Before every election, it seems that those of us in California receive these fliers from a group that claims to either be for Democrats, Progressives, etc. These fliers endorse candidates (in the general, usually mostly Democrats) and then interestingly enough, always seem to be for or against propositions that protect corporate interests. This time we have received one from a group titled "Californians Vote Green." These fliers are in fact advertisements with candidates/proposition endorsements that were PAID to appear, along with others they just happen to list to appear "legitimate." You HAVE to read the fine print. To read more, look at the Calitics diary someone else wrote here, last Friday: http://www.calitics.com/...
I am completely outraged and tired of receiving these slates. But for the voter who has not had time or paid attention, they could take a look at the slate and read what is actually an ad on the flier "Taxpayers Right to Vote: Yes on Prop 16" when in fact, what that proposition would do is make it practically impossible for local cities and municipalities to say no to a big energy company such as PG and E (who is financing tens of millions of dollars on this--from their paying petitioners to collect signatures to all of their television ads) as the city would need a 2/3 majority of the people (not 50% +1) even before a city could get a local energy company while PG&E can continue to raise their rates on everyone (as they are doing).
Given that, the diary shows what the flier looks like, and further points out from the diarist's investigation that four state-wide candidates have paid to get the endorsements from this group. So far, here is my research about this group. From their website, instead of discussion about green causes or initiatives, or what the group is about, you get this: http://californiansvotegreen.com/
It talks about what one can do to purchase placement. Sounds like submitting to a newsflier rather than receiving a ringing endorsement. The person who posts his name on the disclosure is someone named David Gould and his web site (the real web site?) is available at: http://www.davidgouldcompany.com/ This is simply a political consultant company. Given that in its fliers, it has disclaimers (in fine print) it says it is "not an official political party organization" and also lets the voter know (in even tinier writing) that those listed with an asterisk PAID to be there.
With all respect to free speech, I am wondering if this is honest enough with such disclosure? In fact, I'd be wary of any flier I get that has a LOGO and ad for that candidate or proposition. Given that, I'm inclined to NOT support candidates who have asterisks for them, simply because they are asking for your vote under questionable tenants. The illusion here is that this flier makes it appear that you are voting for environmentally friendly candidates and propositions, when that is NOT the case at all. Let alone, be under the illusion that a non-profit environmentally group (which it is NOT) came up with their endorsements.
It especially infuriates me as I know from my own experience how a slate process works. Unions or Democratic clubs or other related grassroots organizations get together, and depending on time have open forums of candidates speaking their positions and then the group votes to endorse, or if there is not enough time, the Executive Board (usually positions voted by its members) discuss and make endorsements. And we are usually doing activities such as having meet-ups, working on projects, drafting legislation, writing letters to candidates or the media, and talking to legislators on issues, you know stuff like a regular grassroots organization does. And I'm afraid when phony slates like these appear, it discredits the hard work we do and the painstaking time we make to endorse slates to try to get a message to the voting public at large.
Once again, in California, the ability to get the word out is drowned by corporate interest (like PG&E, in this case) and not the people's. I remember previous slates such as this that were mailed out and certain key propositions were either defeated or passed that worked in the corporate interests' favor. I'm afraid this may happen again if we do NOT get the word out. Of course, in California, it is a challenge to get the word out, as we don't have millions of dollars.
But in the meantime, Californians . . . before making your choices in the primaries, take a look at this: http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/...
and if you see your candidate up there, think this . . . if your candidate is willing to go get an "endorsement" like this, how well/trustworthy do you think they'll be in office? As this is the PRIMARY, NOW is the time to decide.