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Open Letter to the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council Jerry ButkiewiczSan Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council CC: Jana Atkins / Donald Cohen 4305 University Ave., Suite 340 San Diego, CA 92105 619-283-5411 Teferi Gebre California Labor Federation Southern California Political Director 3303 Wilshire Blvd #415 Dear Mr. Butkiewicz I am the certified Green Party Candidate running against the extreme anti-labor / anti-progressive Democrat Susan Davis in the 53d Congressional District. I would like to know how I could be placed in consideration for endorsement by your union and/orreceive permission to address your membership. I am a union member belonging toboth SEIU Local 1983, California Faculty Association, and United Faculty. I, along with my wife, have supported the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 135, strike both financially and by attending rallies and other support activities. Regardless of whether or not I receive your official endorsement this year, I commend the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council for their courage and integrity in their non-endorsement policy of Davis in 2002 and encourage its continuance in 2004. Although she has received over $300,000 from labor over the past four years, Susan Davis and/or her representative were conspicuously absent at community rallies in support of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union strike against Vons, Ralphs, and Albertsons. Especially with the extension of NAFTA into CAFTRA likely to be voted on in the next congress, citizens need to be reminded of Davis' vote to give GEORGE W. BUSH the Fast Track blank check to negotiate trade agreements with no enforceable labor or environment provisions. Unlike Susan Davis, my position on fair trade calls for the inclusion of structural compensation funds, enforceable labor standards, enforceable environmental standards, and open customs regimes as a minimum in any future trade agreement. Most importantly, capital cannot possess more of a right to cross international borders than human beings and those who consume the greatest share of the earth’s natural resources should compensate the earth’s most impoverished populations with more than inescapable indebtedness. As the 53d district is 43 percent registered Democrats and 33 percent registered Republicans, for thinking progressives, Susan Davis is clearly the greater evil. Her voting record in many areas is more conservative than her Republican predecessor. She is not a progressive Democratic in the mold of Congressman Bob Filner and it would be an injustice if she were to receive the same level of support from labor and progressive activists. The Republicans did not invest heavily to defeat her last re-election and they are likely not to do so this time either. Almost half of her million-dollar war chest went unspent in 2002. Realist Republicans realize that an anti-progressive Susan Davis retaining her seat is their best bet for the 53d district, one of the most demographically progressive districts in California. I recognize the difficulties of challenging an incumbent major party candidate protected within a gerrymandered district and flush with donations. However, with your support, I hope to drive home the lesson that the votes of progressives and labor cannot be taken for granted by any politician. Susan Davis’ record in office merits more than letters expressing disappointment read and processed by her interns. Unlike the Presidency and the U.S. Senate, the control of the House of Representatives is not likely to change in the next election and we can afford two years of a Republican in order to clear the path of an actual progressive representing the 53rd district. The first step is to ensure that Congresswoman Susan Davis is not reelected. Thank You, Lawrence Rockwood
Rockwood for Congress 2004 / 2006/ 2008 (Original
letter submitted by email) |
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