Who has some thoughts and/or background on Bustamonte?

[shance]

The jury is still out on him for me. I just dont care for him or find him honorable and Im trying to.

Yesterday, Bustamonte held a press conference whining that Gray Davis was taking away his votes.....yes thats right.... HIS VOTES.....

Secondly, hes Joe Liebermans California Chairman for Liebermans Presidential campaign - RED FLAG ALERT****
So how much closer to Republicans can we get there? Its hard to get much closer honestly.

His arrogance and opportunistic nature seem obvious by his actions, although he tries to come off as a nice Guy, which he may be, BUT it makes me wonder especially when I am feeling particularly cynical, if Bustamonte is not just as good for Republicans.

Maybe they are delighted hes the back-up. I cant imagine they are scared by him in the least. Maybe they know they can push him around more than they can Gray.

I dont know. I am asking because something tells me hes not as much as a Dem as we think he is. Maybe Im wrong!! I do know a friend who likes him, but then again, I like Joe Lieberman, but NOT as a leader.

The point is, Bustamonte shouldnt be dissing the governor - how pathetic is someone from his own party, I dont care if you like each other or hate each other, you dont pull this divisive stuff, because it can SPREAD. So, does he not care about being divisive and thus hurting the party? If so WHY THE HELL would we want this zero then? It is with Dems like that, and I know I say it all he time, but truly who needs Republicans?

What are other thoughts about this guy Bustamonte?

[Cha]

1. I asked a question on Bustamonte the other night and was

let known that we need a Dem in the State House! I know we need a Dem but I was wondering about Bustamonte because all I had heard was that he backed lieberman which wasn't a very good recommendation IMO.

Personally I think Davis should finish out his term that he was elected for and have another election in 2006! I just hope Californians who want a Democracy are in the majority!

And I know the rethugs want to take over the capital and turn it into a banana republic like jeebie has done to Florida!

[shance]

2. Hon you are singing to the choir

Am always glad to know others feel the same, and actually I think there might be more than a few of us*** :)

Its all a waste of money and time, the least we can to is give it back to the Repubs in SPADES**** and allow Davis to do the job he was voted in to do.

[DUreader]

18. Maybe if Ya'll Spelled his Name BustamAnte

I think that is correct

[Clete]

19. Eh, no one ever spells that name right.

[Tinoire]

3. My thoughts are vague at this point but here are some problems I have

I started a rant thread about it a few days ago but got very few responses. I don't know much about this guy but as I dig, I'm getting more and more uncomfortable with him and all the back-room manouverings behind this re-call.

Here's my original post.

Why the hell is Bustamante sabotaging Davis, Labor & the 2004 Elections?


Yes, Bustamante, that one, the same power-hungry man who previously tried to sabotage Davis with the farm labor vote when Davis was running against Bill Simon and is sabotaging him now see Ref 1. The same Bustamante who is Lieberman's top supporter with their cute little pact of mutual endorsement. The same Bustamante who has the UNSAVORY Ritchie Ross, lobbyist, as his spokesperson. The same Bustamante who is putting Labor in a position where they have to spend some of the precious little money they have for the Democratic Primaries and Presidential elections to support Davis who has been pretty good to California ref 2. The same Bustamante who can't prevent himself from using words like "Nigger" in his speeches when speaking to a room full of Black people. see Ref 3

I am distressed that a bunch of 'smart' people aren't smelling the right-wing arm of the Democratic Party when it rears it's ugly head. The DLC is NOT letting go and too few are seeing their brilliantly engineered ploys to either remain in power or just give it to the Republicans. That's how much the DLC hates anything progressive and will stoop to ANY dirty trick to include parading its members as Liberals knowing full well that most people won't, don't have the time to, dig deeply enough to catch on.

Another BRILLIANTLY engineered DLC/Republican coup and Dems not even seeing it coming. Let's just keep empowering the DLC! Cruz Bustamante, presented as one of the 100 To Watch DLC New Democrats http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=1848&kaid=104&subid=210

As a California resident, who was never even particualrly enamoured of Davis, this is REALLY important to me because this is a matter of principal and I hate frauds. I'm not particularly fond of Davis but he was legally elected and re-elected by a majority of California voters. He fought Enron TOOTH and NAIL with NO help from the DLC-ridden Enron-beholden Democratic Party Leadership which abandoned him then and is abandoning him now.


------------------------------------------------------------
Ref 1- Nigger ref is Ref 3 below

With the recall movement against his ally Governor Gray Davis on the verge of success, Bustamante shocked fellow Democrats by proposing that he would allow a statewide vote to recall the Governor - but, by ignoring what the state constitution clearly requires, would forbid any vote to replace Davis.

By this de facto coup d'etat, boasted Bustamante, the Governor's office would become vacant and he as Lt. Governor then would automatically become the new Governor. All that would be needed to guarantee continued Democratic control of this office, said Bustamante, was approval by an obscure, Democrat-dominated panel called the Commission on the Governorship.

Fellow Democrats apparently sat Bustamante down and explained that California was not yet Mexico, that the voters would not accept such an obvious banana republic coup d'etat or his shredding and burning of the constitution in front of their eyes. What he advocated was blatantly illegal, much like Gray Davis' demand that his name be allowed on the ballot of candidates who could succeed him.

http://countrystore.blogspot.com/

------------------------------------------------------------
Ref 2

Big labor opposes Davis recall
The AFL-CIO's leaders urge Democrats to stay off the ballot.

By Margaret Talev -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Wednesday, August 6, 2003

<snip>

Bringing to bear its political influence on wayward Democrats in California, leaders of the nation's largest labor federation Tuesday voted unanimously to defend Gov. Gray Davis against an "unwise and dangerous" recall. The AFL-CIO represents four in five unionized workers nationally -- about 13 million people in the United States and 2 million in California -- and carries significant political clout.

<snip>

Under Davis' administration, unions have flourished, with the implementation of state employee raises, a new paid family leave policy, and injured-worker benefit increases.

<snip>

"We call on all state leaders in the Democratic Party to stand united with the governor and stay off the recall ballot," said the statement of support for Davis approved by the federation's national executive council.

Separately, the California Labor Federation executive council formally voted over the weekend to support Davis and sent a letter to each of the state's Democratic constitutional officers, congressional delegates and members of the Legislature, asking them to stay off the recall ballot and work in lockstep with unions through the election. The California Labor Federation is the state arm of the AFL-CIO.

<snip>

Labor leaders admit resources could be tight as they plan for next year's presidential election; a federation spokeswoman said the typical budget for all national voter education and mobilization efforts in a presidential campaign year is $30 million to $40 million.

<snip>
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/recall/story/7171731p-8118813c.html

Ref 3

But if Bustamante wants to win over the state's African-American voters, he'd better hope they don't remember an embarrassing incident from two years ago when the gubernatorial hopeful blurted out the "N" word during a tribute to Black History Month.

"This word comes out of my mouth, and I didn't know what to do," Bustamante told the San Francisco Chronicle the next day. "I kept going on with my speech - when I got done, I just stood there. I couldn't believe what came out of my mouth." ((Oh yeah, I guess evil Republicans just put it there!))

Bustamante, whose popularity among Latinos could make him the state's next governor, was addressing an annual awards dinner and scholarship fund raiser for the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. After the anti-black gaffe, about 100 people - 25 percent of the audience - got up and left.

"I was appalled that he would even say it as a slip," one audience member told the Chronicle. "You don't make a slip like that unless you use it normally."

<snip>

http://countrystore.blogspot.com/

And this guy says he makes "improving race relations the cornerstone of his career"! I wonder what Barbara Lee, who was in the audience thought of this! I wonder what Black Democrats who are taken so much for granted by the Democratic Party will think of this.

On edit: So google search on Bustamante and the DLC:

Democratic Leadership Council
We visited the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). The DLC's mission is to put its progressive ideas into action at the local, state, and national levels working through a national network of reformers and practitioners, and offering an approach to governing that is distinctly different from traditional liberalism and conservatism. Political Director Doug Wilson briefed us on the history of the DLC and how "New Democrats" have become one of the largest driving forces in the Democratic party with key figures like President Clinton, Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, and California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante. We also talked about the upcoming general election in which many New Democrats are challenging Republican incumbents in states such as Michigan, Delaware, Montana, and Missouri.

http://www.gwu.edu/~siw/programs/Spring2000.cfm The DLC really seems to like this guy! Top 100 to watch, ranks right up there with Clinton and Lieberman in their briefing to political students, and a Republican lobbyist as his spokesperson??? Hmmmm.

[Blue-Jay]

24. I'd like to hear more about the context of his "slip".

How does that happen? I might slip and yell "shit" when I stub my toe on something, but that's only because I say "shit" all the time.

[Tinoire]

29. This is what I found for you

I'm sorry, I don't have much time right now and am really tired. If you want more just do a google of Bustamante Nigger . Hope this helps.

Slip of tongue could have been chance to educate

WASHINGTON — Cruz Bustamante had a golden opportunity to break the "fourth wall" of this nation's troubled race relations.

Instead, he retreated behind the refuge of denial and doublespeak.

While giving a Black History Month speech Monday to an audience of nearly 400 black labor activists, Bustamante — California's lieutenant governor — used the word "nigger" during his remarks. The epithet slipped out as Bustamante was reciting a list of black labor groups that came into existence during the last century, some of which had the word "Negro" in their title.

Somehow "Negro" became "nigger" in Bustamante's rendition of one of these titles. Realizing the mistake, he quickly apologized to his stunned audience.

"If you heard what I think I heard, I want you to know it wasn't me," he said, a bit nonplussed. "It's not the way I was raised, it's not the way I was taught, it's not the way I raised my children and it's not what's in my heart."

Maybe not, but it is what came out of his mouth.

<snip>

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnists/wickham/2001-02-06-wickham.htm#more

[sierrak9s]

4. I'm surprised...

that we aren't hearing more about Bustamante using the "N-word" in front of a group of African Americans in San Francisco a few years back.
http://www.motherjones.com/reality_check/?F22.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnists/wickham/2001-02-06-wickham.htm

[Tinoire]

5. Oh but Californians remember

especially African-American Californians! This was a big scandal!

[shance]

6. I had no idea about half this stuff - Thanks Tin***

The guys is a power monger. I see nothing positive here at ALL.

I am pretty shocked now more people arent talking about him. Seems like someone is good at keeping lids on stuff.

CANNOT believe the N word. That deserves a post.

Thanks Tin for all the information. **** Am glad some people care enough to look into this guys history. Doesnt look too promising.

[Tinoire]

11. So I'm digging on his history with Labor - Pledge of Allegiance?

Met Clarence Thomas, the Secretary-Treasurer of the ILWU, at the Veterans for Peace convention in San Francisco last week and he had quite a few stories to share about how Homeland Security had been personally harrassing the dock-workers (remember how they'd been shot with rubber bullets when they protested loading and unloading war cargo?) That made me think to google them both... led to this:

-------------------------------------------------------

<snip>

Heyman spoke out against this government intimidation–as did Local 10 Secretary-Treasurer Clarence Thomas. “Today, if you’re a militant unionist, they want to treat you as if you’re a threat to national security,” Thomas told the crowd, which was estimated at between 500 and 1, 000. “What is national security? National security is when everyone has a job, with a living wage, health care and a pension.”

<snip>

The ILWU has a proud record of international solidarity. But rally speakers who recalled this militant history stood in sharp contrast to California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, who insisted that the crowd perform its “patriotic duty” by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. International Brotherhood of Teamsters President James P. Hoffa jumped in, declaring, “We are the most patriotic people in America. God bless America.”

In fact, Bustamante’s command to say the Pledge “was an insult to the international labor leaders who were invited to participate in our solidarity rally,” said Jack Heyman. “It was an insult to people like Borja, who has seen his colleagues murdered–82 Colombian trade unionists killed by right-wing death squads this year and 3, 000 in the last 15 years, sponsored by the U. S. government.”


http://www.labournet.net/docks2/0207/ilwu1.htm

[shance]

16. Thanks Tinoire*** as usual your researching turns up some interesting

stuff

This guy doesnt add up, except he is definitely Republican lite.

If anything, its obvious hes more conservative than Gray thats for sure.

[Tinoire]

30. I just like to dig... Bad habit from having been an intel analyst

Thanks for the support :)

I think it's important people not bury their heads in the sand and become more aware of who we're voting for to represent us- I say this in general and not just re Bustamante. He could turn out to be a fine rep but people have to go into the voting booths aware and informed!

We've already seen our party infiltrated by Republicans and heavily damaged by the DLC.

This is MY state we're talking about so I take these little games very personally. If you dig throught the DU archives, you'll find tons of posts defending the DLC; that defense diminished over time as more people became aware of the danger they did and ARE STILL DOING but the time to dig and ask questions is BEFORE you go into the voting booth - NOT after they're in and doing their damage.

Post-mortem hand-wringing is ridiculous.

Peace and thanks again. :)

[shance]

31. Thanks Tinoire***

I dont know what to ultimately conclude at this time about Bustamonte.

However, it is a part of an overall compilation of things that seems to be questionable about a person deemed to be a "Democrat". He may very well be, although I welcome someone to show us a different side of Bustamonte.

[davidinalameda]

7. here's a good article on him

say what you will, he's the best hope we have for keeping the governor's office

Davis is toast no matter how you cut it. Bustamonte is no more conservative than Davis is. This is NOT a DLC take-over of the office.



http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/08/19/MN27202.DTL

[Tinoire]

9. I fear that 1 woman from the NAACP forgiving him won't be enough

Walk the streets where the African Americans are and mention that name. That's how I first heard about it when I was talking to people about the recall because I'd never heard of this until last week.

Yesterday I started hearing even more things about him I didn't know thanks to talking to average people out on the streets.

I'm still digging but thanks for that information.

[davidinalameda]

8. maybe we're not hearing more

because it's old news and it's not an issue

[shance]

10. Really Dwick? What if he had said Barney Fag, or called

someone a dyke? Old news? Maybe - Probably not though.

But then it doesnt effect you and therefore it doesnt matter, is that what you are saying?

[BrotherBuzz]

13. Agree, old news!

Sad, sad mistake Bustamante made, and he went to great lengths to remedy it. He spent days seeking cameras and microphones to get his apology out and it is generally accepted. Anyone who thinks that he was stupid enough to use the N word in a room full of black business people in a derogatory fashion will simply believe anything. Yes, he said it, but and there was no malice intended. The only black people holding the incident against him are the uninformed ones who only heard the 7 second 'N' word soundbites' and didn't bother to learn the full story. He is truly sorry about saying it and I accept his apology. It's old news, but believe it, the nasty republicans will dredge it up again in the next few weeks.

[sierrak9s]

14. I dunno...

it doesn't seem like an innocent mistake to me. That isn't the kind of word that "slips out" unless you're already in the habit of using it.
Just by way of comparison -- when I'm in a particular kind of company, my vocabulary includes lots of four-letter Anglo-Saxon nouns and verbs. George Carlin's got nuthin' on me. :)
Now, I try hard not to let that kind of language "slip out" when I'm in different company, say with kids around. But sometimes it does anyway, because I'm in the habit of saying "fuck" instead of "drat."
BUT! I can't even imagine the word "nigger" slipping out like that, because it is not part of my normal vocabulary. I don't use the word. I'm no less likely to say "reprobate," or "caitiff," when I meant to say "asshole," as I am to say "Nigger" when I meant to say "Negro" or "black" or "African-American." Words that you don't use aren't likely to "slip out."

[BrotherBuzz]

21. You may be right

I won't even pretend to know what was inside of Bustamante's head because I have no idea what he was thinking at the time. As a man of colour, he knows all the ramifications of using those words and has a strong understanding of their limitations but something failed. It got away from him and he screwed up, plain and simple! I believe he felt very comfortable with another group of colour and started to lapse into backroom talk that was totally unacceptable for public consumption but may have carried in another less formal setting. I don't believe for one minute that there was any malice in his actions other then he showed some real bad judgement. That was the only crime. This is only my opinion and I can live with it. If you want to go the Freud, psychobabble, or something else route, go for it, because his mother or Clinton's penis is probably at fault. I can find no other incidence involving any racial undertones in Bustamante's career.

[shance]

15. What was the reason for his usage - there either is a deliberate reason

to use it or there is not.

If it was taken out of context, then explain. If not, then hes probably a racist guy thats trying to hide his true colors.

[Tinoire]

12. Article - Clinton Goes To Bat For Davis

((Clinton, Davis, Bustamante- can't believe I'm spending so much time on a bunch of Centrists here but this is all about an attempt to overturn O-U-R V-O-T-E-S, and I take that seriously))

Aug. 13, 2003

(CBS/AP) Former President Clinton, drawing on his own experience facing down an effort to drive him from office, is advising California Gov. Gray Davis on how to survive the looming recall vote, a newspaper reports.

The New York Times reports Mr. Clinton and Davis began conferring last week at the AFL-CIO convention in Chicago and speak regularly, sometimes for as long as an hour. Mr. Clinton is apparently willing to campaign for Davis and may appear in California next month.

According to a witness who spoke with The Times, Mr. Clinton has told the governor: "You continue to do the job, and you continue to tell people that you are doing the job."

<snip>

Some Democratic leaders also believe Davis' survival depends on him retaining his traditional base of support among big labor and liberal urban voters.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/08/13/politics/main568130.shtml

[Democat]

17. Cruz is the only Democrat running on the recall ballot who has a chance

If you want a Democrat to win, you support Cruz.

If you don't support him, you are helping the Republicans win.

It's that simple.

No on the recall, yes on Cruz.

Or, vote for Arnold.

That's it. Reality.

[shance]

20. Well, now Democat, depends on what the meaning of Democrat is, is....

Somebody can essentially call themselves a Democrat, and be a Republican or Republicanized clone. I think Arianna is more of a Democrat than this nitwit who apparently has a problem letting the N word just slip out. (How in the world does the N word just SLIP out unless it is casually and often used by the person?)

Then he insists all the Labor Union say the pledge of Allegiance, who is this guy? An ex elementary school teacher? Whatever he is, hes an opportunist and has received too much influence apparently from the government of Mexico, because he obviously knows NADA about loyalty.

[IndianaGreen]

22. Bustamante was complaining about Davis's minions

telling potential donors to not contribute money to Bustamante's campaign.

If anyone has a track record on dirty tactics and backstabbing, it is Gray Davis. I also suspect that some of the animus directed against Bustamante that has been posted on this board is based on old fashioned bigotry and Latino-bashing.

[shance]

23. Cmon Indiana! Since when did examining someone else whos running

for office and said the word "Nigger" while giving a speech constitute OTHERS being racist? Not to mention a series of other things that are pretty questionable as to whos side is the guy really on?

Gimme a break. Seems that it is Bustamonte that is the one that is trying to grandstand Davis. Who more than any of the true DU'ers would want a real bonafied Democrat to back up Davis. WE ALL WOULD!!

But if hes not and he holds a press conference to say Davis is taking votes away and/or causing problems for Bustamonte, how narcissistic it that?

If he was more supportive of Davis and the Democrats and this WHOLE BOGUS recall, that would be one thing. But its seems more apparent that hes looking to monopolize on the recall, WHILE EVERY OTHER DEM INCLUDING DIANNE FEISTEIN BACKED DOWN***** (remember??) and it seems his record and his loyalties at best are questionable.

THAT in itself should give Democrats pause.

[IndianaGreen]

26. Feinstein backed down because she is a puppet of the DNC

The "Davis-or-nobody" strategy is the reckless tactic championed by Terry McCauliff when he came to California a few weeks ago.

What's Davis plan to restore California to financial health? Where is it? It is nowhere to be found, or perhaps it is filed in the same dark closet where the Republican candidates keep theirs.

Bustamante is the only responsible official in the race. Bustamante is the only Democrat with any chance of being governor.

Let's face it, there is racism and intolerance even in the Democratic Party. Whether one is a Latino wanting a bigger share of the power grid, or a GLBT person wanting full equality, the doors to equal opportunity are still locked.

[shance]

27. Well would you rather have a DNC puppet or a DLC puppet?

I opt for DNC and that is not even the point.

The point is that he apparently didnt give Democratic loyalty a second thought. If you are a Dem which you may not be, loyalty should mean something or get off the team.

[salmonhorse]

25. Cruz is going to do just fine ~

[shance]

28. I guess we should thank the DLC and the Republican party?

He doesnt represent the Democratic party I belong to.