You are here: Home » Commentary » CAMPAIGN 2010 » San Francisco Chronicle Snubs EQUALITY in Non-Endorsement of Boxer for Senate

San Francisco Chronicle Snubs EQUALITY in Non-Endorsement of Boxer for Senate

By Melanie Nathan; October 24, 2010.

While Senator Barbara Boxer is in the fight for her political life, ahead by mere points for the Nov 2nd election, the San Francisco Chronicle has turned its back on her! The Senator, a 28-year veteran of Capitol Hill, is battling to win her fourth term in a race against GOP challenger Carly Fiorina, the multi-millionaire former chairwoman and chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard. A survey released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California showed Boxer’s 7-point lead had shrunk to 5 points from September.

In Sunday’s “INSIGHT” section, the Chronicle sets out its endorsements.   We have known for a while that The Chronicle is refusing to endorse either Boxer or Fiorina for Senate.

Reconciling the statement the Chronicle published in its explanation for the decision “U.S. Senator- No Recommendation,” is problematic and dishonest:-  “Californians are left with a deeply unsatisfying choice for U.S. Senate this year, the incumbent Senator Barbara Boxer has failed to distinguish herself during her 18 years in office.  There us no reason to believe that another six year term would bring anything but more of the same uninspired representation.  The challenger, Republican Carly Fiorina has campaigned with a vigor and directness that suggests she could be effective in Washington – BUT for an agenda that would undermine this Nation’s need to move forward on addressing serious issues such as climate change, health care and immigration.”

While The Chronicle may not want to endorse Boxer, what does not compute is the fact that the statement actually denotes a recommendation, – as once read its hard to imagine anyone in California voting for what Fiorina stands for.  A vote for Carly Fiorina is a vote against climate control, the environment, civil rights, small business and health care.

On the other hand the statement slams Boxer who has already sewn the fruits of her service – giving us something to go by and if one does not follow the “better the devil you know” approach the “no recommendation” may well carry impetus for Fiorina.  By suggesting that Boxer is ineffective, the Chronicle may well be endorsing the ideal of an “opportunity” for the challenger to show some might!

Why would a Bay Area newspaper fail to recommend Boxer in the face of a ‘for oil -against banning assault weapons – making abortion a crime and endorsed by Sarah Palin” GOP candidate? There are many reasons why the Chronicle is plain wrong.

Not to mention all the other progressive legislative endeavors on Boxer’s part, pertaining to climate, small business, health care etc., it is astonishing to me that at a time when the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” vote is hanging in the balance, when LGBT equality lingers tenuously in the hands of a few allies, with UAFA teetering on the edge of Immigration Reform, –  that a  newspaper housed and read by San Franciscan and Bay Area voters, for the most part, flagrantly ignores  the importance of this incumbent Senator to the Gay, Lesbian and Transgender (LGBT) community. Even though the LGBT community is angry with Congress, and would have expected more from Sen. Boxer’s leadership we recognize Senator Boxer as one of the few loyal and committed champions in our quest for equality. We would not be so stupid to fail to vote for Boxer as opposed to Fiorina.    Chronicle is that not reason alone to recommend Boxer to your readers?

Boxer is a co-sponsor in the Senate for the critical legislation to support same-sex partner immigration equality.

The Chronicle has failed to justify the “no recommendation” recommendation in their vague and generalized Statement rendering it false. To say Boxer has done nothing in 18 years is a disingenuous excuse to say the least!

Recently Senator Boxer issued a statement asking, “The majority vote shows the strong support in the Senate for legislation to end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and give tax incentives to firms that create jobs here in America. “I am asking my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us in backing a bill that will reward companies that create jobs and manufacture their products in this country so we can see the words, ‘Made in America’ again.” Fiorina had no problem stamping HP Boxes with “made in China” labels.

Lest we forget the DOMA vote Senators Voting “No”
No Republican Senators voted no. All were Democrats: Akaka (D-HI), Boxer (D-CA), Feingold (D-WI), Feinstein (D-CA), Inouye (D-HI), Kennedy (D-MA), Kerrey (D-NE), Kerry (D-MA), Moseley-Braun (D-IL), Moynihan (D-NY), Pell (D-RI), Robb (D-VA), Simon (D-IL), Wyden (D-OR). Boxer on LGBT Equality

If there were ever a REPEAL DOMA Bill in the Senate, be assured Barbara Boxer would sign on. It is my hope that the Senator will have her fourth term and that she will be given an opportunity to take a stronger leadership role of LGBT issues.

Californians ought to rebuke the Chronicle for their failure to take a stand for the one candidate of the two who supports Gay rights and equality and women’s right to choose. Chronicle be Ashamed!

Senator BOXER on DADT-

Boxer and Fiorina on Jobs

Barbara Boxer

Carly Fiorina

Boxer’s top priority is creating jobs and turning the economy around, with a specific plan to: Make California the hub of the clean energy economy. Support American manufacturing and infrastructure. End tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. Provide incentives to businesses that hire workers here at home. Cut taxes for the middle class. Increase loans to small businesses. Reform Wall Street by cracking down on financial speculation.

Fiorina has a clear record on jobs: As CEO of HP, Fiorina laid off 28,000 workers and shipped jobs overseas to China, India, and Europe. Called off shoring American jobs “right shoring” and said “there is no job that is America’s God-given right anymore.” While laying off tens of thousands of American workers and shipping jobs overseas, Fiorina was paid $108 million. Opposed last year’s economic recovery package that saved or created 150,000 California jobs, extended unemployment assistance, and expanded job training programs. Opposed the HIRE Act that was signed into law in March 2010.  The HIRE Act creates jobs by investing in transportation and providing tax credits to small businesses that hire more workers.

[Sources: San Francisco Chronicle, 1/9/04; San Francisco Chronicle, 2/17/04; American Spectator, 11/23/09; Fiorina Press Release, 3/17/10]

Boxer and Fiorina on Wall Street Reform

Barbara Boxer

Carly Fiorina

Boxer is fighting to reform Wall Street by cracking down on financial speculation: Authored amendment that passed 96-1 to ensure taxpayers will never again foot the bill to bail out Wall Street financial institutions. Proposed a one-time tax on huge bonuses paid to executives at firms bailed out by taxpayers. Ensured that national banks cannot act as real estate brokers, promoting competition and preventing conflicts of interest. Required the Treasury Department to write tougher rules to prevent fraud in the Public Private Investment Program. Cosponsored legislation promoting strict accountability standards for firms receiving TARP funds. Required that homeowners be alerted if their lender sells their home mortgage loan. One of only 8 Senators who voted against repealing the Glass-Steagall Act.  Repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act is now considered to have contributed to the financial crisis by encouraging reckless lending practices that led to the meltdown of the credit markets.  Boxer is now cosponsoring a bill to restore Glass-Steagall.

Former CEO who is opposed to cracking down on Wall Street CEOs. “… Carly opposes the [Wall Street reform] bill…”

[Source: Fiorina press release, 4/28/10]

Boxer and Fiorina on Choice

Barbara Boxer

Carly Fiorina

Boxer is a leader in the fight to protect a woman’s right to choose – so that reproductive decisions stay out of the hands of government and remain between a woman and her doctor.  Her record includes: Leading the fight in the Senate to overturn the global gag rule, which prohibited international aid organizations that received money from the federal government from using their own privately-raised funds to provide abortion counseling and services. Introducing legislation to repeal a dangerous and draconian provision added to an appropriations bill in 2004 that would have denied a state all federal education and health care funding if it took certain steps to ensure a woman’s access to abortion services and referrals for abortion services. Successfully fighting an attempt to inject the abortion issue into a bipartisan bill to provide health care for uninsured children.

Fiorina opposes a woman’s right to choose, and supports making abortion a crime.She is strongly supported by anti-choice groups and Sarah Palin: “Carly Fiorina is uniquely poised to be a leader for the unborn…” – Susan B. Anthony List “[Fiorina] is committed to take up the cause of life in the United States Senate…”            – National Right to Life Committee “I’m proud to endorse [Fiorina] for U.S. Senate… She is pro-life…” – Sarah Palin In Fiorina’s own words: “I absolutely would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade if the opportunity presented itself.” “I believe that life begins at conception.” “I will defend the rights of the unborn.” “I will go toe-to-toe with [Barbara Boxer] on the sanctity of life versus a woman’s right to choose.” Endorsed by: National Right To Life Committee The California Pro Life Council Susan B. Anthony List

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda

Related articles

• Fiorina Starts Ad Blitz in California Senate Race (lezgetreal.com)
• Boxer and Fiorina Side by Side (lezgetreal.com)
• San Francisco Chronicle refuses to endorse either Carly Fiorina or Barbara Boxer (anotherblackconservative.blogspot.com)