payer was soundly defeated by California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon. Feinstein's dismal 37% was a sign that the delegates were tired of war and insurance care. De Leon received 54%, not enough for the 60% required for endorsement but a significant victory over Feinstein.
In the race for Governor no candidate was endorsed. The only candidate to support SB 562 was Delaine Eastin and she received 20% of the vote, more than double the count of former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Viaraigosa, who only received 9%. Viaraigosa and Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom are considered the front-runners. Newsom and State Treasurer John Chaing both did well with 39 and 30% respectively. But claim to be for single-payer but neither has supported a statewide single-payer measure so far. The other candidates have not considered Eastin much of a threat because she had been out of politics for some time delegates proved she is a force to be reckoned with.
Incumbent Congressional candidates were automatically endorsed. Most oppose single-payer. Challenges were successfully blocked. Nancy Pelosi, seen reading the teleprompter here, is among those who opposes single payer, is opposed and her challenger collected the necessary signatures to challenged her endorsement but rules are rarely followed.
In the 45th Congressional District, where a non-incumbent candidate who had reportedly taken donations from Chevron and was against single-payer was challenged by there candidates who collected sufficient signatures to pull the endorsement, some oddities occurred during the challenged. Members of the Democratic Establishment spoke for the Chevron candidate and tried to scare other endorsed candidates into thinking they would lose their endorsements if the endorsement was pulled. A call for division was ignored and a voice vote that included non-delegates was called by the chairman in favor of the Chevron candidate while many of the impartial observers claimed that the vote was the opposite of the way in which it was called.
Another oddity occurred in the Superintendent of Education race where the microphone volume was cut while one of the candidates spoke and while members of the Democratic establishment booed, making the boos the only really audible sound. Outside the candidate who was not allowed to be heard was supported by a rally of Democrats not allowed into the room.
In the 45th Congressional District, where a non-incumbent candidate who had reportedly taken donations from Chevron and was against single-payer was challenged by there candidates who collected sufficient signatures to pull the endorsement, some oddities occurred during the challenged. Members of the Democratic Establishment spoke for the Chevron candidate and tried to scare other endorsed candidates into thinking they would lose their endorsements if the endorsement was pulled. A call for division was ignored and a voice vote that included non-delegates was called by the chairman in favor of the Chevron candidate while many of the impartial observers claimed that the vote was the opposite of the way in which it was called.
Another oddity occurred in the Superintendent of Education race where the microphone volume was cut while one of the candidates spoke and while members of the Democratic establishment booed, making the boos the only really audible sound. Outside the candidate who was not allowed to be heard was supported by a rally of Democrats not allowed into the room.
Colin Kaepernick took a hit when the entire room, minus one delegate stood in attention for the National Anthem. During Black History Month, the delegates seemed to have forgotten the police shootings of unarmed Black Americans and not to care about the Anthem's third verse that promoted and supported slavery in America.
One delegate could be seen kneeling. When nobody else kneeled, she moved forward in an attempt to remind others of the civil rights issue. But nobody else followed her lead.
With the exception of signs supporting rent control and a rally in support of the candidate who had not been allowed to be heard, the event was pretty quiet and unified with nobody making any waves. There were no signs opposing wars or police violence or promoting civil rights or free speech.
One delegate could be seen kneeling. When nobody else kneeled, she moved forward in an attempt to remind others of the civil rights issue. But nobody else followed her lead.
With the exception of signs supporting rent control and a rally in support of the candidate who had not been allowed to be heard, the event was pretty quiet and unified with nobody making any waves. There were no signs opposing wars or police violence or promoting civil rights or free speech.