I’ll have another House roundup probably by Monday, but I wanted to toss out a few items of note:

• CA-26: I have to applaud Russ Warner’s rapid response team for jumping on David Dreier’s voting record immediately and choosing the issues where he can reveal that Dreier is not the moderate he portrays as being to his district.  On the heels of yesterday’s House vote on the GI Bill, Warner released this:

David Dreier voted against a bill to increase educational opportunities for veterans today.  The legislation expands the education benefits veterans receive under the GI bill to restore the promise of a full, four-year college education.  It passed the House with broad bi-partisan support, 256 to 166.

“I would have voted differently on this bill,” said Russ Warner, a successful small businessman and the Democratic candidate for Congress from California’s 26th district.  “It’s important to make the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan part of an American economic recovery, just like the veterans of World War II were.  They put their lives on the line for us, and deserve to be able to come home and go to school if they so choose.  We need new leaders with new priorities in Washington, and that’s why I’m running for Congress.”

Russ Warner’s eldest son, Greg, is in the U.S. Army and served in Iraq for 17 months.  Upon his return, he challenged his father to make a difference by running for Congress.

Down With Tyranny has more, including a great pic of Warner and his son Greg.

• CA-41: Please take some time to read IndieinSF’s piece introducing the community to Dr. Rita Ramirez-Dean, a progressive candidate running for slimebucket Jerry Lewis’ seat in the San Bernardino area.  It’s also linked at DWT.  The post talks about the picture on the ground and the changing demographics in the district.  Our growth potential in California is dependent on winning seats like this.  I’ve met Dr. Dean and found her to be someone of character.  She has also endorsed the Repsonsible Plan To End The War in Iraq, elements of which passed through the House yesterday (Rep. Jay Inslee of Washington even mentioned it on the House floor).

• CA-42: Next week, Ron Shepston has two fundraisers with Amb. Joseph Wilson.  One is in Oak Canyon Park near Irvine on Wednesday, May 21, (purchase tickets here), and one is in Santa Monica on Thursday, May 22 (info here).  Ron also snagged the endorsement of DFA Orange County.

• CA-24: Mary Pallant’s interview at Blog Talk Radio is worth a listen.

• CA-04: Try to get the logic of this: by taking welfare payments in per diem checks from the state, Tom McClintock was denying benefits to soldiers.  That’s the premise of Doug Ose’s new ad.  Quite a logical leap, but potentially effective.

(cross posted at dailykos.com and downwithtyranny.blogspot.com)

Man, what a time to be a Democrat! After years of rebuilding our party through the netroots, we’re poised to make MAJOR gains this November in what will probably be an even more historic election than 2006. We have an amazingly strong (presumptive) nominee here in CA-41 and nationally, more Senate seats up for grabs than you can count on two hands, three special election victories in deep red territory, and probably tens of new House seats that will flip our way.

But I’m not here to gloat about our election successes so far or prematurely celebrate our prospects in November. I’m writing to you today to introduce you to a woman who has the best chance of unseating the Tom Delay of 2008: Jerry Lewis (R), CA-41. This amazing woman is Dr. Rita Ramirez-Dean. (Follow me after the jump…)

Dr. Rita is a true, lifelong Democrat, unafraid of talking about the progressive values we admire and seek out in a real Democratic candidate. An extremely strong extemporaneous speaker, able to talk from the heart without notes or prepared speeches, Dr. Rita is exactly what this district needs. Dr. Rita doesn’t need to be a Blue Dog Dem in order to win this seat; as a minority woman, she speaks directly to the disenfranchised and encourages them to participate in the democratic process.

There’s a strong desire amongst the voters in the district for someone like her to energize them and bring out the vote, especially in this “red” district where the usual Dems running here are afraid to say what they believe in for fear of being branded a liberal (gasp!). But we need your help to make the voters’ dreams a reality.

Rep Lewis’ name is synonymous with Republican corruption. As the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, he was responsible for directing BILLIONS of dollars to his fellow cronies; anyone who reads this site regularly is aware of his shady dealings. Yet despite a million dollars in his campaign account, and his Teflon coating when faced with investigation after investigation, I have a huge smile on my face today. Why? Because a strong, grassroots supported candidate just won a major seat in a similar district this past Tuesday night. I’m talking about Congressman-elect Childers in Mississippi.

Just like MS-01, CA-41 is heavily red (R+9). But the demographics on the ground show a different picture. There is a large African-American community in the eastern parts of San Bernardino (which will be highly energized in November by Sen. Obama’s campaign), a huge contingent of Latinos (who will rally behind a Latina candidate), and a strong base of Democrats who are more excited than ever to win this seat. Add that to the high numbers of Republicans defecting from their party and Democrats moving east from L.A., and the demographics point to a solid pick up opportunity.

Dr. Rita is the strongest candidate in the Democratic race to capitalize on the shifting demographics and desire for change. But we need your help to make it happen!

This primary election is all about turnout. With most Californians unaware of an election this June (especially after the presidential primary in February), the person who wins will be the person who turns out their base. It won’t take much, but we need about 50 people to help phone bank, and about $5,000 to run radio ads. You’re probably thinking, “$5,000?? That’s not going to do anything!” Well that where Rita’s demographics help her the most. $5,000 is all we need to run two weeks of ads on Latino stations, reminding a core constituency of the election and urging them to get out and vote. Add in some money for targeted ads in print media the week of the election, and our plans for victory will come to fruition.

This isn’t an expensive district. Though Lewis will have millions of dollars to burn, as Mississippi taught us, money doesn’t necessarily buy elections anymore. And Dr. Rita has been touring this HUGE district for well over a year already, laying the groundwork. When she wins the primary, she will already have the infrastructure in place to pose a major threat to Lewis.

Please visit Dr. Rita’s website, www.ritaforcongress.com, to learn more about her. Be sure to listen to the radio interview with Dr. Rita to hear her thoughts on the issues if you have a few minutes. If you believe in her message and want to help, please donate via Act Blue (link on website), or email volunteer (at)ritaforcongress (dot) com to help phone banking.

Thank you all for your support!

-David Corbell

Volunteer Campaign Manager

(Yesterday we saw Tim Prince’s email, here are some words about another Democratic challenger to the very corrupt Jerry Lewis.   – promoted by Brian Leubitz)

(Note: This was written last night by my husband, and will be cross-posted on DailyKos under his username after I post this.)

I’m sure that around here, Jerry Lewis of CA-41 fame needs no introduction. Well, a few Democrats have entered the race.

Tonight (writing this as of January 9th), I just met one of them, and Dr. Rita Ramirez-Dean strikes me very much as the real deal. Passionate, outspoken, dedicated and strong-willed, with a life story that has “true Democrat” stamped on it, Dr. Ramirez-Dean could very well help us replace a, well, Jerry Lewis with a real progressive. Crooks and Liars has a great if brief post about her.

During a powerful speech to our Democratic club, I learned tonight that she wants to end the war in Iraq, bring us universal health care, ensure strong and well-funded education from grade school to higher learning (and end No Child Left Standing), and guarantee fundamental rights for all Americans, including protecting all religions (and the right to have none) and marriage for all citizens, regardless of orientation, as a fundamental human right.

I’m not trying to be impartial or measured here; I thought she was amazing. She did ramble slightly as the night got older, but after two hours of talking to nine partisan club members sitting around a restaurant table, that’s more than excusable. Her story of being told in the 40s and 50s that she was a “dirty Mexican” and “couldn’t get anywhere,” and then deciding she would get somewhere, is extraordinary. In an era where being non-white or a woman was a strike against you, Dr. Ramirez-Dean got a scholarship and put herself through college. Now, she wants to help fix our broken system to ensure that others get the same chances she did, chances she got thanks to education programs of that time.

She doesn’t need a lot of money, though obviously donations would help (she’s asking for “ten dollars and a book of stamps” from each donor, though AFAIK Act Blue doesn’t have a “donate stamps” option :-). Any progressives living in the area should check out her site, and if convinced to support her, should contact her campaign to help in whatever ways they can. Her campaign can use all the traditional forms of help — phone banking, precinct walking, the works.

—

(/) Roland X

Hope is a phoenix