Mayor says Yes on 32 campaign “based on deception”
by Brian Leubitz
In a rather strongly worded letter (PDF), Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has told the Yes on 32 campaign to stop using his name in their materials.
I am shocked to learn that you used my name and an out-of-context quotation of my words in a blatantly deceptive way, first in your rebuttal argument in support of Proposition 32, and now again in a campaign web video.
But perhaps my surprise is misplaced. After all, the entire Yes on Proposition 32 campaign is based on deception and a distasteful disregard for the facts. Your unauthorized use of my name and words creates a misleading impression for voters that I support Prop 32. This is patently false. Moreover, it is a cynical and disrespectful manipulation of the initiative process. Voters deserve truthful information.
As the LA Times’ Hiltzik said over the weekend, “it’s hard to conceive how one could be more fraudulent than Proposition 32.”
Note: I work for the No on 32 campaign. Please like the campaign on facebook and follow on twitter.
Here’s where the devil is in the details. Even if direct contributions are restricted, corporations can still funnel as much money as they want through SuperPACs, which can spend without limits and are completely exempt from Prop 32.
And all sorts of ‘alternate’ corporate structures — like Wall Street Hedge Funds, insurance companies and real estate investors — aren’t classified as ‘corporations’ under Prop 32, so they’re exempt as well… as are billionaires and corporate CEOs. Pretty much every well-heeled corporate special interest would be exempt under Prop 32… and that’s exactly what the backers intended. They say it’s about “stopping special interest money,” but it’s really all about silencing the voices of working people, while giving big CEOs and the very wealthy free rein to exert limitless influence on our political system.
Prop 32 is misleading, deceptive and full of consequences that hurt all of us. It does absolutely nothing to limit special interest influence on politics while severely curtailing working people’s ability to stand up to powerful corporate interests. The result would be a devastating tilt in power to big banks, corporate CEOs and billionaires that would further undermine California’s middle class.
No on 32 it is not fair and balanced.
The proposition system is available to anyone anywhere with enough money to buy signatures, lie and change the state Constitution in ways that are difficult to alter. This system is a hazard to democracy.