California electoral vote initiative backers revealed: Supporters of GOP candidates

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Los Angeles Times

By Dan Morain, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
November 7, 2007

Backers of a proposed initiative that would change the way California's electoral votes are awarded disclosed Tuesday that they had received $538,000 from a list of donors who have contributed to a variety of presidential candidates. The required disclosure to the California secretary of state helps to dispel the notion that Republican candidate Rudolph W. Giuliani is behind the measure. The initiative received its initial $175,000 from a top Giuliani backer, Wall Street mogul Paul E. Singer. Others involved in the effort also have ties to the former New York City mayor. It could not be (seen as) a Giuliani effort," said Republican strategist Ed Rollins, who is overseeing the campaign. "It can't be tainted by any presidential campaign."

The campaign is expected to file more reports in coming days as backers raise $2 million to place the measure on the June 2008 ballot. With one exception, the donors disclosed Tuesday are Californians. Federal election records show they have given to each of the major GOP presidential candidates. One has donated the maximum to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Democratic front-runner -- even though Democrats fiercely oppose the initiative. (NOTE: THIS DONOR, ROBERT DAY, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO MCCAIN, CLINTON AND DODD -- NOT JUST TO CLINTON.)

If it is placed on the ballot and wins voter approval, the initiative would help the Republican presidential nominee in California. Instead of the current winner-take-all system of awarding electoral votes, they would be awarded based on the winner in each of the state's congressional districts. With Republicans holding 19 congressional seats, the GOP nominee would presumably win at least that many districts, giving them almost as many electoral votes as the state of Ohio, with 20.

The largest single donor revealed in Tuesday's filing was the California Republican Party ($80,000), followed by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) at $59,700. Issa has not yet endorsed a presidential candidate. Former Univision chairman Jerrold Perenchio, who is backing Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign, donated $50,000, as did Silicon Valley venture capitalist E. Floyd Kvamme, a Giuliani backer....Newport Beach investor Duane R. Roberts gave $50,000 to the effort. Hehas has given $2,300 to McCain, Giuliani and ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-initiative7nov07,1,6284985.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=1&cset=true

[Ecumenist]

1. Quelle suprise!!!

:eyes:

[HowHasItComeToThis]

2. THEY NEVER STOP THEIR ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY

CAN WE PLEASE STAMP THEM OUT THIS ELECTION!!!!!!!!!!

[24HRrnr]

7. They're putting it in a referendum.

How is that undemocratic? Not Anti-Democrat, but undemocratic.

The people get to vote on the measure.

[suston96]

3. Constituional?

I would like to see a constitutional opinion on this.

The US Constitution seems to indicate that there could be 50 different state legislative modes for selecting electors. Can that be what the Founders intended?

Unfortunately, a Republican US Supreme Court will decide exactly that - the states can pick electors any way they want.

God, we need a Constitutional Convention so badly. This Republic is rotting away.

[JeffR]

4. No way!

I'd never have believed this. Not the Grand Old Party and its fatcat backers!

Cheaters, liars, sleazoids, criminals. Perhaps not all of them, but close enough that nobody should have any hesitation about generalizing on the topic.

To hell with them and god damn them all for what they've done to this country.

[rwheeler31]

5. Where did Issa get his ?

[cascadiance]

10. Issa was also the major funder of the recall of Gray Davis...

Where did he get his money? He's pretty wealthy from his car alarm business... You know the one that his convicted car thief brother probably helped him put together. The powers that be of course shielded Issa himself from being prosecuted for their joint operations earlier. That and a likely case of arson in the midwest too where Issa looked to be involved with.

Noone should own a Viper car alarm here! Noone!

[rAVES]

6. If you cant beat em...cheat.. GOP 101

[defendandprotect]

8. Basically, changing one state shouldn't be permitted --- all or nothing ---

And I think we'd be better off with a popular vote ---

but, what did Scalia say --- ?

Americans really don't have the right to elect a president ---

I think he's still right, isn't he --- ???

[cyclezealot]

9. Is it not odd

When Colorado voters considered the same action. Colorado Repukes opposed the plan they supported for California.

[liberal N proud]

11. Why do republicons hate democracy?

Truly, these people hate democracy and prefer fascism in it's most pure form.

[24HRrnr]

12. How is this facism?

Or are you just venting hyperbole?

Maine and one other state (that I can't recall) split their electoral college votes.

They trying to put it on the ballot - that *is* democracy, even if you don't like it and want to maintain a lock on the state.

Personally, I favor splitting the votes in every state by percentage won, with the "winner" getting the 2 votes for the senators. The latter would act as the breaking mechanism designed into the system by limitiing the power of the larger states to completely swamp the interests of the smaller states. Still not direct democracy but I will admit that I prefer a republican system - as did Ben Franklin.

[DeepModem Mom]

13. What this is is a transparent, typical Atwater/Rove/GOP dirty trick. Want to change the system?

Fine. Bring it on. Pour fat-cat GOP money into all the states (those deep pockets are always as deep as they need to be), and not, right before an election, into just one that would guarantee the election of the GOP candidate.

[Mountainman]

15. If this were such a good thing why don't you get rid of the whole electoral college

This is just like every other republican idea. It can be defended as being fair when in reality it is a power grab. It should be done in every state or none.

Be honest, you just want an way to win and election you can't win on the merits of your party!

[24HRrnr]

21. So do it in every state.

That's pretty much what I already proposed. Win a majority in the state, get the majority of electoral votes plus the votes assigned to senators. Not a repudiation of the EC (I like evolutionary government which puts me in a decided minority around here) but a more equitable distribution that would force politicians to contest all the states, not just the battleground states. If you could lose 10 votes in Texas, you would have to campaign there. Likewise, Michigan or California. Hell, in a tight election, someone might actually pay attention to Idaho for something other than skinheads and "wide" stances.

What I'm questioning, though, is the hysterical shrieks of "facism". Either the idiot doesn't know what he's (or she's) talking about(likely) or no sense of perspective (also entirely possible). But I'm willing to be educated.

So, how is it facism for a referendum to be placed before the people of California?

[Mountainman]

22. This particular referendum is only for the purpose of winning the 2008 election.

It is not in the peoples best interest to have 8 more years of republican rule! Fascist rule that is!

[Mountainman]

14. Where's all the money from everyday repukes like the freepers?

They all say this is a good thing yet they all let the deep pockets pay for it. It is so black and white. The wealthy want a repuke president so they can grab more wealth. If the conservatives were true to their word they would have nothing to do with this kind of thing since they all say they want government out of their lives. Yet they do everything in their power to get control of the government and sack the treasury by giving themselves corporate welfare.

We will people wake up and stop buying what these assholes are selling?

[AX10]

16. It's GD Darryl Issa again. This is a serious threat!

Issa is the one who got the recall against Gray Davis started!

[olddad56]

17. money buys votes.

[DeepModem Mom]

18. A little kick. nt

[caligirl]

19. Take action link here http://www.nodirtytricks.com/

http://www.nodirtytricks.com/


more here

http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/toddbeeton/Bps

[DeepModem Mom]

20. Thank you, caligirl!!! nt